26-Dec-18 – A story about a New Eastside resident – who says he was falsely arrested while documenting deteriorated fire standpipes in his neighborhood – was the most-viewed story on Loop North in 2018.

David Sudler, whose grandfather and great uncle founded one of Chicago’s largest real estate firms, is suing Hyatt Hotels Corporation, The Habitat Company, and others over the 2016 incident. As that case crawled through Cook County Circuit Court, with no resolution yet, Sudler battled Habitat on another front when the company, which is his landlord, filed against him in January, trying to get him removed from his residence on Wacker Drive. Sudler says the action against him is retaliatory.

(Left) David Sudler (center) speaks with 19th Ward Alderman Matthew O’Shea (right) at a dedication in 2016 of a memorial at Chicago Fire Department Engine 13 on North Columbus Drive. At left is Sudler’s wife, Sandra Marsh.

Other most-viewed stories include the City of Chicago’s apparently failed attempt to give away the Chicago Avenue Bridge to anyone who could have removed it before it is demolished, two stories about fights on Michigan Avenue on May 6 involving large groups of teen-agers, and three stories involving Marina City.

201 stories published this year by Loop North were clicked on more than 145,000 times.