Mayor Scott Wehrli stated conversations he’s had with the Chicago Bears about potential enterprise alternatives in Naperville are simply that, conversations.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s Naperville City Council assembly, Wehrli stated he reached out to the soccer franchise and met with crew officers final week about constructing a brand new stadium in Naperville to discover a chance that might profit town economically.
“Discussions like this are standard and principled economic development practice, especially in a competitive regional environment like ours. … No development proposal was submitted to the city. No incentives were discussed, requested or offered by either party in these meetings,” Wehrli stated.
The Bears issued a press release June 2, the times officers met with the mayor, that stated plans to construct “the largest single development project in Illinois history” in Arlington Heights are “at risk” and they’re exploring different choices.
Many have urged the motion was a ploy to stress a discount within the tax evaluation for the Arlington Heights website they’ve already bought for the brand new stadium. The former Arlington Park race observe land was assessed at a worth that Bears officers say is much larger than the property’s value given no stadium has been constructed on it and it’s not getting used for another goal.
News of Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren assembly Friday with Wehrli, members of the Naperville Development Partnership, a metropolis staffer and a metropolis council consultant sparked pleasure and debate on social media about transparency and the necessity for public enter.
Among the critics was Naperville City Councilman Ian Holzhauer, who stated on Facebook he had no information of the May 24 letter despatched by the mayor to Warren suggesting they focus on attainable metropolis stadium websites, though Wehrli stated he was writing “on behalf of the city of Naperville.”
Holzhauer stated he discovered of the Bears assertion and the mayor’s letter and assembly on the identical time the general public did. In his publish, he raised questions in regards to the financial advantages of a stadium in Naperville and considerations in regards to the chance that native college districts could possibly be shortchanged by such a deal.
However, City Councilman Josh McBroom, additionally talking on Facebook, stated he was inspired that the mayor was utilizing his enterprise acumen to hunt out potential financial alternatives that could possibly be a income for Naperville’s tax base.
It’s throughout the purview of the mayor to have discussions with builders and traders who might have curiosity in doing enterprise in Naperville, he stated.
“If nothing else comes of this besides our mayor sending a signal to the state that Naperville is open for business and willing to listen to economic development ideas, that’s a win in my book,” McBroom stated.
Resident Steve Shamrock urged the council Tuesday to contemplate the social goal and general financial purpose of a stadium in Naperville earlier than contemplating any proposal.
A large stadium challenge would essentially change “the character, ability, cost, environment and healthiness of our town,” he stated.
If the idea offered to the Bears evolves into an official growth proposal from the the crew, town will comply with established procedures, Wehrli stated.
“Our city applies a robust public input and review process, including numerous opportunities for community input, review by relevant boards and commissions, and ultimately a very public process before the City Council,” the mayor stated.
Finding methods to place underutilized industrial properties to work, particularly these within the Interstate 88 tollway hall, is “mission critical for our community as we strive to keep our schools funded and our property tax rate low,” he stated.
Wehrli advised the Bears a number of out there or soon-to-be-available websites might match the traits the group is in search of in a future residence.
He didn’t disclose what areas he urged, however one website massive sufficient for such a growth is the 178-acre former BP campus property alongside Warrenville Road between Washington and Mill streets. Located on the north aspect of the I-88 hall, it will be accessible from I-88′s Naperville Road and Winfield Road exits.
Wehrli stated town will proceed to work as a crew to draw jobs, funding and financial growth alternatives “to keep Naperville one of the best cities in America.”
The Bears have a stadium lease at Soldier Field in Chicago via 2033, however need to construct their very own stadium with a purpose to generate profits from new seat licenses, luxurious suites, naming rights and different facilities, officers have stated.
The crew will proceed with demolition of the race observe on the Arlington Heights land it now owns however, based mostly on final week’s announcement, the positioning is “no longer our singular focus.”
The group maintains its plan to construct an enclosed stadium with an accompanying leisure and residential growth in Arlington Heights will not be a executed deal. Many questions stay unsettled on things like property tax limits and public subsidies being searched for the wanted infrastructure.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com