CHICAGO | Will the Sox leave US Comiskular Rate Field?

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Someone remind me please, why is the plan to build a new Near South Side high school "controversial?"

Some don't think it is needed and want the money invested in the existing schools in the area. Some don't like the previously proposed location, which included a CHA land swap.

CPS is committed to building it and The 78 has been a preferred location for those in Chinatown.

[twister244]

The more I read into this, the more I like the plan here. This has huge potential to really extend South to Chinatown and McCormick. I've been to McCormick for a conference and Chinatown once each. I like McCormick and Chinatown, but they feel a bit disconnected to the South Loop, even though it's not that far up. And if the Fire can take over Guaranteed Rate, all the better.

[Randomguy34]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

Some don't think it is needed and want the money invested in the existing schools in the area. Some don't like the previously proposed location, which included a CHA land swap.

Plus the school was going to cost over $100 million, I don't understand how CPS came up with that figure. Someone could build two or three highrises with that kind of money

[nomarandlee]

I like the idea of a downtown(sh) ballpark, but I hope they revisit the plans and locate it near the north side of the 78 off Roosevelt. It just seems to make more sense logistically, given that from the corner of Roosevelt/Clark, it is .20 miles to the Roosevelt L station.

There is a slew of off-site parking near Roosevelt/Canal, only .30 miles across the current viaduct. It is only a 1.15-mile walk from the Daley Center compared to a 1.50-mile walk if located near Clark/15th. Plus, I don't think the future 5k residents would love having the glare of the stadium lights shining in their windows nor much of the foot traffic wandering through the neighborhood on their way back north towards Roosevelt (which will serve as the main thoroughfare for the stadium regardless of where it is located at the 78). Having the stadium above grade on the north end would also make it easier to put below-grade parking and operations under a stadium plaza near the outfield gates connecting off of Roosevelt.

Also, I think the visibility of it being off Roosevelt is better from a promotional point of view than being tucked away in the southern section of the 78. A plaza off of Roosevelt wrapping around the ballpark would also provide a much more seamless graded transition to Wells Street.

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

I like the idea of a downtown(sh) ballpark, but I hope they revisit the plans and locate it near the north side of the 78 off Roosevelt. It just seems to make more sense logistically, given that from the corner of Roosevelt/Clark, it is .20 miles to the Roosevelt L station.

There is a slew of off-site parking near Roosevelt/Canal, only .30 miles across the current viaduct. It is only a 1.15-mile walk from the Daley Center compared to a 1.50-mile walk if located near Clark/15th. Plus, I don't think the future 5k residents would love having the glare of the stadium lights shining in their windows nor much of the foot traffic wandering through the neighborhood on their way back north towards Roosevelt (which will serve as the main thoroughfare for the stadium regardless of where it is located at the 78). Having the stadium above grade on the north end would also make it easier to put below-grade parking and operations under a stadium plaza near the outfield gates connecting off of Roosevelt.

Also, I think the visibility of it being off Roosevelt is better from a promotional point of view than being tucked away in the southern section of the 78. A plaza off of Roosevelt wrapping around the ballpark would also provide a much more seamless graded transition to Wells Street.

The biggest problem with that idea is the rock island metra line would be going right under it making everything more complicated including utilizing below grade spaces.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

The biggest problem with that idea is the rock island metra line would be going right under it making everything more complicated including utilizing below grade spaces.

I thought about that. You may be right. I was unsure where exactly the RI tracks should start their descent according to the current plans. I figure that wherever you put the ballpark, the RI line grade separation will have to be part of the project and run under the ballpark, given that I don't think the ballpark will be able to be built except over the RI line.

I figure why not start the below-grade rail separation a bit further north than planned (perhaps even starting at the Roosevelt Collection) so it can clear under the ballpark if it was situated on the north end.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Plus the school was going to cost over $100 million, I don't understand how CPS came up with that figure. Someone could build two or three highrises with that kind of money

High rises are a lot different than schools. The new Englewood STEM school cost $85 million in 2019. A Walter Payton annex building for 400 students cost $20 million in 2016.

