Summary
- Presentations for the Chicago casino will provide opportunity for resident feedback and questions.
- The city is expected to see $200 million in annual revenues from a casino facility.
- The first meeting will focus on the Hard Rock Casino plans.
Plans to bring a casino to Chicago continue to move forward, but at a snail’s pace. It was expected that a decision would be made on who would obtain licensing for the project by now, but delays have stood in the way of any decision making.
This week, three meetings are scheduled to discuss the remaining proposals and hopefully a decision is made on the matter so Chicago can begin the construction phase and eventually see casino gaming in play.
Details of the Casino Proposal Meetings
Starting today, the city will host community engagement meetings discussing the casino plans. From 6 to 8 pm Tuesday to Thursday, officials will spend time hearing what each operator has to say about what they plan to offer. Each bidder will have a chance to present their idea. Residents can attend the meetings, ask questions, and provide feedback on what they think about each proposal.
The first proposal will be held at the Harold Washington Library and will focus on the Hard Rock plan. On Wednesday, Bally’s Tribune plan will be up for discussion, a casino that would be added to the Tribune Publishing Plant location.
On Thursday, the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum is on the schedule, with a discussion on the Rivers 78 plans on the docket. Once all plans have been heard, a special committee of aldermen will make the final decision. It is expected that the selected plan will be made public by summer.
Alderman Comes Out in Opposition of Rivers 78 Development
As the meetings prepare to get underway, one alderman has come out in strong opposition to one of the proposals. Alderman Bryon Sigcho-Lopez wrote a letter recently, pointing out that he cannot support the casino in the Rivers 78 plan, showing support for the 78 Community Advisory Council.
The group consists of community leaders and neighbors who feel that the casino should not be constructed in the area. A resident survey in the area showed that the majority of those living in the region are opposed.
Neighbors are concerned that a casino will bring crime to the area as well as devalue homes and create problem gambling. Concern has also been shown for an increase in Illinois traffic. The poor support of the project may put it at a disadvantage when compared to the Bally’s and Hard Rock plans when it comes to the final decision-making process.
We should see the opposition appear at the Rivers 78 meeting later this week. The turnout and comments made during these meetings could be a strong indicator as to which plan will eventually be chosen by the committee.
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