CHICAGO | New Sox Ballpark proposal at Canal Edge

[ChicagoLVR]

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/commercial/ccb-justin-ishbia-amtrak-white-sox-20260317/

I know this isn't The 78 but rather across from it but seems significant. Anyone have access to this article?

Justin Ishbia's private equity firm is nearing a deal to buy a 47-acre rail yard near the southwest corner of the Loop from Amtrak, lining up a vision from the Chicago White Sox's owner-in-waiting for a potential new ballpark-anchored campus along the South Branch of the Chicago River.

If he is indeed building over Amtrak 14th Street Coach Yard, I can almost guarantee public subsidies will be required to cap it.

[mh777]

Justin Ishbia set to buy massive South Loop rail yard for potential White Sox stadium

Crain's Link

[Kngkyle]

Originally Posted by mh777

Crain's Link

Here is a gift link to get around the paywall for you non-subscribers

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-est...omer_secondary_source=ccb_articleGifting

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by ChicagoLVR

If he is indeed building over Amtrak 14th Street Coach Yard, I can almost guarantee public subsidies will be required to cap it.

Maybe some of the money can come from selling the 70 acres of state owned parking lots next to the existing stadium?

[mh777]

Oh no... it's cursed. Will never actually break ground. Sterling Bay is a partner.....

[BVictor1]

Maybe The Bears should move to 35th and the Dan Ryan then

[SteelMonkey]

Originally Posted by Kngkyle

Here is a gift link to get around the paywall for you non-subscribers

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-est...omer_secondary_source=ccb_articleGifting

Much Appreciated!

[left of center]

The article does not explicitly say so, but seems to imply (or at least I am reading it as such) that the plan is not to cap over the Amtrak tracks, but to remove them and build something in their place. If so, I am very wary of doing so. This yard is very convenient to Union, being just south of it, and is large enough to be useful for eventual HSR or Cross-Rail initiatives. New rail lines and (especially) rail yards are nearly impossible to build from the ground up in a developed urban landscape like Chicago. Even for rapid transit, underground tunneling is really the only viable solution, and even that would face a large amount of pushback from neighbors and residents. I would hope that any future plans for this land preserves the railway ROW and builds over it, instead of removing it.

I'm surprised that the owners of the BNSF/Metra yard immediately to the east did not want that land. I wonder why the city or state have not expressed interest in taking control either.

[MorganChi]

This is the guy that works at Amtrak , the deal is already done

[twister244]

Originally Posted by left of center

The article does not explicitly say so, but seems to imply (or at least I am reading it as such) that the plan is not to cap over the Amtrak tracks, but to remove them and build something in their place. If so, I am very wary of doing so. This yard is very convenient to Union, being just south of it, and is large enough to be useful for eventual HSR or Cross-Rail initiatives. New rail lines and (especially) rail yards are nearly impossible to build from the ground up in a developed urban landscape like Chicago. Even for rapid transit, underground tunneling is really the only viable solution, and even that would face a large amount of pushback from neighbors and residents. I would hope that any future plans for this land preserves the railway ROW and builds over it, instead of removing it.

I'm surprised that the owners of the BNSF/Metra yard immediately to the east did not want that land. I wonder why the city or state have not expressed interest in taking control either.

Yeah, but I think the article implies that Amtrak would go in on the 35th street area, swallowing up the parking lots for Rate field to build out the yard they want there. Unless you are implying that's going to be insanely difficult and expensive?

Or maybe they will indeed cap over the existing yard, swap up the BNSF/Metra property - cap over that as well?

Seems like there's some sort of a plan, but they key details we are all interested in are not out yet.....

[Chi-Sky21]

Not much of a neighborhood, better to just stay in Bridgeport. Unless their plan is to buy up the warehouses and buildings around there also and build them up.

[Chisouthside]

Part of me things this is not really related to building a new Sox stadium but a huge residential complex. The article mentions them seeking a TOD related federal loan and seeing how amenable Trump seems towards helping Mandani with redeveloping the sunnyside yards in queens, I could see Ishbia and co trying to get a piece of the pie as well.

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by Chisouthside

Part of me things this is not really related to building a new Sox stadium but a huge residential complex. The article mentions them seeking a TOD related federal loan and seeing how amenable Trump seems towards helping Mandani with redeveloping the sunnyside yards in queens, I could see Ishbia and co trying to get a piece of the pie as well.

