MAYOR SHOWS HER HAND
Lightfoot’s list of 5 possible sites for Chicago casino focuses on South, West sides
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday pinpointed five South and West side sites for a Chicago casino, but one — in historic Bronzeville — was condemned by the local alderman as akin to “putting a casino in Harlem.”
A casino at that site, once home to Michael Reese Hospital at 31st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, would be “appalling and offensive,” said Ald. Sophia King (4th).
Following the mayor’s recommendation, a consultant hired by the Illinois Gaming Board will now study the financial feasibility of that location and four others:
Near the Harborside International Golf Center site at 111th and the Bishop Ford Freeway.
Pershing Road and State Street. Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue. The former U.S. Steel parcel at 80th and Lake Shore Drive.
Missing are two previously mentioned possibilities: McCormick Place East and Navy Pier; both are closer to downtown. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has expressed his preference for a Chicago casino outside the downtown business district and away from McCormick Place.
Samir Mayekar, deputy mayor for economic and neighborhood development, said the sites were identified simply because the consultant can afford to study only five.
After community input, he said, it’s possible “the Chicago casino could be on a site that’s not identified on this list.”
By design, four out of the five are controlled by the city. Only the U.S. Steel site is not.
“If you pick sites that are on private land subject to land speculation, you encourage unproductive speculation,” Mayekar said.
Including the hospital site — purchased by the city for an Olympic Village that was never built — did not sit well with King.
In fact, she was furious.
“The community is adamantly against a casino at the former Michael Reese site. Casinos are known to have deleterious impacts on existing communities, especially communities of color. They siphon all of the inviting amenities that sustain vibrant communities,” King was quoted as saying in a statement.
“The juxtaposition of a casino in the historic Bronzeville community is appalling and offensive given the deep and storied African American history in Bronzeville. It would be like putting a casino in Harlem.”
Mayekar maintained that “depending on how the feasibility study comes back, the input of the community and certainly of the aldermen is gonna be vital.”
The Pershing and State site is in Ald. Pat Dowell ‘s 3rd Ward, and her input is: don’t put it there, either.
Pete’s Fresh Market has committed to that site, Dowell said in a statement, and that is “exactly what my community needs at this location.”
Michael Edwards, CEO of the Chicago Loop Alliance, said the downtown business group is still convinced the Loop is the best place for a casino.
“During past discussions, a site in the Loop made sense to us given the area’s access to transportation, lodging, entertainment, retail, and other amenities,” Edwards said.
Ald. Susan Sadlowski-Garza (10th) has been beating the drum for the site adjacent to the Harborside golf courses.
She argued again Wednesday that the site, controlled by the Illinois International Port District, is big enough for a hotel and recreational complex that would become an “economic engine” for the Southeast Side.
“There’s no one in this whole city that has the amenities that Harborside has. We have biking, fishing, canoeing. Across the street is the Pullman historical site. We just broke ground on the Ford environmental center. … It could be a recreation destination,” she said.
The site also would keep Illinois residents from gambling in Indiana, she said.
“I have the Horseshoe Casino directly to the east of me that takes in $47 million a month. Seventy-eight percent of the license plates that are parked in that lot are from Illinois,” Garza said.
“I’ve made this pitch to every single person that would listen. It’s our turn.”
Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24th) represents North Lawndale. His ward includes the Roosevelt and Kostner site, once an infamous dumping ground for FBI mole John Christopher, star of the federal investigation known as “Operation Silver Shovel.”
“When you think about the history of this site,” Scott said, using it to spur “economic development that has been longed for and needed in the community may be just the ticket.”
Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) was somewhat disappointed the list did not include McCormick Place East, which he said could be a “win-win” for the city.
“We’re hearing about the exorbitant costs that would come with tearing down that facility. I’m the kind of person who prefers adaptive re-use. It’s better for the environment. It saves a lot of money.”
Mayekar was hard-pressed to explain why Lakeside Center was not included when there is talk of replacing the outdated building.
“You ask, ‘Why not that site?’ I have plenty of people calling me [and asking], ‘Why not other sites?’ ’’ he said.