CHICAGO | City Casino

[BVictor1]

04.11.25

[BrickellBased]

Five rigs on site. I stand corrected.

They should be drilling fast mehopes.

Originally Posted by BVictor1

04.11.25

[gandalf612]

Originally Posted by BrickellBased

Wow - 4 rigs on site! Haven't seen that in a while in Chicago.

Feels good man.

In fairness when was the last time a single building required drilling caissons spanning most of the distance between two arterials haha.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by gandalf612

In fairness when was the last time a single building required drilling caissons spanning most of the distance between two arterials haha.

McCormick Place perhaps.

[bhawk66]

This can't be right. Can it? Wow.

From Chicago YIMBY website:

"Caisson work is expected to take about two months to complete, putting progress at the estimated halfway point. Per an email update from the 42nd Ward, there are 356 caissons and 202 steel piles slated for the site."

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by bhawk66

This can't be right. Can it? Wow.

From Chicago YIMBY website:

"Caisson work is expected to take about two months to complete, putting progress at the estimated halfway point. Per an email update from the 42nd Ward, there are 356 caissons and 202 steel piles slated for the site."

That figure came from Ald. Reilly's e-newsletter. No idea if it's accurate. Agree that it seems outrageously high.

[Randomguy34]

For a site this large, I'm not surprised. What's surprising is that they expect this to only take 2 months

[dreamy-developer]

I by no means am in the construction industry, or am a PM - so please ignore my ignorant perspective. But I find it interesting that they wouldn't priotirize the tower's caissons first to get that going faster. Seeing that would be the bigger fish to fry and get going virtical sooner.

Idk, someone yell and me and tell me wrong lol. Does seem like a long time for all of them though

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by dreamy-developer

I by no means am in the construction industry, or am a PM - so please ignore my ignorant perspective. But I find it interesting that they wouldn't priotirize the tower's caissons first to get that going faster. Seeing that would be the bigger fish to fry and get going virtical sooner.

Idk, someone yell and me and tell me wrong lol. Does seem like a long time for all of them though

I think it's the other way around - they want to get the casino floor up and running ASAP to start bringing in money and stop paying rent to Friedman at Medinah Temple. I think the city has a ticking clock in their contract too.

The hotel tower is less important, it's not the real money-maker.

[munchymunch]

Originally Posted by dreamy-developer

I by no means am in the construction industry, or am a PM - so please ignore my ignorant perspective. But I find it interesting that they wouldn't priotirize the tower's caissons first to get that going faster. Seeing that would be the bigger fish to fry and get going virtical sooner.

Idk, someone yell and me and tell me wrong lol. Does seem like a long time for all of them though

A casino build-out looks like a complete pain in the ass to get done. So much low-voltage, high quality finishes, bullet proof glass etc. Casino shell should be done first for sure.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Urbanize Chicago has a bunch of new (but not so great quality) images showing a revised design, as reportedly approved by DPD. More here:






HKS Architects

I’m glad this is finally happening.
I also don’t think people appreciate how massive this will be. From the same article:
“ Bally’s Chicago Casino will capitalize on the urban Chicago riverfront site to create inclusive, dynamic spaces, including plans for the 500-room hotel tower, 3,000-seat theater, six restaurants, cafes and a food hall, and a 2-acre public park. The casino will offer space for approximately 3,300 slots, 173 table games and VIP gaming areas. The lower riverbank will be connected to the property with an approximately 2,000-foot-long extension of the riverwalk extending south from W. Chicago Avenue.”

[dreamy-developer]

I also don’t think people appreciate how massive this will be.

Yeah, regardless of if this is successful or not in the end. When I passed the site for the first time with everything demoed - I really didn't realize until then just how massive this entire lot is. I said "a casino is going here?!... good lord"

[west-town-brad]

The site has so much potential.... could have built an entire city neighborhood in that space... I hope this does not turn into a white elephant project.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

The site has so much potential.... could have built an entire city neighborhood in that space... I hope this does not turn into a white elephant project.

It does have a lot of potential, and the ultimate goal is to do exactly that: build an entire cluster of highrises, a new dense node of the city that has residential, offices, dining, transit, etc. At least, that is what was part of the original master plan.
You have to start somewhere, and this is that initial spark that hopefully, brings a lot more development over the next 5-10 years.

[Sprinklemoore]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

The site has so much potential.... could have built an entire city neighborhood in that space... I hope this does not turn into a white elephant project.

They are building an entire neighborhood in this space. Have you seen the plans that ONNI Revealed for goose Island next-door? A casino with a hotel is a great anchor tenant to spur further development. It’s so much easier to drum up excitement for investors when you’re telling them there is a casino five restaurants, shopping, a theater, park and a hotel next-door.

