Zell no to state bid for Wrigley
 

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These newspapers should be ashamed of themselves. Mars has no rights to change wrigley field's name. Wrigley Field is named for William Wrigley, not the Wrigley gum co. At the time the stadium was built, most ballparks were named for their owners. Secondly, the partial naming rights thing is about doing what the yankess are doing with their new ballpark, naming sections and gate entrances to the park. It will always be wrigley field, but we may have to sacrifice some historic integrity to keep it that way. As a diehard myself, I am willing to do that in order to renovate the park and ensure that it remains for another 94 years for my grandchildren and great grandchildren to see. The only negative will be that F'n stupid parking garage and promenade. That thing is atrocious, but I guess in this day and age we have no choice. All the fans from the suburbs should take the metra down and the red line to the ballpark, but that would make going to a game an all-day event. Oh no!

Well since the deal with the state has died and it doesn't the condition of Wrigley doesn't seem dire I am guessing any plans to revamp Wrigley will not be seen for a number of years at least......

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Inland makes bid for Wrigley Field
 

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Sun-Times render in article.....

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...0708wrig-1.jpg

^ A big improvement from the crapola planned before.

Of course, the surest way to tell if a project has improved is whether NIMBY's oppose it, which they clearly will. Crains has posted an article about it right now; let the NIMBY bitching begin.

As of 2008 people still actually believe that providing more parking leads to reduced traffic congestion. And Barack Obama is a muslim

:uhh: hmmm... i'm extremely skeptical of this being a good thing for wrigley...

Least there is less parking. *shrugs*

Like at Cumberland and Howard? Who drives to Wrigley? And more importantly, why are you still sober enough to drive home?

The design is standard boring stadium architecture, but at least it's built to the lot line and forms a streetwall. Maybe we can get rid of the McDonalds drive thru next?

Is that a bridge connecting this thing to Wrigley???

the love of wrigley is timeless.....it is almost a collegiate atmosphere.. dammit it is.....

Yea it looks as though it is connecting the two...

I love this...alot needs to be done about the area surrounding Wrigley and this is a huge step in the right direction...I hope this gets completed before the start of next season!

Quoted for Truth.

I live near Wrigley, and I can tell you that a large reason the area is in such great shape today is because of the stadium. The NIMBY's were all for the businesses coming back to Clark and Addison. Adding parking just means more people will drive instead of take mass transit. Don't give them an option, and you won't have this problem.

I agree with you there...I can see the required parking for the athletes, coaches, team owners, and even media...but there is no need to give people a reason to drive by making public parking around there. That is one of the main reasons why this city cannot depend more on transit, because we build so many damn parking garages in pretty much every building. Look at NY...they barely add parking to new condo buildings anymore and if they do its only about 50 places as opposed to our 300 or 400 spots. We have alot to work on!

I know this is a bit off thread but what is happening on the old Sports Corner site.

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6893/sc2hlq.jpg


http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7518/sc1u.jpg

^I think someone here said that they were going to build a new and larger Sports Corner.

^ thanks for the update, spyguy. In my search, I haven't found any updated plans for the new & improved Sports Corner.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7...rtscorner2.jpg

^ RIP, completely-unimpressive-building-who's-only-redeeming-value-was-housing-a-shitty-bar-that-was-only-worth-going-to-on-thursdays

^ How very-informed of you.

^ haha, i knew you'd say something. I'd love to hear what's good about the building, or if you could refer me to a post where it was already discussed :)

^ Pretty predictable, huh? I'm surprised I even subscribe to this thread, being such a sports fan, and all.

There was a long discussion about it in the General Developments thread. Actually, I was surprised by how many people did see the qualities of the building (and some sports nostalgia too). I'd suggest looking over there.

^ I rarely went there, maybe twice. Something about it didn't feel right. Sluggers has more space & a better vibe. I'm curious to see how they replace the old SC. Traditional details or block box. But I digress.

I'd be shocked if the replacement isn't noticeably crappier and less appropriate for the location than the building they razed.

^That's what I'm afraid of.^

^^^ But wouldn't it be great if it turned out to be some faceted glass cube? A dream I know, but I hope its a dream that will eventually start coming true in the future. Times of hardship (wars, depression, relocation) seem to trigger more radical experimentation in art and architecture, hopefully this mini-depression will do the same...

The Captain dropped some coin on this.

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8559/wrigley1.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/247/wrigley5.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5281/wrigley4.jpg

New sod, Play ball!
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5310/wrigley3.jpg

^ Is that an alteration? If so, I'm shocked they allowed it.

Yep, that sure looks hideous.

:previous: i can't believe that. what a disgrace. like there aren't enough bars and restaurants within puking distance of the field as there are now? now they go and continue the bastardization and corporate branding of what should, IMHO, remain a low-key stadium. I guess it would be ok to have that club, but why can't it just be named something like 'wrigley club' or 'caray club' -- something team or field specific? i get it that captain morgan is sponsoring this, but i just don't see the connection between a pirate and the cubs.

first there's the bud light bleachers, now this. can't wait to see what's in store next. what a shame.

The first thing that popped in my head was that thing is terrible.

Just one more place to catch and sell to the drunken fans before and after the game.

Right behind the Harry Carry statue and all. Harry my have had a few in his day but I do not think he was a rum man.

