When any of the following words or terms are used in this chapter, whether or not capitalized and whether or not used in a conjunctive or connective form, they shall have the meaning or construction ascribed to them in this section:
A. "Beneficial interest in real property" includes, but is not limited to:
(1) The beneficial interest in an Illinois land trust;
(2) The lessee interest in a ground lease (including any interest of the lessee in the related improvements) that provides for a term of 30 or more years when all options to renew or extend are included, whether or not any portion of the term has expired; or
(3) The indirect interest in real property as reflected by a controlling interest in a real estate entity.
B. "City" means the City of Chicago.
C. "Controlling interest" means (1) 50 percent or more of the combined voting power or fair market value of all ownership interests or beneficial interests in a real estate entity, whether the interests are owned by one or by several persons, or (2) the right of one or of several persons to receive at the time of any distribution 50 percent or more of the income or profits of a real estate entity.
D. "Department" means the department of finance of the city.
E. The terms "mortgagee" and "secured creditor" mean a lender, such as a bank, credit union, mortgage company or other person who acquires a mortgage or other instrument of transfer primarily for the purpose of securing a loan, and not primarily for the purpose of acquiring the real property or beneficial interest in real property that is the subject of the mortgage or other instrument of transfer.
F. "Person" means any individual, receiver, administrator, executor, conservator, assignee, trust, estate, partnership, joint venture, club, joint stock company, business trust, political subdivision of the State of Illinois, corporation, association, limited liability company, syndicate, society, or any group of persons acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit or otherwise.
G. "Real estate entity" means any person (other than an Illinois land trust) including, but not limited to, any partnership, corporation, trust, or single or multi-tiered entity, that exists or acts substantially for the purpose of holding directly or indirectly title to or beneficial interest in real property located in the city, whether for personal use, the production of rental income, or investment. It shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, that an entity is a real estate entity if it owns directly or indirectly real property located in the city having a fair market value greater than 75 percent of the total fair market value of all of the entity's assets, determined without deduction for any mortgage, lien or encumbrance.
H. "Transfer price" means the consideration furnished for the transfer of title to, or beneficial interest in, real property, valued in money, whether paid in money or otherwise, including cash, credits and property, determined without any deduction for mortgages, liens or encumbrances, and specifically including the amount of any indebtedness or obligation canceled or discharged in connection with the transfer. In the case where the controlling interest in a real estate entity is transferred, and the real estate entity holds assets in addition to title to or beneficial interest in real property located in the city, "transfer price" means only that portion of the consideration attributable to the transfer of such real property or such beneficial interest.
I. – P. [Reserved.]
Q. "Zoning administrator" means the zoning administrator of the city.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-92, p. 27387; Amend Coun. J. 10-1-97, p. 53701; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 5-8-13, p. 52136, § 1)