ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Leaders of the Chicago Bears held a community meeting Thursday night at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights to talk about what they would do if they decide to move the team to the site of the Arlington Park horse racing track.
Bears Chairman George McCaskey said the team would completely finance an enclosed stadium there, but the Bears also want to build a mixed-use development that includes entertainment, retail, dining and housing.
He said the team could only afford to do that if public funds helped pay for it.
“We will need help. There are broad, long-term public benefits of this project and we look forward to partnering with the various governmental bodies to secure additional funding and assistance needed to support development of the remainder of the site. How much or what form this will take we do not know at this time,” McCaskey said.
While some of the people attending the meeting supported public funds for the project because of the economic benefits it could bring to the area, Brian Costin of Buffalo Grove disagreed.
“The taxpayers already pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, in Illinois in the northwest suburbs. They don’t need to be burdened even more for a billionaire company like the Chicago Bears," Costin said.
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Mary, an Arlington Heights resident, said it would be a good investment of public funds.
“I think it’s going to bring a lot of revenue to Arlington Heights. It’s going to put some of the northwest suburbs on map,” Mary said.
But, John Rupczynski of Arlington Heights also disagreed.
I don’t think that the village should kick forth or the taxpayers kick forth any money. We can’t maintain our sidewalks, our streets. If you’re going to develop the property, develop the property. Why should it come down on the taxpayers to develop that property?” Rupczynski said.
The Bears said the community meeting was just part of a broader effort to build a future that's best for the team, its fans and the community.
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