CHICAGO | City Casino

[twister244]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Hissy fit from Reilly over Medinah Temple traffic study:

So.... The response here is to shit all over the CTA and act like River North is Naperville where any neighborhood traffic is unacceptable?

Who elected this person?

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by twister244

So.... The response here is to shit all over the CTA and act like River North is Naperville where any neighborhood traffic is unacceptable?

Who elected this person?

The people who elected him are the same people who are concerned about traffic - skewing heavily toward condo and townhouse owners, older folks, and people who drive, and skewing away from renters, younger people, and folks who bike/walk/ride CTA. There's a reason Reilly acts the way he does.

My coworkers who live in River North (in their 20s and 30s) are not politically active.

[ithakas]

Can we lobby Pritzker to appoint one of you transit savants to lead IDOT?

Really feels like they're holding back the city on multiple fronts...

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by twister244

So.... The response here is to shit all over the CTA and act like River North is Naperville where any neighborhood traffic is unacceptable?

Who elected this person?

. . . and of all the problems with River North, this will only add to the pile. . . also if you've got a better candidate to run for alderman of this ward, I'd be curious to know who that might be. . .

. . .

[r18tdi]

At the end of the day, the temporary Casino at MT is just that: temporary. I live a block away, and while the plan comes with some headaches for sure, I don't see the need to shit all over the adaptive reuse of a vacant Chicago landmark just because buses will idle outside, or it will now take 33 instead of 31 minutes to drive from Michigan Avenue to the Ontario feeder at rush hour...

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by ardecila

I think the removal of those things from the plan is more about IDOT than anything Bally's wants to do or not do. They allowed a skate park under the Kennedy in Logan Square, but I can't think of anything else under an expressway structure in the city. It's all just sad underused parking lots. Too bad we aren't like Tokyo. Or even Toronto.

Wow! I accidentally time warped in that Toronto street view to 2009. Not only has that area changed massively, but utilizing the space under the expressway makes that space so much more human scale. Would be great to replicate that under the feeder.

[left of center]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

At the end of the day, the temporary Casino at MT is just that: temporary. I live a block away, and while the plan comes with some headaches for sure, I don't see the need to shit all over the adaptive reuse of a vacant Chicago landmark just because buses will idle outside, or it will now take 33 instead of 31 minutes to drive from Michigan Avenue to the Ontario feeder at rush hour...

I wouldn't mind keeping this as a permanent off site location for Bally's, with shuttles to and from the main casino. Would definitely help bring in more tourist dollars into casino (and therefor city) coffers.

I'm sure the neighborhood NIMBYS would absolutely revolt at that idea however.

Yes, the area is congested. But did they somehow mistake one of the densest urban cores in the Western Hemisphere for Wayne, IL when moving here?

[mh777]

Originally Posted by left of center

I wouldn't mind keeping this as a permanent off site location for Bally's, with shuttles to and from the main casino.

As in have 2 separate casinos that close in proximity?

[left of center]

Originally Posted by mh777

As in have 2 separate casinos that close in proximity?

Yeah, why not? Same casino operator, but two locations. The Medinah Temple can focus more on slots and the table games and entertainment can be more focused on the main casino. I very much doubt that the actual casino license would allow for such a set up, but I think it would be great to have something like this in the center of River North as a permanent feature instead of just temporary.

[Roy_Batty]

That doesn’t make sense at all. The main casino is big enough to integrate all games and entertainment. Having two casinos run by the same operator with that proximity will only reduce the attractiveness of 1 single location with everything on it, plus it will also increase the operation costs.

[BVictor1]

For those interested in viewing the Committee on Design presentation from September, here you go...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll93wL9kHAk

[Randomguy34]

BALLY'S PARTNERS WITH PRIVATE INVESTOR ON AN UP TO $500 MILLION SALE LEASEBACK FOR FUTURE SITE OF BALLY'S CHICAGO

Bally's Corporation (NYSE: BALY) today announced that it has closed a transaction with one of Chicago's leading real estate private equity firms (the "Investor"), whereby such Investor acquired for $200 million, the approximately 30-acre Tribune Publishing Center site (the "Land") on which Bally's Chicago will be built. Pursuant to the terms of the parties' agreement, Bally's entered into a ground lease with the Investor to lease back the Land.

