Chicago Bears officers met with Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli Friday morning to debate the opportunity of abandoning their plans for a brand new stadium growth in Arlington Heights in favor of constructing it in Napervile.
Plans to construct “the largest single development project in Illinois history” are “at risk” in Arlington Heights, the Bears stated in a press release they launched Friday together with their assembly.
The Cook County Assessor’s property evaluation of the previous horsetrack, which is 5 instances the 2021 tax worth and thrice larger than the latest evaluation settlement for the Churchill Downs racetrack in Kentucky, fails to mirror that the property isn’t operational and never commercially viable in its present state, the assertion stated.
“We will continue the ongoing demolition activity and work toward a path forward in Arlington Heights, but it is no longer our singular focus,” crew officers wrote. “It is our responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland about potential locations that can deliver on this transformational opportunity for our fans, our club and the state of Illinois.”
Although the Bears have bought the Arlington Heights website, the group maintains plans to construct an enclosed stadium with accompanying leisure and residential growth isn’t a finished deal. There stays excellent questions on the crew getting certainty on property tax limits and public subsidies to assist construct infrastructure for the venture.
Those uncertainties led Naperville mayor to ship a May 24 letter to Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren during which he acknowledged the crew’s dedication to growing and working its personal stadium, which “is essential for on-field success and pursuing championships.”
“I would like to formally introduce our community to your organization as you consider or reassess your planned relocation,” wrote the brand new Naperville mayor, who was elected this spring and took workplace a month in the past.
Wehrli informed Warren a number of accessible or to-be-available websites could match the traits the group is searching for in a future dwelling.
Where these places are haven’t been disclosed however one website massive sufficient to include such a growth is the previous BP campus property at Washington Street and Diehl Road.
Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes stated he understands that the Bears are a for-profit enterprise and should pursue all alternatives.
“I would be doing the same thing, explore all my options and pick the best one,” he stated. “I still think Arlington Heights is the best option.”
The crew is unlikely to seek out such a main property as the previous Arlington Park, Hayes stated, with 326 largely open acres subsequent to main roadways and with its personal commuter practice station. And the Bears already personal the land.
The mayor inspired the varsity districts and the crew to proceed negotiations over property taxes, with the requirement that any deal can be a long-term financial enhance for the crew and the area.
The Bears group acknowledged that its aim of constructing “the largest single development project in Illinois history” stays common however is “at risk” in Arlington Heights.
The Cook County Assessor’s property evaluation at 5 instances the 2021 tax worth, and the latest settlement with Churchill Downs for 2022 being thrice larger, fails to mirror that the property isn’t operational and never commercially viable in its present state, the assertion learn.
“We will continue the ongoing demolition activity and work toward a path forward in Arlington Heights, but it is no longer our singular focus,” crew officers wrote. “It is our responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland about potential locations that can deliver on this transformational opportunity for our fans, our club and the state of Illinois.”
The Bears group is in negotiations the worth of the 326 acres of property that included the previous grounds of Arlington International Racecourse.
The Bears had been pushing to have the property assessed at $37 million, in accordance with Pioneer Press studies. But the leaders of three faculties district say the location ought to be valued at $95 million.
To assist in the method, Wehrli stated the town’s financial growth accomplice, Naperville Development Partnership, has a monitor report of working with companies to make funding in Naperville.
Wehrli stated as mayor pledged to pursue accountable financial growth to help the town’s economic system, and being the house of the Chicago Bears would unlock great financial advantages for the group.
City spokeswoman Linda LaCloche reiterated that financial growth is considered one of Wehrli’s main focuses. “The mayor will continue to highlight Naperville’s benefits to businesses throughout Chicagoland and across the country,” LaCloche stated.
Naperville, which has a inhabitants of round 150,000, is enticing for every type of companies, LaCloche stated, as a result of it’s the second largest economic system in Illinois, “with a highly educated workforce, top ranked public safety, a vibrant downtown, excellent public transit and close proximity to major interstates.”
Interstate 88 extends via the town’s northern limits, and Interstates 355 and 55 are lower than 5 miles from the town to the east and south, respectively.
Two railroad traces run via Naperville, the Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe Railway and the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway. Metra operates commuter trains alongside the BNSF Railway and has two stations throughout the metropolis, the principle station on Fourth Avenue and the Route 59 station.
The metropolis additionally has some expertise as a house to an expert sports activities crew, although on a a lot smaller scale.
For the 2002 and 2003 seasons, the Major League Soccer crew Chicago Fire performed at North Central College in Naperville whereas Soldier Field was being renovated.
Naperville additionally was among the many greater than 100 communities Fire officers delivered proposal requests to construct a soccer-specific stadium to be used in 2007.
Naperville opted to not submit, and on the time stated a pricey soccer stadium wasn’t a precedence and there wasn’t appropriate land accessible alongside the I-88 hall.
Chicago Tribune’s Robert McCoppin contributed.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com