White Couple Refused to Sell Home to Black Comedian

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has filed a charge of housing discrimination against Adrienne Sabbia and their real estate agent, Jeffrey Lowe of Prudential Rubloff Properties, for violating the Fair Housing Act because they discriminated against Chicago-based comedian and radio personality George Willborn, his wife, Peytyn when they declined to follow through with the sale of an 8,000-square-foot home -- even though the Willborns made the best offer ($1.7 million) for the property which sat on the market for two years.

The HUD complaint said the Willborns wanted to buy a five-bedroom home at 3300 S. Normal from Daniel and Adrienne Sabbia. It said that in January the Willborns accepted the Sabbias' price of $1.7 million and prepared a final sales contract. But the Sabbias declined to sign. HUD said that in an interview with an investigator, the agent for the property, Jeffrey Lowe of Lowe Group Chicago Inc., said Daniel Sabbia told him he would rather not sell to an African American. The HUD complaint names as respondents Lowe and Prudential Rubloff Properties, the firm with which Lowe Group is affiliated. An attorney for the Sabbias, Conrad Duncker, declined to comment, and Lowe did not return a call. Daniel Sabbia, 47, is part of the extended Roti family, whose connections are deep in political and organized crime circles in Chicago. A source said Sabbia quit his city job in 2006 while under investigation for allegedly operating two hot dog stands on city time. "I think it's unfortunate, sad and disgusting," George Willborn said. "It jolts you to your core beliefs. . . . No one has the right to dictate the American dream." Willborn has been called the "stress reliever" of the comedic stage. He said his thwarted attempt to buy a home he and his family loved certainly was stressful, but he hasn't worked it into his act. "I haven't found humor in it yet," Willborn said. HUD said the Willborns' offer was the highest the Sabbias received in two years of marketing the home, a flashy two-story brick building that nearly fills its tight city lot. Rather than accept it, the Sabbias took the house off the market, but by March it was listed again with an asking price of $1.799 million. The complaint, alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act, will lead to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The case could be moved to federal district court if any person involved wishes it.

After the Sabbias received a copy of the HUD complaint, they had a change of heart and offered to sell the home and all its furniture to George (pictured, above) and his wife for $1.799 million, but the couple declined. They've since purchased another palatial estate in another part of town. If the case goes to court, George and his wife could be awarded a bonanza in punitive damages, since housing discrimination based on race is illegal.

This is the house mansion in question:


Update: On Aug. 26, George and his wife filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against the white couple.



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