[Busy Bee]

edit

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Someone remind me please, why is the plan to build a new Near South Side high school "controversial?"

This I believe.

[BruceP]

Personally, I don't care what they do as long as they honor all their financial obligations to the state for their current playlot and don't get a dime in government monies for a new one. Let these billionaire club owners pay for their for-profit toys out of their own pockets.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

High rises are a lot different than schools. The new Englewood STEM school cost $85 million in 2019. A Walter Payton annex building for 400 students cost $20 million in 2016.

Jones is probably the best comparison here as an urban vertical high school. And that cost $113M way back in 2015. I'd say if they can build Near South for only $100M a decade later, that is a bargain!

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Plus the school was going to cost over $100 million, I don't understand how CPS came up with that figure. Someone could build two or three highrises with that kind of money

2 or 3 highrises? In 2024? Made out of what??
I would expect a new school to cost at least around that much.

[MorganChi]

Dave kapland who covers all of Chicago sports and who has a morning show on ESPN 1000 says he has a close source that works in white Sox organization. The source tells him the stadium is pretty much a done deal. As a bulls and bears fan I can tell you Dave Kaplan’s sources are always on the mark.


https://youtu.be/9Mi5IbBymDA

[Steely Dan]

This all seems to be happening so fast.

But hey, I'm 100% in support of the sox staying in Chicago instead of going to fucking Nashville or sunbelt wherever.

There's only one city in the world that has both an old school national League team and an old school American league team still playing in their original city.

Let's pray to Pizza God that it stays that way.

[lakeshoredrive]

Originally Posted by MorganChi

Dave kapland who covers all of Chicago sports and who has a morning show on ESPN 1000 says he has a close source that works in white Sox organization. The source tells him the stadium is pretty much a done deal. As a bulls and bears fan I can tell you Dave Kaplan’s sources are always on the mark.


https://youtu.be/9Mi5IbBymDA

Oh boy.

[BrickellBased]

Something rather amusing about how the adjacent NIMBYs were complaining about the casino pitch may now be getting a MLB stadium instead.

I assume they'd redo the dank Roosevelt Red Line there as well and there'd be a considerable facelift to the surrounding area.

Also if they break ground for sure I could see this resulting in a development boom in the South Loop area - maybe even giving hope to a NEMA II.

In the interest of all skyscraper nerds, I say build it!

[k1052]

If the city/state is going to spend the money to keep a team this is immeasurably better than an NFL stadium. Hopefully this forecloses the possibility helping the Bears out in any real way.

[DalronJ]

This would probably become my favorite project ever if this can be done right. I'm going to keep dreaming for

- Riverline & Southbank to fully complete
- A Bears Stadium/Dome on the level of SOFI built on/near the Soldier Field Site
- One Central
- Some type of train transit to connect all of these together, maybe even with the convention center also. (A Loop in the south loop)
- Also wouldn't mind a soccer venue somewhere in the downtown vicinity.

[bnk]

Curious if the sox do move what the plan would be with the current field they play at. Tear it down? Repurpose? The sox had problems filling that stadium unlike Wriggley. Since there are so many less sox fans than cubs fans they are going to need a winning team to fill it.


https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life...d-school-park/

The White Sox Need a New, Old-School Park
Guaranteed Rate Field was built right before the retro ballpark movement, and it lacks the cozy atmosphere that could make it a destination.

BY EDWARD ROBERT MCCLELLAND
JANUARY 25, 2024, 1:15 PM

[lakeshoredrive]

Originally Posted by bnk

Curious if the sox do move what the plan would be with the current field they play at. Tear it down? Repurpose? The sox had problems filling that stadium unlike Wriggley. Since there are so many less sox fans than cubs fans they are going to need a winning team to fill it.


https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life...d-school-park/

The White Sox Need a New, Old-School Park
Guaranteed Rate Field was built right before the retro ballpark movement, and it lacks the cozy atmosphere that could make it a destination.

BY EDWARD ROBERT MCCLELLAND
JANUARY 25, 2024, 1:15 PM

Would Chicago Fire be interested? Could the park be retrofitted into a soccer stadium?