PHOTOS: In Dixmoor, a Cook County commissioner’s home languishes

While the 5th district’s Kisha McCaskill claims tax exemptions that reduce her bill on a Dixmoor home, it’s become an eyesore without proper upkeep.

By Amethyst J. Davis

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March 14, 2026

Gutters have detached from the property, nearly stripped from the property due to storm damage, as shown March 8, 2026. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill (5th) claims property tax exemptions on a home she does not reside in, an HWH investigation found. The property, located in Dixmoor, is in such horrid condition that village attorneys once filed a petition against McCaskill to demolish it.

Exemptions can help reduce the equalized assessed value of a property, and generate tax bill savings for the owner. McCaskill claims a homeowner and senior exemption. However, primary residence is required for both. And only those 65 years of age or older are eligible for a senior exemption. McCaskill is in her mid-50s.

The Cook County Assessor referred the issue to its erroneous exemption department for investigation.

The HWH documented rapid deterioration of the home over a month as unusual winter storms brought high winds, hail, and heavy rains throughout the Southland. The single-family home’s gutters fell and winds ripped the already fragile structure apart.

February 11, 2026

The entire home’s interior is exposed. Front windows are cracked and open. The home’s side door, facing west, is cracked open. Shattered glass sits at the steps of the side door. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

The ground in the backyard is not visible. It’s filled with sticks, trees that have fallen, and grass that has not been cut. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

A water bottled filled with a yellow liquid, possibly urine, sits underneath sticks and debris in the front yard. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Defunct lights attached to the home are stained with rust from water damage. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

READ OUR INVESTIGATION

Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill claims tax exemptions on abandoned Dixmoor property

March 8, 2026

Algae has begun growing in the framing of the home. A severe thunderstorm on Friday, March 6 rips through the fascia on the roof. It hangs above the windows. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Winds are so high it thrusts the property’s side door, already cracked, complete open. Broken glass sits along the step. Inside, decay is visible from the doorstep. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

A light is not functioning, its framing tilted. Lime green paint peels on cabinets. The sun peaks through the roof frame. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Algae and weeds cover the living room floor, visible from the doorstep. The home’s walls are peeling. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Under rubble and debris, a couch is seen in the living room. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

The extensive nature of the damage is largely due to a roof that is nearly absent, except its framing. The frame is holding strong, but shows signs of algae growing. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Lighter fluid, food condiments, cleaning products, and kitchenware lie in a pile alongside roofing and cabinetry that has fallen onto the floor. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Kitchen utensils lie on the floor of Kisha McCaskill’s home alongside algae that has grown and taken root in the floor. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Algae grows on a rug laying outside of the home along its west side. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

A cooler sits along the property’s west side, filled with murky stormwater from two days before. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

A campaign sign from local elections sits along the property’s west side. The sign says to elect Dixmoor officials, including now-president Fitzgerald Roberts, and now-trustees Judnita Smith, Charlene McFadden, and Ira Rolark.

Though unlikely live, electrical wiring is exposed in the back of the home. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

March 12, 2026

Yet another storm has ripped the property apart. The fascia on the roof has fallen to the ground, blocking entry through the front door. The HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Fallen branches cover what might have been a driveway to the property’s west side. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

An exposed roof gives way to the elements. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

On the property’s east side, a storm has ripped the fascia of the roof apart along the northern and southern ends. A window is open. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Author

Amethyst J. Davis

Amethyst J. Davis is responsible for spearheading the growth and development of the HWH, including outlining the editorial trajectory and content. She also produces “The Renaissance Letter,” our biweekly email newsletter, edits content, and fact-checks stories prior to publication. Amethyst was an administrator at New York University before launching her journalism career. She was previously a member of the Sounding Board, the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, which includes WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Amethyst is a 2023 Leader of a New Chicago award recipient, as recognized by the Field Foundation and MacArthur Foundation. She was named to Forbes 30 Under 30.

In 2022, Amethyst was a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News & Views. She is a sought after speaker on community journalism and has given talks at institutions like DePaul University and the University of Kansas. Amethyst is a regular guest on City Cast Chicago.

She was invited by Harvard University to submit a 2023 and 2024 Nieman Lab prediction. Under her leadership, the HWH has become one of the nation’s most-watched hyperlocal newsrooms. The HWH has received national coverage in publications like Poynter, Harvard University’s Nieman Lab, the National Press Journalism Club Institute, and Editor & Publisher.

A Harvey native, Amethyst is a Brooks Middle School (’11) and Thornton Township High School alum (‘15) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from NYU (BA’19). She is an alumna of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar program at the University of Chicago.