Tribune Media’s River District interests buyers as potential casino site

The 37-acre waterfront site went up for sale in February 18
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4iQy...district.0.jpg

https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/8/8/...strict-tribune

There's the river district as well

“Mayor Lightfoot on next steps on Chicago casino development....We will start process with focus groups, studies & surveys on location and desired amenities. "I see this as a large entertainment district" not just box of casino to maximize once in generation opportunity at revs...”

”...jobs, long term economic viability, pension funding help...."We have to be thoughtful and intentional about what we are designing so it is something that attracts people from all over the world....we need a world class entertainment district" that casino is part of.....“

https://mobile.twitter.com/Yvette_BB...58464873902083

https://mobile.twitter.com/Yvette_BB...58546700570625

I would assume the suburban box casino is out of the question. But It also doesn’t sound like it’s going to be slotted into an existing strong entertainment district if it’s feasible to go bigger.

:cheers:

I'd love to see a grand casino in Marshall Fields once Macy's inevitably folds.

Reading between the lines, can this be anywhere other than Motor Row?

When "Entertainment District" was mentioned, that was my first thought. There's also that supposed entertainment district floated around at the former Morton Salt on Elston near Division. Not too far from that Chicago Tribune redevelopment site.

I think somewhere in Motor Row makes more sense though. Any large historic building in that area which is looking for redevelopment? I would also say a few intersections at 23rd and Wabash for new development, but I think on one corner a residential building would probably complain about it.. Hate to say it too, but somewhere in West Loop could make some sense too - Damen stop supposed to open next year right? Couldn't imagine traffic during a game night though..

Motor Row and possibly United Center are the only two locations that might satisfy most of the supposed requirements:

-Profitable
-Convenient access to existing tourist infrastructure
—Without competing against existing tourist and convention venues
-Connect with and attract new international tourists
—Offer a unique casino experience among worldwide rivals
-Revitalize a struggling area (Does not favor the North Side)
—Employ the disadvantaged without exploiting poor neighborhoods
-Safe, Easy to patrol against criminals

https://chicago.suntimes.com/platfor...inment-complex

If I were king, I would incorporate some or all of the existing buildings on the odd-side 2200 block of S Michigan with new construction in the parking lot on Indiana. I would enclose that alley as part of the casino to give it some sort of 1920's gangstereque speakeasy vibe. The small parking lot just north of 2245 S Michigan could be turned into some sort of grand entrance from Michigan Ave.

Then it could be connected to the McCormick Place skyway network and contribute to convention hotel capacity as well. It's also very close to Chinatown, Wintrust Arena and not crazy far from Soldier Field. McCormick Place parking could be used, for the most part I think. Transit access would be decent (close to Green Line, 1, 3, 4, 21, 29 and not too far from the Red Line either, although that block feels longer than it is).

^ You would think any smart casino operator would want to avoid the image of organized crime, no? I don't disagree with the 1920s theme, especially if we get a Greektown Casino-esque complex in Motor Row, but they'll have to be a little more subtle than that.

Glad to see that Lightfoot is still thinking big on this one. The proof is in the pudding, though, everybody says "world class" but few actually bother to take a look around the world to see the competition. And the city will ultimately be constrained by what the licensee is willing or not willing to do, with regards to design.

I do like the idea of a temporary site, as well... get a huge cavernous building like the Freedom Center and gussy it up with decorations and slot machines. If an operator can start collecting money sooner, it may be easier to persuade them to spend more money on good design.

I would love it if we got a vertical casino like Altira in Macau... compact site, large hotel tower, no huge windowless podium (well, it is windowless but they gave it the Times Square treatment). We had cocktails there, it was super luxury, gorgeous inside and out:
https://goo.gl/maps/Q4kt9TS1xivKT3PD7

^ I don't know, I think they should just own it. Call it Al Capone's Casino and tourists will flock there.

I think that salt district redevelopment would be a cool take on a casino, but maybe too gimmicky and so ultimately I would advocate for a new construction and ultra-luxury casino tower by a Wynn. That would probably help differentiate from the other casinos in the region too.

That would actually be quite fitting if they built it around Motor Row. Capone lived there for a few years in the Lexington Hotel which was demolished. They could borrow the design language if they wanted and it would fit right in.

https://images.fineartamerica.com/im...ory-museum.jpg

And the apartment building that sits there now is called the Lex. Now I know why.

As much as a mob based Casino could sell, for.image purposes I think that Chicago should be distancing itself from any sort of crime image when it comes to things like this.

