Jack Guthman

Jack's practice encompasses a broad range of activity before state and local boards, commissions, the Illinois General Assembly and the Congress of the United States. During his career, he has represented clients in hundreds of negotiations with and public hearings before government bodies. His experience includes 17 years as a member of the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals, the last 12 of those years as its Chairman.

Jack has a wide-ranging land use practice, in which a substantial portion of his work has consisted of representing developers requiring zoning changes and other relief as a precondition to the development process. He has acted as zoning counsel for the developers of more than 50 million square feet of major Chicago properties. The scope of Jack’s activities includes zoning, landmark, vacation, dedication and easement, traffic and transportation, water and sewer, aviation and legislative matters as they relate to development in every sector of Chicago and in municipalities throughout the metropolitan area.

Projects that gained approval under Jack’s leadership include:

• Substantial developments such as Dearborn Park; Cityfront Center; Citicorp Center; Hines’ 1.4 million-square-foot office tower at 300 N. La Salle Street; 700 and 900 N Michigan Avenue; Harper Court and Atrium Village.
• Unique situations such as the Miglin-Beitler Tower, which, when proposed, was to be the world’s tallest building.
• Representation of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Spertus Institute, the Chicago History Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Chicago Orchestral Association, the Hyde Park Art Center and Columbia College's Media Production Center in the landmarks and zoning processes relating to their expansions.
• Gaining Planned Development Ordinance and Lakefront Protection Ordinance approval for Chicago’s Millennium Park, including a 1,500-seat theater within the Park, on behalf of the City of Chicago and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.
• Jack’s representation of public bodies include the City of Chicago; Cook County; The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority; The Chicago Park District and the Chicago World’s Fair – 1992 Corporation and later the Chicago World’s Fair – 1992 Authority.