That property looks pretty difficult for just a residential investment.

I would assume that the future baseball team owner is indeed investing in a stadium development.

However the stadium itself could easily end up on the 78 side of the river, while the parking entertainment and residential component would be located on the Amtrak side.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Chisouthside

Part of me things this is not really related to building a new Sox stadium but a huge residential complex. The article mentions them seeking a TOD related federal loan and seeing how amenable Trump seems towards helping Mandani with redeveloping the sunnyside yards in queens, I could see Ishbia and co trying to get a piece of the pie as well.

The article did mention something about 'possible' relocation plans..but you may be right. The logistics of building over a rail yard are difficult enough (assuming that's what would happen), especially a very busy one that's a major national hub for Amtrak, let alone for a massive professional baseball stadium.

[donnie]

Originally Posted by galleyfox

That property looks pretty difficult for just a residential investment.

I would assume that the future baseball team owner is indeed investing in a stadium development.

However the stadium itself could easily end up on the 78 side of the river, while the parking entertainment and residential component would be located on the Amtrak side.

have you seen what they built over the tracks in the Hudson Yards?

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by donnie

have you seen what they built over the tracks in the Hudson Yards?

Yeah. Mostly offices and commercial space with NYC rents and billions of NYC financial support.

I remain skeptical that anyone is going to pay for decking over the Amtrak yard in Chicago for a stadium. Especially when there’s available vacant space in the 78 right across the river.

Removing tracks is more realistic, but residential alone probably needs more attractions and amenities to make it worth the price.

[Cress3803]

Might as well announce you'll build it on the moon

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by left of center

The article does not explicitly say so, but seems to imply (or at least I am reading it as such) that the plan is not to cap over the Amtrak tracks, but to remove them and build something in their place. If so, I am very wary of doing so. This yard is very convenient to Union, being just south of it, and is large enough to be useful for eventual HSR or Cross-Rail initiatives. New rail lines and (especially) rail yards are nearly impossible to build from the ground up in a developed urban landscape like Chicago. Even for rapid transit, underground tunneling is really the only viable solution, and even that would face a large amount of pushback from neighbors and residents. I would hope that any future plans for this land preserves the railway ROW and builds over it, instead of removing it.

I'm surprised that the owners of the BNSF/Metra yard immediately to the east did not want that land. I wonder why the city or state have not expressed interest in taking control either.

yeah theres a lot of unknown details and questions here as it relates to the future of Amtrak in Chicago. but knowing the current regime id be concerned.

Also, dosent this have direct implications for use of the St Charles Air Line and longer term plans to shift passenger rail away from the southern entry and BNSF freight

[k1052]

Originally Posted by galleyfox

Yeah. Mostly offices and commercial space with NYC rents and billions of NYC financial support.

I remain skeptical that anyone is going to pay for decking over the Amtrak yard in Chicago for a stadium. Especially when there’s available vacant space in the 78 right across the river.

Removing tracks is more realistic, but residential alone probably needs more attractions and amenities to make it worth the price.

Yea the yard has to move and they would probably just need to perch one corner of the park over the active station tracks. It's doable. Target Field is built like this.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by k1052

Yea the yard has to move and they would probably just need to perch one corner of the park over the active station tracks. It's doable. Target Field is built like this.

Right, and any other buildings/mixed use development could be shaped to avoid the main tracks and remaining Metra yard if needed. But even after the Amtrak yards are gone, you still need a lot of infrastructure to make the site work. New streets (likely elevated), new sewers and water mains, riverwalk and park space, ideally a Metra station, etc.

It's a lot like Lakeshore East in that regard, but the economics for that stuff have never been more challenging. Even adjusted for inflation, infrastructure costs are several times what they were in the 1970s. This problem killed Lincoln Yards and forced Related to massively scale back The 78. So Ishbia will likely need a significant taxpayer investment, whether that comes from Chicago/Illinois taxpayers or from some Federal source. In exchange, I think it's fair for political leaders to demand some of the transformative projects that would enable crosstown Metra/regional rail and future HSR.

Maybe this can be achieved by fluffing Trump as Mamdani is trying to do, but I doubt it. And Brandon Johnson certainly ain't gonna be the guy to sit down with the president. Maybe Ishbia would, I dunno.