The casino is supposed to bring in money. To do that, you need to target everyone from a tourist to a local to a high roller (wherever they live). They need to be true to something being world class and not a dingy casino in the middle of Iowa.

Yeah we need to leave that kind of stuff to the history museum and whatever tacky gangster tour operators. Chicago's casino needs to reflect well on the city; considering how long we've struggled with a perception of high crime (whether mob or gang-related), and the very real connections between gambling and organized crime, the theming of the casino should not play into this.

I basically agree. However, Capone-style, 1920's gang stuff is part of Chicago that we're never going to stop being associated with. Ever. And I'm not sure it would be a good idea to try. But seeing as how we're stuck with it, we should own it. I'm not saying a mob-themed casino is a good move, but I think places should in general highlight what makes them unique. Minneapolis shouldn't try to pretend that it isn't cold there, show people cross country skiing and generally not being sweaty. No one visits Houston for the ballet--Houston should promote the rodeo and strip clubs. Same for Chicago.

just call the style "old Chicago" and make it '20s themed. Same difference

We should not be actively promoting it in any way. We should not be glorifying criminal scumbags. It should be left as a footnote in this city's history and we should move away from that stuff. Chicago has so much more to offer than to be known as a place that romanticizes murderers.

They could add an "escape room" premise to it where you choose to be a good guy or a bad guy in the 20's and thats how you get out or in. Lol.

Agree - especially nowadays with so much negative attention on Chicago's crime. You know, like being one of the reasons why Amazon chose not to pick Chicago (whether or not it would be a deal in reality is another story). It is in the past and there's no reason to promote it unless you believe a crime lifestyle should be promoted. If anyone thinks that, then you shouldn't be ever saying a word about crime in the city.

It is in the past and there's no reason to promote [Mayan Temples] unless you believe [ritual sacrifice] should be promoted. If anyone thinks that, then you shouldn't be ever saying a word about [tourism in Mexico.]

It is in the past and there's no reason to promote [old timey Western Town] unless you believe [the genocide of native Americans] should be promoted. If anyone thinks that, then you shouldn't be ever saying a word about [tourism in Arizona.]

Every day that the residents of the Florida Keys don't rise up to protest the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Orlando is another shameful day for this nation. Florida has so much more to offer than a place that romanticizes rape, sodomy, diluted rum and walking the plank.

I believe the mayor thinks of a very large casino like to these casino and resort projects. I believe that Goose Island is a perfect place that could host a very large Resort Casino, hotels and a 2,000 ft observatory tower which could house a beautiful panoramic restaurant. :)

http://static01.nyt.com/images/2007/...y=90&auto=webp
MGM Grand Atlantic City. PRNewsFoto/MGM Mirage

http://www.casino-review.co/wp-conte...as-696x391.png
http://www.casino-review.co/resorts-...ional-climate/

http://www.splendorconcierge.com/wp-...nderings-3.jpg
Resorts World Las Vegas http://http://www.splendorconcierge....rld-las-vegas/

http://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/...9d&oe=5EF6A3E7
The 2,000 ft observatory tower

Come on, those are incredibly weak strawman arguments there. The Mexicans are showcasing an ancient civilization (their ancestors) that includes an entire spectrum of good and bad along with cultural aspects such as food, music, architecture, art and more. And the Pirates of the Caribbean is a Disney Company spin off. If Disney wants to make an Al Capone movie then fine. The city of Chicago should not be promoting a gangster thug piece of trash like Al Capone in any way.

I'm sure there are better examples to come up with but come the F on. Incredibly weak arguments. Nice try though

Let's put it this way. Chicago's current image is one that has to do with high crime whether you like it or not. A government sponsored establishment going the route of glorifying the time of gangster violence is about the last thing they need to be pulling. The last thing they should be doing is putting their seal of approval on anything that directly has a theme of violence on it when the city is trying to already trying to lessen crime.

I'll bet most of my money that a mob/al capone themed casino will never happen in Chicago if the governments of Chicago and/or Illinois have anything to do with it. Would it bring in money? Maybe, but it's realistically a stupid idea given everything going on especially the last 4 years in the city and the image problems. I know people love to glorify and romanticize the gangsters of yesteryear but..not happening for this project.

They will pick something with a Chicago flair on it I'm sure, and it'll hopefully be a nice place but the Chicago flair is certainly not going to be Al f*cking Capone. They will use blues, jazz, etc music long before considering the other.