[ithakas]

The city needs better walkable corridors between its Loop-adjacent nodes (West Loop, South Loop, River North).

It's all good if you walk into the Loop from any of these areas, but walking down Harrison from the West Loop to South Loop sucks, for example, as does taking Grand from River North to the West Loop.

I think if the casino project can build better walking connections between River North and River West/West Loop, it will benefit considerably.

[Handro]

This project has more potential to become a dead zone, visited only by people bussed in from the suburbs or outer neighborhoods and then bussed straight back, than it does to become a little island of Vegas nightlife on the river. It’s a pointless location for a hotel but for people staying specifically for the casino—and who is making an overnight trip to Chicago to gamble? I’m afraid we have enough evidence of the economic gravity of casinos in Chicagoland to become naively hopeful for this to be anything but a streetside wasteland.

How is the Medinah temple casino doing, in a beautiful, approachable building, in a bustling tourist district?

[pip]

I used to work at a restaurant nearby the temp casino at Medinah Temple. Speaking to the manager recently, business has not been impacted in terms of volume, up or down. There is a concern about the crowds there, they are rowdy and there is often trouble.

[BrickellBased]

Originally Posted by Handro

This project has more potential to become a dead zone, visited only by people bussed in from the suburbs or outer neighborhoods and then bussed straight back, than it does to become a little island of Vegas nightlife on the river. It’s a pointless location for a hotel but for people staying specifically for the casino—and who is making an overnight trip to Chicago to gamble? I’m afraid we have enough evidence of the economic gravity of casinos in Chicagoland to become naively hopeful for this to be anything but a streetside wasteland.

How is the Medinah temple casino doing, in a beautiful, approachable building, in a bustling tourist district?

Yeah this was certainly a concern of mine, but the casino is only one of many reasons for people to go here, and will be less relevant over time IMO.

I was very on the fence about the site when first chosen, but after seeing the plans & strategy I've convinced myself that this is potentially an exciting catalyst for the North Branch and for downtown Chicago.

The project consists of many parts that would be significant and exciting development by themselves

- Long overdue and large extension and development of the riverwalk up the North Branch. Finally getting the Riverwalk going up the North Branch is a huge win by itself, and it's 2000 ft or .4 miles - huge addition. And the Riverwalk redevelopment along Wacker has been hugely successful and exceeded expectations.

- New 500 key hotel downtown. Plenty of people in town on business or for any reason will stay at the hotel whether or not they actually visit the casino. Staying at a hotel that is connected to the Riverwalk is hugely desirable. A new 500 key all hotel tower Downtown is big development news by itself. Does anyone know the height? I've seen 500 ft in articles but also 34 floors. If it's 500 feet I think this will be the tallest 'all hotel' tower in Chicago?

- 3000 seat theater. This is not an afterthought - Chicago theater seats 3,600. This is basically a new events venue Downtown. Many conferences - probably weekly/monthly will be held at Bally's I suspect. A theater style seating is ideal for conferences that have a keynote and panel speaking schedule and superior to typical ballroom venues where they are usually held downtown. There are tons of these held in Chicago. Also the location is way more central and desirable than McCormick, Hilton, or Venue610 which are kind of far from tourist sites and downtown. Many existing conferences will switch from other hotels to Ballys I supsect. Plus music, standup, etc. This would be a major new development by itself.

- 6 new restaurants/cafes/bars/foodhall - 6 opening at once is another major development downtown. Timeout in Fulton has also been very successful. This also allows you to spend a better fraction of the day here. Hopefully shopping and retail is added here or nearby in time. Restaurants with a river view should be very popular like they already are along the wacker river walk and places like Chicago Cut.

- And of course the casino itself. I'm hoping we get some major poker tournaments here and ESPN coverage or something. Would be pretty cool. Horshoe in Hammond already has.

And this is just Ballys - as mentioned if this spurs more development nearby I do think the casino will not be the primary reason that people visit this area.

It's a $1.8 billion development - that is very big. There's clearly a lot more money being spent than just on a casino floor.

[bhawk66]

Originally Posted by Handro

This project has more potential to become a dead zone, visited only by people bussed in from the suburbs or outer neighborhoods and then bussed straight back, than it does to become a little island of Vegas nightlife on the river. It’s a pointless location for a hotel but for people staying specifically for the casino—and who is making an overnight trip to Chicago to gamble? I’m afraid we have enough evidence of the economic gravity of casinos in Chicagoland to become naively hopeful for this to be anything but a streetside wasteland.

How is the Medinah temple casino doing, in a beautiful, approachable building, in a bustling tourist district?

This makes no sense. How could a dead zone BECOME a dead zone. Debbie downers are a real thing.