A team of Chicago developers unveiled a $10 billion, 100-acre development plan for the former Michael Reese Hospital site on Thursday according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The proposal serves as both a Hail Mary effort to keep the Chicago Bears in Chicago and a response to hit a city-imposed deadline to submit updated plans, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Expanding the Project to 100 Acres
The newly expanded 100-acre project more than doubles the size of the original Bronzeville Lakefront development by combining the 48.6-acre Michael Reese site with the nearby five-building apartment complex Prairie Shores, located along King Drive between 26th and 31st streets, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. The Chicago Tribune said that the site also incorporates the McCormick Place Marshaling Yard to the east.
Developers on Thursday unveiled a $10 billion proposal for a large-scale development district in Bronzeville that would include a domed stadium for the Bears. https://t.co/hBwAx1Ip1A
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Developers behind the initiative include Capri Investment Group founder Quintin Primo joining GRIT Chicago, a consortium of developers and investors led by Farpoint Development that previously purchased the Michael Reese site, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.
GRIT Chicago Expands the Footprint to 100 Acres
Previously, the Bears dismissed the Michael Reese site, citing that it was too narrow and posed safety concerns because a stadium would need to be built over an active rail line, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. GRIT Chicago said that their new vision answers those criticisms regarding tight spaces or encroachment on existing housing and rail yards by expanding the footprint to 100 acres.
There's another new proposal in the Bears' stadium saga, this one relating to Bronzeville, as @leilarahimi and @LouCanellis discussed. pic.twitter.com/60gisAYCTV
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“More than once, what we've heard from the Bears is that the stadium would not fit on the Michael Reese site,” Quintin Primo, executive chairman of Capri Investment Group and newest member of GRIT Chicago, said according to the Chicago Tribune.
The vision includes housing, office and retail space, hotels, and a domed stadium capable of hosting the Bears, according to the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. According to the Chicago Tribune, two of the Prairie Shores high-rises will be preserved, while the others totaling about 1,000 units will be replaced by modern units reserved for families currently living at Prairie Shores.
Any emerging, attention-grabbing Bears stadium proposals should face this question first … Is the Bears organization actually invested or engaged at all in said proposal? If not … 🤔 Question 2: Can the Bears, with patience thinning and other league owners seeking clarity,…
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Primo promised that for every unit lost, one-and-a-half new units would be built, with many located on 60 acres of undeveloped, publicly owned land nearby, as stated in the Chicago Tribune.
Lamont Robinson, who represents the South Side ward containing the Michael Reese site, emphasized protections for current residents.
“I want to be very clear that before you can remove, tear down Prairie Shores, you have to put the units up first. You need to have 1,000 units up before you can take one unit down or have one family displaced,” Robinson said.
Developers project about $14 billion in regional economic activity during the development of the project, alongside roughly 60,000 construction-related jobs, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bears Executives Meet with State and NFL Leaders
The Michael Reese proposal arrives as state leaders and team executives navigate venue options. According to Sports Business Journal, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, and Bears Chair George McCaskey met with Illinois legislative leaders in Chicago, with the team promising to continue considering a venue in Arlington Heights or Chicago.
The team stated it is continuing to work collaboratively with local and state leaders in Indiana to advance stadium development plans in Hammond, while also appreciating recent engagement from Illinois leadership to explore legislation, according to Sports Business Journal.
.@LaurenceWHolmes explains why he's "so tired" of independent contractor types and developers attaching themselves to the Bears' stadium pursuit when they aren't actually a player in the game. As one of his many reasons, Holmes adds, "I find it to be unfair to the Bears." pic.twitter.com/tKf6rZwi3y
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Developers of the Michael Reese project stated they could not divulge details regarding conversations with Mayor Brandon Johnson—who has been receptive to relocating the team to the South Side lakefront—or with Gov. JB Pritzker, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“We have talked, and will continue to talk with everyone,” Zeb McLaurin, CEO of McLaurin Development Partners, said according to the Chicago Tribune. Both Pritzker and state legislative leaders maintain that the Bears will ultimately decide where they play, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
When it comes to the #Bears stadium, keep your eye on the ball. These shiny city stadium proposals are fun, but House Bill 958 is what matters right now. The first week of December is the week to circle. There's been continued progress this week, working through the language. Of… pic.twitter.com/93qK4xvkWa
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Earlier coverage: Developers Unveil $10 Billion Bronzeville Lakefront Stadium Plan
The Extra Point with @HaughPayton is next! What do you make of the latest #Bears stadium proposal at the Michael Reese location? pic.twitter.com/gPrj9uHrt8
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