Noting this event, astute RezkoWatcher M Miller pointed out the following on March 23, 2008:

Please note on Obama's newest list of campaign donors released 9 days ago ... the same lawyer who works for Antoine Rezko bought the Obama lot from Mrs Rezko. He also, with his family donated large sums to the Obama campaign.

This is noteworthy because Obama and his campaign kept this info from all of the other inquiries pledging time and time again they had 'scoured' the donations so the earlier figure was the figure that Obama donated or returned to the donors, was in fact all they could trace to Rezko. I believe we should make the public aware of this and ask for a congressional inquiry.

The matter of the Obama-Rezko campaign contributions as being one Congress should investigate has been suggested before. That said, RezkoWatch took a closer look at M Miller's comments.

Miller is correct. First of all, Sreenan is a real estate attorney with Rezmar Inc., Tony Rezko's real estate development firm.

Second, as reported March 15, 2008, in The Politico

But the list doesn't include five other contributions totaling $3,500 to Obama made by Sreenan. All of his contributions were made on the same days other Rezko associates and employees contributed often matching sums, including Sreenan's first contribution on record, a $1,000 check reported on the same March 2000 day that five other Rezko employees also plunked down $1,000 each. Obama did include the other five Rezko-linked contributions on the list of those contributed to charity.

FEC records show that Michael Sreenan donated $1,500 on December 31, 2002, and $1,000 on March 17, 2000.

Third, Cook County property records show that the vacant lot purchased June 15, 2005, by Rita Rezko—the same day that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) closed on his townhouse—was sold on December 28, 2006, to 5050 S Greenwood LLC.

Regarding the "Rezko" lot, in December 2007 the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (HPKCC) Preservation and Zoning Policy Committee reported

The lot next to Sen. Obama's home on Greenwood Av. was sold separately from the built-on lot connected to Mr. Rezko (under investigation in political scandals) has been sold again by a lawyer connected to Rezko and will likely be developed into a number of condo units (6 were planned by Michael Sreenan), some development being inevitable according to HPKCC president George Rumsey. Rumsey disagrees with those who say the tripled asking price (to $1.5 million) is due to uniqueness of the site's being next to Obama's, citing lots of desirability and pressures on HP and Kenwood property prices—gentrification nearby, University growth, Olympics, pressure from the South Loop, CHA change... density and new development are in our future.

And this

Plans by the new owner (Tony Rezko's lawyer) to build 6 condo units next to Sen. Obama's home in historic landmark district of large, single family homes and near the new Greenwood Row Houses historic district raises ire.

Sen. Obama was steered [to] his new home site by the Rezko's, who are under investigation re filling government jobs and lobbying, and bought 10' from the Rezko's. Recently, Rezko's wife sold their lot to their business lawyer, Michael Sreenan, who has submitted designs for a set of 6 condos. Ald. Preckwinkle has objected first that the developer did not volunteer that he did not have Landmarks Commission approval, second to the designs and possibly in principle to 6 units in a landmark district based on hundred year old single family mansions. Note that the building would be sited on Hyde Park Blvd., which already has such units all along it (as well as Congr. KAM), but is thought inconsistent with Greenwood Ave. extending northward from the site. The Kenwood Open House Committee, which oversees the district for the city, is also concerned but want[s] to see more. Sreenan says he is only vetting concepts at this time and his options are open.

Note that Sreenan did not purchase the whole lot from Rita Rezko, as she had sold a 10-foot strip to Obama for $104,500 on January 11, 2006.

On February 28, 2008, the Chicago Sun-Times' Tim Novak reported Sreenan said he had a "contingent contract" and three or four offers for the lot. However, as indicated in the HPKCC report above, "Whoever buys the land will need the city's OK to build there because it's in the historic Kenwood district."

Novak wrote

One prospective buyer, who wants to build a single-family home, has met with Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th), who says she wants to make sure that whatever's built is compatible with the neighborhood's mansions. Preckwinkle -- an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention -- says she rejected a developer's plans to put up condos there. Too "ugly," she decided.

It would appear that Obama has nothing to fear as it is highly unlikely that he will have to suffer the trials and tribulations of construction on the abutting vacant lot. Things tie together quite nicely for Sen. Obama as, you see, Preckwinkle is not only Democratic Committeeman of the 4th Ward but has been accurately described as an Obama "ally".

In 1996, when Obama ran for the Illinois Senate  seat of Alice Palmer, a "respected activist who had decided to run for Congress and anoint Obama as her successor", and her "congressional bid fell short, she decided she wanted to keep her seat and tried to get Obama to step aside," the Boston Globe reported October 10, 2007. "Not only did Obama refuse, his political associates - led by Chicago Alderwoman Toni Preckwinkle and her staff - challenged the validity of Palmer's signatures and the signatures of his other prospective opponents. Many were ruled fake, and in one fell swoop Obama knocked every rival out of the race."

In 2000, Preckwinkle was among those who encouraged Obama to run for Congress. On November 1, 2007, Preckwinkle, as did all African-American members of the Chicago City Council, endorsed Obama's presidential run, about the time of the HPKCC report.

Yes, indeed, one could say that Sen. Barack Obama is one lucky fellow. We have political fixer Tony Rezko not only hauling in the campaign cash but we have Rezko's wife, Rita, conveniently purchasing the vacant lot abutting his property, smoothing the way for Obama to purchase his Kenwood mansion.

Then we have Rezko lawyer Michael Sreenan conveniently coming by and taking the lot off Rita Rezko's hands.

Next, for more than a decade, we have Obama "ally" Toni Preckwinkle running interference not only to help Obama along his political path but also to ensure that Obama won't be bothered by any unwanted construction next door. What else could Obama possibly want for unless Rezko and Preckwinkle have that Democratic presidential nomination tucked away somewhere for a rainy day.

Oh, by the way, according to the Chicago Sun-Times Rezko was the longtime head of Preckwinkle's campaign-finance committee. Six of Rezko's troubled housing projects were in Preckwinkle's ward."