Again, I'm suggesting that it might not be a bad idea to deal with the reality such as it is, not as we'd like it to be. If you go to Japan and say you're from Chicago, they'll go "Al Capone! Rata-tat-tat" [finger guns]. I don't love that. But in the any-publicity department, it's foolish to assume that if you pretend that's not the case it will go away. People from out of town LOVE going to the Green Mill. For that matter, I love going to the Green Mill. And I love taking people to bars like the California Clipper (R.I.P) because it feels like you've stepped into something authentic that only exists quite like that in Chicago, even if it has no ties whatsoever to 1920's mafia. Las Vegas has a Mob Museum that is 60% about Chicago. People want to know where Dillinger was shot and where on Clark Street the St. Valentine's day massacre happened. Acknowledging that that stuff happened creates a sense of place, which you can't buy. As an example, I don't love the Catholic church because of the thousands of child rapes that have happened just in the churches I see every day. Way worse than Capone by any measure. But I would feel pretty bad if one of those churches gets torn down. On the one hand, thousands of child rapes. On the other hand, it's a pretty nice building and now that it's here, no reason to go crazy. The steeple makes the neighborhood look nice. I went to the Vatican two years ago. It was very nice to visit, despite it being the headquarters of an international child rape syndicate! Chicago's mob history is like that.

There's plenty of space between "glorifying a murderer" and acknowledging Chicago's rough and tumble, anything goes history from a century ago. Speakeasys, Flappers, bootleggers and the mob are all part of a zeitgeist that exists. You could throw a party with that theme and everyone would know what to wear and how to act. Since it's not going away, it probably isn't a bad idea to tap into a little bit of that mythology while, of course, not forgetting to avoid glorifying murder. You could drive a tractor between the space between those two concepts, so the marketing and publicity is a breeze to do with needing to get all self-righteous.

Nobody is denying that it would sell. I have had people in foreign countries do the same thing to me. But this is a government sponsored casino, essentially. The same governments that are not only trying to clean up the image but actually trying to clean up the crime itself. There's no way they're going to whore themselves out like this. If it was a private company then it would be a completely different story and I'm sure they'd be more open to it.

A 1920s theme would probably work for them as long as they aren't taking a hard line violence/mob type of angle to it. I think crime, even if it's of the yesteryear association, is still a very sticky situation with the government of Chicago and Illinois, and would bet most of my money that it's not something they're willing to do. Perhaps you do see a 1920s themed place, but my guess as you said it would be more centered around the idea of a speakeasy, jazz, etc and not specifically about the mob, Al Capone, etc.

Last summer the Sun-Times ran a series of articles by Ed Zotti titled “City at the Crossroads”, including one that talked about proposals for a casino in Chicago. I posted a link to the article at the time and in light of the renewed interest now, I’m posting it again.

Zotti says there are two ways to build a casino: the “island model” and the “London model”.

In the island model,

“the casino and related activity — typically a hotel, restaurants and bars, shops, entertainment venues, other attractions and parking — are designed as a single, self-contained complex. Patrons drive to the casino and don’t leave until they’ve spent their last dime hours later and drive home. They never set foot in the surrounding neighborhood and might as well have been visiting Madagascar. The great majority of U.S. casinos are designed this way ...”

Most of the U.S. urban casinos built in the latter part of the 20th century are island model developments, including the ones shown in Sky88’s post above. Today, many of these are seen as disappointments or failures (Atlantic City, Reno, etc.)

In the London model, the casino is put it in an existing entertainment district and designed so that it contributes to a lively street scene. He gives the London Hippodrome as an example. Here’s a picture.

Zotti also says the Thompson Center "might make a good casino — perhaps a spectacular one." I agree. The Thompson Center is one of the great Chicago buildings built in the past 45 years and I’d be very sad to see it sold and demolished. Repurposed as a casino / entertainment center, it could include hotels, restaurants, shops, cocktail lounges, sports bar, blues bar, theaters, bowling alley, etc. Maybe even a very tall observatory tower. All of this would be done in a way that maximizes interaction between the building and the surrounding downtown area. Wow.

I also think the block surrounded by Illinois, Rush, Hubbard and Wabash would make a fantastic site. I'd tear down the Realtor's building and widen the Plaza of the Americas (but leave 444 No Michigan). The main pedestrian entrance to the casino would be on the east side, facing the Tribune Tower. With hotel and residential above the casino, this would be a very large project; i.e., easily more than $1 billion.

So I don’t understand people who think that One Central or somewhere near the United Center or on Goose Island would be good sites. Despite what suburbanites say, these locations are not downtown. Or the 78. Or the Tribune site at Halsted and Chicago. None of these are good sites.

