Workers started demolition Tuesday on the within of the previous Arlington International Racecourse, one other nail within the coffin of the storied horse monitor, and a step towards a possible new stadium for the Chicago Bears.
A backhoe, different heavy development tools and staff had been seen exterior the grand edifice, which received architectural honors and held as much as 32,000 followers for nationally recognized races earlier than being closed by Churchill Downs Inc. in 2021.
Team officers emphasised that they nonetheless can’t proceed with their plans for a $5 billion enclosed stadium, housing and leisure complicated till they nail down what the property taxes can be, and get public financing for supporting infrastructure.
The demolition, estimated to value $3.8 million, can be anticipated to decrease the worth of the property for the following tax 12 months, which ought to decrease taxes on the location — a topic of competition between the group and faculty districts that get a lot of the tax income.
Prior to the demolition, the Cook County assessor’s workplace lately elevated the property’s valuation to $197 million, about equal to the sale worth the group paid to purchase the 326-acre website earlier this 12 months. That would increase taxes on the location to about $16 million, from lower than $3 million when it operated as a racetrack.
The Bears try to barter a decrease valuation with three native faculty districts that obtain taxes from the property. A deal would supply certainty to all concerned: the group for its tax payments and the districts about revenues they rely on. If the group efficiently received a decrease valuation with the state or courts, the districts may should shell out an enormous refund.
Palatine Community Consolidated School District 15, Arlington Heights-based Township High School District 214 and Palatine-based Township High School District 211 have proposed a $95 million valuation. School officers anticipate getting extra college students from the location whether it is developed with flats and condominiums.
The Bears referred to as that determine a “non-starter” for a property that they stated can have no industrial use — and presumably no new college students — for no less than two years.
A listening to on the property worth is scheduled for Friday earlier than the Cook County Board of Review. Looking past the inside demolition, the group has utilized for a allow to tear down the grandstand and different constructions this summer season.
The work could improve truck site visitors within the space, and village officers stated the property will proceed to be monitored by safety 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The adjoining Metra practice station and car parking zone will keep open to the general public.
Alpine Demolition Services of St. Charles is conducting the demolition.
Preservationists mourned the lack of a treasure that Architectural Digest referred to as probably the most stunning racetracks on the earth. The park, which opened in 1927, was rebuilt on a grand scale by then-owner Richard Duchossois, and reopened in 1989 after hearth destroyed the unique construction.
“It’s beautiful facility and it seems tragic to be lost,” stated Ward Miller, government director of Preservation Chicago. “It’s unfortunate to demolish this amazing structure before having solid plans to move forward. That seems a backwards way of operating.”
Marushka Stefaniva, of Palatine, who takes the practice from the park to work, welcomed the financial stimulus from a Bears transfer, however fearful about site visitors, and bemoaned the destruction of the park.
“What a shame,” she stated. “They should repurpose that. I’m from Europe — we don’t knock down buildings.”
Tribune reporter A.D. Quig and Tribune photographer Stacey Wescott contributed.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com