Just a very sad addition.


http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5281/wrigley4.jpg


photo by george

My problem isn't so much with the name of it even though it is indeed tacky. Most here much more eloquent then myself can pick it apart but it should offend even the most casual observers eye even if it is not suppose to be a permanent structure. If this is sensitivity the ballpark then I am damn glad the Tribune is out in the door before any eventual rehabbing of the actual ballpark, what does disturb is that I am guessing the new prospective owner was consulted and actually signed of on this.

This is the type of boo-ya, uuggah-uuggah, yahoo crap that makes me hate myself for being a cub fan, I wish I couldn't be but I can't can't be

Is it temporary? If so, that would be the reason it slid past Landmarks.

Or did that Landmarking not ever happen? I have to admit, I've been too distracted to follow it.

______
(Edit: It's weird, but the second paragraph of my original post did not appear in the actual post until I went back to edit it.)

in fact, if the television advertising of the 1980s can believed, harry caray was not only a "cubs fan", he was also a "bud man". ;)

I was over by Wrigley today. This Captain Rum thing ... you don't really notice it. That creepy Carey Ascending from the Flames sculpture is way more disturbing, really.

I'd been watching that thing take shape over the past few weeks as the Addison station is my local el stop, but I had no clue what it was that they were building. I guess I could have asked here, but for some reason I never thought about it other than when I was standing on the el platform looking at the evolving structure taking shape. So it's a bar? I never go out drinking in Wrigleyville anyway, so it doesn't mean much to me. I was surprised how quickly they built it though.

i just spent the last three days in wrigley (best waste of money, ever.), and the captain morgan thing is actually pretty nice. it's unnoticeable, and fits in well with everything else. why does everything not like it?

what freaks me out is this:
http://chicagoist.com/attachments/ch...gram122308.jpg
that'll absolutely destroy wrigleyville. and what's with the damn trees? even NARROWER side walks? trees have no place on that stretch of clark. and neither does a MASSIVE 9 story mega-plex. what's the news on this? is the city going to allow this?


and what's the news on the new building planned for the parking lot next door ...with the new facilities and team parking and such?

Yeah, somehow I don't think one block can destroy Wrigleyville. Anyway, I'm not sure what the problem with this bar is. When you think Cubs you think bars anyway, what's one more right in the stadium?

wrigleyville is almost entirely that block. clark, from addison to newport.

Gotta agree with AXS on this one. From the rendering it looks like the develpment is intentionally pushing pedestrian to the other sidewalks. the trees look like barriers. I imagine that once folks are actually living in the units, they will be complaing about all the traffic and people on THEIR sidewalks. And of course "what about the children?"

That;s bull. This rendering looks like a step up from SketchUp. WE don;t even know if those trees are actually planned. It's like seeing a rendering that has 'store' signs or 'bank' and getting all pissed off that their planning on having a bank in he development. You are just speculating. To suggest that their intention is to push people of "their" sidewalk is premature and frankly a bit batty.

So the area around Bernie's and to the west is...

I know the borders for Wrigleyville are very vague, but I can't help but to think it also goes north, west, and east of the park, too. Not just south...for one block.

That development barely goes to Eddy, 3 streets north of Newport. And Wrigleyville definitely goes all the way down to Roscoe and up to Grace. Casey Moran's, The Full Shilling, Murphy's Bleachers, The Blarney Stone, and many others, including "Rockit Wrigleyville" are north of that block.

Besides, there isn't much on that block except a parking lot, a 7-11, a Starbucks, and the Salt and Pepper. Bar Louie and the sketchy memorabilia joint are being saved. I live 2 blocks away, and the area could use a hotel, and something definitely needs to be done about those almost always empty parking lots.

yeah... let's all split hairs as to where wrigleyville starts and ends. :koko:

this development has NO place on clark street.
can anyone really tell me they'd like to see from here, to here ERASED with some brand new bs?
and since when does wrigleyville need a hotel and MORE condos? i'm all for replacing the 7-11 and the empty lots with 1-3 story building, but a 9-story MEGA PLEX? this is just awful, and has no place in the community.

also, the starbucks isn't just some crappy building.
it's an original piece of chicago

...this isn't a part of chicago that is in need of new development. and besides, if the developer wants his huge project, why isn't the lot of 7-11 down to the starbucks big enough?


and btw, i too live in the neighborhood.

I think the damn development should be even larger, taller and more intense as long as they don't have those 520 paking spots

When you say a neighborhood consists of one block in an effort to dramatize your opinion, expect it to be shot down. FYI for the future, I guess.

If people don't want the park renamed, this is the way ownership is going to increase revenue. Yankee Stadium is still called Yankee Stadium, but every seat; cup holder and fixture within the park has a corporate logo slapped on it.

Get used to it.

If they tear down Mullens I'll be extremely pissed...

And if they can tear down The sports corner, or the Budwieser Building in left field (which will take place after this season for a 4 story condo/rooftop), both of which are/were original Lakeview buildings the Starbucks will likely go the way of the Dodo...

I'd like to see some low rise commercial on the South side of Addison, a couple of restaurants and Cafe's would be nice. Sprinkle in a bar or two and it would be perfect.

Not much besides the Starbucks building that's up for demolition is really worth a second thought and the displaced bars are being offered leases in the new building. That wedge of land is badly under utilized. I also believe the residental has been switched to rental from condo.

Getting this kind of dense multi-use project within spitting distance of the Red Line is exactly the kind of stuff the city should be supporting.