Finally, Zotti said he was greatly influenced by gaming and hospitality industry experts Andrew Klebanow and Steven Gallaway who co-authored a paper title “Casinos and the City”. This is an interesting overview of casinos in other cities - mostly U.S. - what’s worked well and what hasn’t.

^ casinos and the city
 

So I read that entire report. I find the following to be most interesting:

"The single greatest mistake that government can do is to designate a site for gaming that is inappropriate for an casino. Simply because government has identified a site that needs to be redeveloped does not make it compatible for an integrated urban casino resort."

"Rather, working with the developer, government should identify a zone within the city that would be designated as an entertainment/commercial development zone. This zone would have within it certain qualities that assure compatibility with surrounding businesses such as restaurants, nightclubs, hotels and theaters. The zone would also be near both mass transit and the region’s highways and the site should be of sufficient size to support a gaming enterprise. An urban casino stands the greatest chance of success when it is located on a site that is mutually compatible with surrounding businesses. "

There will always be people who find the idea of a casino controversial, so the tendency is to put the casino in a site that's empty, unwanted and far from existing businesses or residents. If it fails, it doesn't cast a pall on surrounding areas and it can be developed into something else later.

Not saying that's right approach for success, but it's certainly the politically easiest approach. Put it in Motor Row, you're dealing with the PDNA people and the South lakefront Black community, neither of which want to be next to gambling. Both Ald. Dowell and Ald. King were clear that they don't want a casino anywhere in their wards.

I do think a casino could be integrated into The 78 and have a successful neighborhood grow up around it, assuming the casino is compact and well-designed. You might even be able to dedicate the casino revenue to The 78's infrastructure needs and let the TIF expire, kill two political birds with one stone.

Yes perhaps but the report outlines in detail 8-10 U.S. based casinos that followed the politically easiest approach directly into financial failure and resulting in very few jobs and tax revenue.

Did you read the same report I did? It takes pains to note that even the "urban failure" casinos still contributed plenty of jobs and tax revenue to local governments, and also notes that urban regeneration is not always the top priority of local officials. When casinos do fail, it's usually because of competition.

I was not aware of the Cleveland Horseshoe casino (now JACK Casino) before reading that report... I didn't think of old department stores as potential casino sites, but they do have the huge floorplates, tall ceilings and sit smack-dab in central business districts. Macy's is the obvious choice given that they're downsizing the store, but they're already committed the upper floors to office space.

I wonder if the Leiter II building would work (aka former Robert Morris College)? RMC got kicked out so it's vacant right now. It's right on Congress (easy highway access), there is a big adjacent empty site on Wabash for a parking garage or hotel expansion, and it's next to multiple transit lines. It's about a 60,000sf floorplate, so just 2 levels of that building used as a gaming floor would put it up with the big boys in Vegas. There are other dining/entertainment/hotel options within easy walking distance, but not right next door. There's also the option to expand on the Pritzker Park site across State.

Thompson Center is another possibility as many have noted, but it's such a weird building I don't see a lot of casino operators signing onto that. At least with Leiter, there is a successful precedent with the Cleveland casino.

IMO, the area in Chicago that best fits the description in the paragraph above is the area bounded roughly by Randolph, LaSalle, Oak St and Fairbanks/Columbus. A couple possible sites for a casino come to mind, including the block bounded by Wabash, Illinois, Hubbard and Rush, but I think the best site would be the Thompson Center. Because it’s a great building that’s begging to be restored and repurposed.

Helmut Jahn has a couple proposals to do this, none of which include a casino. Here’s a link to his latest, which includes retail, offices, a hotel and apartments. It's fairly detailed; for example, showing the floor plan for 55 hotel rooms on the 14th floor. The office space is shown on floors three thru eight, which I think is enough space for a casino.

Ardecila:
The Leiter’s an interesting idea. Another opportunity to repurpose a large old building (I remember when it was Sears) and much better than an “island model” development. But still, the area around Leiter is not as tourist-attractive as the North Loop and River North.

I have identified some areas that I have highlighted with colors, such as possible places to build the casino. :)

http://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/...08&oe=5EFF700C

In the Blue area there would be room for a large casino plus a 2,000 ft observatory tower.

The Red and Yellow areas could only are the places for the casino, while the Green area could be built the 2,000 ft observatory tower with restaurants and observation points for tourists. :tup:

This looks really cool. Attach his proposed super tall addition and its golden. Just for the love of God, update the color scheme.

