CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A neighborhood group in the South Loop has responded negatively to the recent release of a slickly produced video of a new vision for Soldier Field and the property over the railroad tracks across DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
“It’s the same dome proposal that mayor (Lori) Lightfoot put out in the summer with a glitzy video,” said Marj Halperin, steering committee member of the One Community: Near South organization.
Chicagoans still owe $400 million to pay for the previous renovation of Soldier Field, One Community: Near South said, adding it would be a waste of money to saddle state taxpayers with more changes to the stadium as well as development across DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Halperin sees it as just a way for developer Bob Dunn to cash in on the air rights he owns over the Metra and Amtrak tracks across from the stadium.
“This is a pipe dream,” Halperin said. “It’s fantasy football at crazy, dizzying heights.
“The whole thing is a giant stadium of cards that rests on our tax dollars,” Halperin added. “We need to pull our tax dollars out of it and see if they can build something there on their own.”
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The proposal should be rejected whether the Bears decide to move to Arlington Heights or stay in the city, Halperin said.
“Why are we jumping for the shiny thing of the Bears when neighborhoods across this city are really desperate for this kind of support from taxpayers?” she asked.
In 2019, the state legislature approved spending $6.5 billion dollars for a transit hub across from Soldier Field.
Halperin would also like Chicago mayoral candidates to come out publicly in opposition for the new Soldier Field renovation plan.
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