The ground lease includes an initial 99-year term, followed by ten separate 20-year renewals at Bally's option. As part of the transaction, as specified construction milestones are completed, at Bally's request, the Investor will fund up to an additional $300 million for Bally's Chicago's development through the ground lease structure. The initial rental rate under the ground lease is calculated to yield the Investor an 8.5% annual capitalization rate, adjusting to a 7.0% annual capitalization rate upon the receipt by Bally's of certain development entitlements and gaming approvals. The rent is also subject to periodic CPI increases.

Soo Kim, Chairman of the Board of Bally's, said, "We are excited to be partnering with one of Chicago's leading real estate private equity firm as we progress with building our $1.7 billion flagship property in the Chicago market. We continue to demonstrate our commitment to delivering a world class entertainment facility that supports Chicago's economy and community."

https://www.ballys.com/news/news-det...o/default.aspx

[thegoatman]

surprised they haven't started building the temporary casino yet

[Randomguy34]

They still need a license to operate in Illinois, otherwise they're starting construction on pure speculation

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

They still need a license to operate in Illinois, otherwise they're starting construction on pure speculation

I'd imagine there are still some city hoops to jump through too, like landmarks permitting, etc.
And it looks like the city is hosting another town hall (AKA bitch session) on the 29th.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

I'd imagine there are still some city hoops to jump through too, like landmarks permitting, etc.
And it looks like the city is hosting another town hall (AKA bitch session) on the 29th.

One of 2 meetings I'm now realizing...

Dec 05
Chicago Casino Permanent Site Town Hall

Join the City and Bally’s for a public engagement meeting regarding an amendment to PD 1426 for the Bally’s Chicago Casino permanent casino.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago...s-472658884447

When and where
Date and time
Mon, December 5, 2022, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST

Location
Chicago Tribune Publishing Center 700 W Chicago Chicago, IL 60654

[Ricochet48]

There's also a town hall on the 29th too (at Wolf Point Plaza) that myself and a few other friends are going to.

With a Circle K, weed shop (former rainforest), and now temp casino opening soon all a few blocks from my building... many here have lots of concerns.

Walking to the Loop on State by two 7-11's, Snickers, and Rossi's gets dicey in the morning (and afternoon, and of course late evening) now, getting harassed by drugged out thugs every time. Adding a casino will likely increase hobo harassment, but we will see.

Smart people don't gamble as they are better at math. Large casinos don't get build because everyone is winning... I expect the crowd to be those that by lottery tickets (the idiot tax) at my Jewel one block away.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by Ricochet48

There's also a town hall on the 29th too (at Wolf Point Plaza) that myself and a few other friends are going to.

With a Circle K, weed shop (former rainforest), and now temp casino opening soon all a few blocks from my building... many here have lots of concerns.

Walking to the Loop on State by two 7-11's, Snickers, and Rossi's gets dicey in the morning (and afternoon, and of course late evening) now, getting harassed by drugged out thugs every time. Adding a casino will likely increase hobo harassment, but we will see.

Smart people don't gamble as they are better at math. Large casinos don't get build because everyone is winning... I expect the crowd to be those that by lottery tickets (the idiot tax) at my Jewel one block away.

Ladies and gentlemen, we found the NIMBY. Scared of everything, speaks in hyperbole, generalizes everything. Bravo!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by Ricochet48

With a Circle K, weed shop (former rainforest), and now temp casino opening soon all a few blocks from my building... many here have lots of concerns.

Walking to the Loop on State by two 7-11's, Snickers, and Rossi's gets dicey in the morning (and afternoon, and of course late evening) now, getting harassed by drugged out thugs every time. Adding a casino will likely increase hobo harassment, but we will see.

Smart people don't gamble as they are better at math. Large casinos don't get build because everyone is winning... I expect the crowd to be those that by lottery tickets (the idiot tax) at my Jewel one block away.

Weed shops are some of the most secure places I’ve seen in the city. Shouldn’t you welcome the private security that they hire for the neighborhood? Certainly less of an issue than the people who hang out at the abandoned Rainforest Cafe today. I assume the casino will also have private security.

If you have issues with the existing 7-11 and Snickers, talk to your Alderman about fixing that issue.

People of all types like to gamble at casinos. You aren’t better than the people who choose that form of entertainment, acting like you are undercuts your whole argument.

[thegoatman]

If this temp casino isn't ready by summer 2023, they're gonna miss out on soooo much cash