CHICAGO | The 78 Site

[build_tall_chicago]

Is it considered on topic to complain about the $425M TIF money omitting the red line stop and instead adding a 1200 space parking complex funded through the TIF which apparently will just hold money to pay for it's own maintenance and considering that, not make city any money overall? Also the whole Riverline development here just on the north as well AND the Metra yards across the river bought by Ishbia, is there plans to connect this swath of land to public transportation? The Ishbia part is across the river and is far far out so maybe not considering that

[Bonsai Tree]

Originally Posted by sentinel

?? I can't tell if you're joking or not..

I am most certainly not joking. That is not a taxpayer expense. Related should be paying for that.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by build_tall_chicago

Is it considered on topic to complain about the $425M TIF money omitting the red line stop and instead adding a 1200 space parking complex funded through the TIF which apparently will just hold money to pay for it's own maintenance and considering that, not make city any money overall? Also the whole Riverline development here just on the north as well AND the Metra yards across the river bought by Ishbia, is there plans to connect this swath of land to public transportation? The Ishbia part is across the river and is far far out so maybe not considering that

I think he's still going to try to get a new park on to the 78 first and the Amtrak yard is the backup. The Fire needs to get their field built first and the Bears saga needs to end probably before they seriously engage.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Bonsai Tree

I am most certainly not joking. That is not a taxpayer expense. Related should be paying for that.

It’s not even the “taxpayer money” thing that bothers me per se. The original 78 plan to generate TIF revenues on site is fine, and was essentially a backdoor property tax break.

Instead, the city is just blatantly taking money from West Loop’s TIF and spending it here. That will make it harder to finance some *actually important* projects that benefit the entire city and region, like the long-term Union Station rehab and the bus terminal. Insanely misplaced priorities.

[BVictor1]

08.03.26

[lakeshoredrive]

Good progress already!

[Jstange059]

You can see some of the slopes of the stadium seating starting to form

[ChicagoLVR]

I'm sure there was a ton of behind the scenes work for this project but I'll say this prpject felt like the fastest announcement to construction project in a long, long time. Even some midrises have taken longer from announcement to construction.

[Chi-Sky21]

Hard to really tell the scale here, almost looks not big enough to fit an entire pitch from that last shot. Can't wait to see it finished!

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by ChicagoLVR

I'm sure there was a ton of behind the scenes work for this project but I'll say this prpject felt like the fastest announcement to construction project in a long, long time. Even some midrises have taken longer from announcement to construction.

I suspect a lot of that is since Mansueto is paying for the stadium himself without any public funding, financing was already lined up well before shovels were in the ground (if not at all…he’s extremely wealthy and could be funding construction without any financing as well 🤷🏻♂️); construction mobilization was already planned out well in advance, and all they needed were construction permits.

[Steely Dan]

Isn't it amazing how fast a large project can move when it isn't built upon a foundation of stealing billions of dollars from the tax payers.

Mansueto is playing by the original rules of society that say rich people should pay for things that benefit the greater good, as opposed to the new rules that Bears wanna play by that say the greater good should be sacrificed to make the rich even richer.

The new rules suck.

Fuck the Bears.

[Randomguy34]

^ I've watched many football stadiums around the world under construction and this is easily that fastest I've seen one go up. Granted, the Fire Stadium's 20k seats is waayyy smaller and easier to build than the international standard ~60k seat stadium. Despite that, I know many ~60k seat stadiums that started construction when I was in high school and still haven't finished. Unsurprisingly, those are the ones that "required" a lot of public funding from the local and/or national government

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Isn't it amazing how fast a large project can move when it isn't built upon a foundation of stealing billions of dollars from the tax payers.

Mansueto is playing by the original rules of society that say rich people should pay for things that benefit the greater good, as opposed to the new rules that Bears wanna play by that say the greater good should be sacrificed to make the rich even richer.

The new rules suck.

Fuck the Bears.

Unfortunately the Bears are getting really good on the field... which I love as a fan, but as a taxpayer it couldn't come at a worse time.

If they have another successful season with a playoff run or even Super Bowl appearance, I think politicians will suddenly stop being so principled...