Impressed by MR Properties, LLC's plans to write down thepurchase price of 10 of its 101 units proposed for 31-39 S. MorganSt. in the West Loop, Bynoe wondered why 730 N. LaSalle St. LLCwasn't doing the same for its River North project that includes 55condominiums. Neither proposal calls for city subsidies, Bynoenotes.

MR Properties voluntarily set aside 10 units at the city's"affordable" price of $155,000 per unit under the ChicagoPartnership for Affordable Neighborhoods, writing down about$60,000 on each of those units, says Richard Monocchio, departmentof housing first deputy commissioner. That is in line with MayorRichard M. Daley's request for the development community to providemore affordable housing in a city where new projects have mostlycatered to the upper echelons.

"The beauty of this is, the city isn't contributing anything,"Monocchio says.