Why does it have to be one giant casino? If we are talking about integrating into some zone why not break it up and have one operator with several small casinos in buildings that fit well within the context of the zone?

I'm not a gambler and I think people who go to casinos are just throwing their money away for a very fleeting experience, but there's something alluring about a larger casino. The bigger, the grander, the more prestigious it feels and gives the sense that one is more likely to win big. The smaller public gambling establishments are, the more shady they feel. Just my opinions.

My take after reading the report is that planners should really look for a sweet spot where the casino operator can still make some money with on-site dining and entertainment, but other offerings in the neighborhood provide visitors with options. Not a full island, but kind of a hybrid. That's how the Vegas strip works, after all - people can hop from casino to casino, or they can stay on one casino's premises the entire time. Having the choice makes the casino appealing to the widest variety of visitors.

If you put a casino in River North on, say, the Fort Dearborn post office site, why would you ever eat inside the casino when you're surrounded by amazing restaurants? Why would you stay at the casino when the area already is chock-full of hotels at every price level and style? That was, as the report noted, the issue with the New Orleans Harrah's casino for the first few years, where the operator was not allowed to provide dining, lodging or entertainment... the casino really needs to offer more than just gambling to meet the financial goals of the operators and the city/state. If you put the casino in an area where the operator can't realistically compete on these things, it's just the same as banning them from providing it.

It's a shame the Chicago casino wasn't getting off the ground 3-4 years ago, they could have really jumped on the food hall trend before Time Out, Wells Street, etc. I still think there's room for innovation there if you could find a way to do small plates (under $5) and encourage people to sample.

I would be surprised if this casino is located anywhere other than the most inappropriate location that pisses off everyone involved -- residents, city officials, gamblers, employees, etc...

My only experience with a downtown casino is the Harris in New Orleans. It's perfectly located between downtown and the French Quarter. It just adds to the fun of the city. A night on the town for residents and visors alike could involve a dinner in the warehouse district, a few rounds of slots or blackjack at the casino, and a nightcap at a bar in the Quarter. All within walking distance of each other. The casino has the effect of adding to the fabric of the experience and not an island onto itself.

Any other city with a casino within its borders always is on the fringe of the city, accessible by car only, or in a shady part of town that no one feels safe to venture around. If there is going to be a casino, why not integrate it into a neighborhood and have it as part of the nightlife attraction.

Wow - I somehow missed your post when I made mine. This is exactly how I feel too.

Seems to me the most logical area for a Chicago casino would be in the McCormick Place Convention Center area.That vicinity already has a convention center, an arena , new hotels and access to major highways and LSD. Also this location is not far from the Museum district, the lakefront and Soldier Field. I admit that the area lacks quality restaurants but with the presence of a casino and the traffic it would bring that would probably be rectified. Another hidden plus for this area is that it is pretty much confined to commercial use and would have minimal effect on the residential community.

^It would be great if it went in the vacant base of the Trump Tower.

This is IMO by far the most logical choice for all the reasons above. Also sports + casino should go together well, especially if there is sports betting on site which there will be.

Fairly close to Guaranteed Rate Field and Chinatown too, so that's a solid bonus

There is nowhere near enough space in there and its massively chopped up by enormous collums that you obviously can't move...

Any casino needs a huge open main floor like the bottom of Thomson Center or McCormick Place East.

Yeah, those storefronts are tiny

McCormick Place Convention Center area

http://www.mccormickplace.com/wp-con...3593066201.jpg

Yes, the McCormick Place Convention Center area could be a good position. The casino could also be located above McCormick Place East or beyond it.

Instead the four blocks close to McCormick Place Convention Center (Motor Row district, etc.) could be the ideal place for new hotels, restaurants and shops.

Finally, a large hotel and the 2,000 ft observatory tower could be built on the South Parking area. ;)

Out of curiosity - you seem to be a big fan of a 2000 ft observation tower. Why?

Because I like the idea of a 2,000ft tower that can finally change the city skyline. In addition, the tower and casino would attract many tourists. It would become the new symbol of the city. Who would not like to have lunch and enjoy at the same time a breathtaking panorama of the city and the lake from a height of 1,600ft?:)
Also consider that such a tower would cost much less than a skyscraper of the same size. The construction of a large casino could represent a good possibility to finally build a 2,000 ft tower, which otherwise the builders or the city would hardly want to build.;)

If we are wish-listing, I vote for a 1600ft tower, but it needs to be in the heart of the Loop. Anything taller than Sears is going to look ridiculous that far south (McCormick). Thompson is the perfect spot for one aesthetically and for a casino.

My $.02