Glencoe Mansion at Center of Lawsuit Listed at Markup

A Glencoe mansion that was the subject of a legal dispute between a high-profile family and its builder is back on the market.

The six-bedroom home at 970 Sheridan Road hit the market this week for $5.7 million, or $810 per square foot, Crain’s reported.

The mansion allegedly was plagued by severe plumbing issues when Craig and Lindsey Bernick purchased the 7,000-square-foot home in July 2022 for about $4.1 million, or $586 per square foot. This led the Bernicks, descendants of the Lavin family, who built the Alberto-Culver beauty products empire, to sue the builder, Heritage Luxury Builders, early last year.

The Bernicks’ legal dispute with Heritage, led by principal Leo Birov, centers on what they claim were significant construction flaws that led to four sewage floods within five months of moving into the house.

Their lawsuit alleges that despite contacting Birov about the flooding, the builder deflected responsibility and suggested the couple had caused the problem by flushing diapers down the toilet — a claim they deny.

The Bernicks hired a construction expert, who they said determined that the home’s outdated sewer line, which should have been replaced during construction, was the likely cause of the repeated sewage backups.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Jonathan Weiss of Levin Ginsburg, described the extent of the alleged defects as “breathtaking” and accuses Heritage of cutting corners to save on costs. In addition to the plumbing woes, the lawsuit claimed that Heritage failed to properly soundproof the home, left live electrical wires exposed and drywalled over an emergency water shutoff valve.

Jena Radnay and Milena Birov of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate are managing the listing. Milena Birov, who is married to Leo Birov, is also a partner in Heritage Luxury Builders.

Their involvement in the sale of the same property that was at the heart of the legal battle raises questions about whether the alleged construction problems have been resolved. Records from the arbitration between the parties are not publicly available.

Public records show that the Bernicks purchased the home through their legal entity, One Dreamer 94, named after a racehorse owned by the family. The Cook County Treasurer’s office lists the tax bill under a legal entity based at Heritage Luxury Builders’ office, suggesting that the builder may still be involved in the sale process as part of an arbitration agreement.

Another high-priced home that recently hit the market in Glencoe is the lakefront property at 585 Longwood Avenue, which listed in August for $8.8 million, or $878 per square foot.

— Andrew Terrell