CHICAGO | City Casino

[Randomguy34]

Something that is likely a problem for The 78 to secure a casino license is being next to three elementary schools: British International, South Loop, and Village Leadership Academy. That alone might single-handedly sink their chances

[Klippenstein]

According to the RFP the casino can’t be closer than 500 feet from a school or church, but even with South Loop Elementary being relatively close it’s farther than that. Plus it’s even farther if you’re measuring walking or driving distance. It’s super disconnected from the grid. The British School is more of a direct shot, but still more than 500 feet away.

All of these proposals are going to have push back for different reasons. If the city thinks they can fix the traffic problems with the Tribune site that might be their best bet in terms of getting the least push back. That doesn’t mean that’s the best choice though…

[chicagodeckerdude]

Who would ever want to live near a casino?!? They always attract a certain number of criminals, weirdos and riff raff. Just comes with the territory.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by chicagodeckerdude

Who would ever want to live near a casino?!? They always attract a certain number of criminals, weirdos and riff raff. Just comes with the territory.

As opposed to...... El stops? Or underpasses throughout the city? Or various other things that naturally attract "weirdos and riff raff"? If you are really that worried about any of this, then you shouldn't be living in the city. Not saying anyone should tolerate it, but you should naturally expect to be more exposed to some level of grit if you live in the city. If you want a quiet gated community where there's no noise and everyone looks the same with two kids - Go move to the burbs......

Also - Is a casino going to attract anything worse than what I listed above?

78 is still at the top of my list here. Although if NIMBYs kill this, then my next favorite is actually the Bally's McCormick bid.

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by chicagodeckerdude

Who would ever want to live near a casino?!? They always attract a certain number of criminals, weirdos and riff raff. Just comes with the territory.

Alright, you took the bait. Haha. Just kidding.

No, I really am interested in this conversation because from what I'm reading your claim is not a foregone conclusion. I'm interested on other people's takes on this though. There's research on the effect on crime of the 1st casino in Philadelphia, which is not far from their downtown and is on the waterfront. The researchers couldn't find any effect. And from what I'm reading even the first study that people cite from the 80s, when adjusted for population increase showed no effect on crime.

I don't mind being proven wrong, but it doesn't seem the connection is as strong as people seem to think. The correlation probably comes from the example of Atlantic City, but Atlantic City was already declining when they decided to legalize gambling. Most urban areas had increased crime in the 80s and 90s. It wasn't just because they opened casinos. Though if we were to primarily depend on casinos to support our local economy that would definitely be a bad move. This is not that. Moreso, than other casinos in the US this will be pretty well integrated into a diversified district of entertainment, retail, business, educational and cultural institutions. That is if the full vision comes to fruition.

[r18tdi]

https://www.wbez.org/stories/survey-show...-78/371ef7e1-4026-4821-86a4-d0b17423d91f

“This is got to be the absolute worst site they can possibly pick for a casino,” said Shadan Tofighi, a resident who lives in a condo building that overlooks the future site of The 78. “I can’t imagine where in the world you would have a casino next to a neighborhood with an elementary school, a whole bunch of children’s activities, parks, and people who have been living there for 30 years or so.”

...

“I can only imagine the increase in traffic, crime and the possibility of harm to our youth and community activities in that park and other places around in these areas,” said Bell, a child and adult psychiatrist who has lived in the South Loop for 21 years. “I’m really against this project because I foresee a lot of problems.”

**Grabs popcorn**

[west-town-brad]

sorry but residents will have zero true input into the location of the casino

it will be decided by the mayor: balancing tax revenue potential, possible reelection ramifications, and business community + trade union support

[chicagodeckerdude]

just because el stops etc have these elements doesnt mean we should add even more of those elemts to an area. what kind of logic is that?!?! LOL

Ive been to casinos all over the country and bartended personally at two in two different states. Im just saying if a new development that was going up next to me etc propsed a casino id be moving. The insane foot traffic. busloads of people being brought in. riff raff etc. no thank you.

ill just take my typical amount of riff raff in the city without a added dose of casino riff raffers and rejects lol

[bhawk66]

^ This is why the Marshaling Yards Rivers Casino is the most ideal, imo. Anybody that wants to wander off would have to cross 8 lanes of expressway to the east or six lanes of RR tracks to the west. Plus nice 8 foot wrought iron fences could be run along the yard as an added deterrent.

Now, if there was only some way to convince the neighbors past all that. Like new streets, a park, added fences/barriers, landscaping....anything.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by chicagodeckerdude

Who would ever want to live near a casino?!? They always attract a certain number of criminals, weirdos and riff raff. Just comes with the territory.

So do liquor stores, 7-11s and El stops. Your point is?

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by chicagodeckerdude

just because el stops etc have these elements doesnt mean we should add even more of those elemts to an area. what kind of logic is that?!?! LOL

Ive been to casinos all over the country and bartended personally at two in two different states. Im just saying if a new development that was going up next to me etc propsed a casino id be moving. The insane foot traffic. busloads of people being brought in. riff raff etc. no thank you.

ill just take my typical amount of riff raff in the city without a added dose of casino riff raffers and rejects lol

The city of Chicago won't miss your presence. Please don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. Thank you.

[left of center]

I'm even more for the casino at the 78 simply because it is pissing off the Dearborn Park-ers so much. Maybe they will all move out en masse and we can redevelop that little slice of hell into something much more urban

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by chicagodeckerdude

The insane foot traffic. busloads of people being brought in. riff raff etc. no thank you.

ill just take my typical amount of riff raff in the city without a added dose of casino riff raffers and rejects lol

Bro, you don't live in a middle of nowhere suburb. This thing is going to be right on the river in the middle of Chicago.

[generallogan]

The 78 is not the right site for a 24-hour-a-day casino. Again, the math for projected tax revenues only works if the casino is drawing nonstop action 24 hours-a-day.

Transportation: While it's nice to dream, gamblers in Chicago with 100s/1000s in their pockets will not be taking public transportation or walking to a casino. Tourists with wads of money leaving or entering a casino would be easy pickings. Gamblers will take ubers, ubers, and yes, more ubers.

Access: The 78 is locked in on two sides by a river to the west and a walled subdivision to the east posing as a Chicago neighborhood. Wells St. to the North is one lane in each direction until Harrison, which would be a nightmare for this part of the neighborhood (it already is). Wentworth to the south, while improved, would still be a nightmare to get to 55 and 90/94 south. Again, picture endless cars, all day, 24-hours a day for the casino numbers to work out. Roosevelt Road to 90/94 or LSD is already a nightmare from 8am to 6:30pm on most days. This would make it a nightmare from 7am to 11pm on most days.

Leave the 78 to develop naturally over time through several business cycles, like Fulton Market, Lakeshore East, Lincoln Yards, or even the former Moody Bible area.

[r18tdi]

We’ll I for one plan to kayak to The 78 for a night of gambling, fine-ish dining, and the comedy of Jeff Dunham. /s

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by generallogan

The 78 is not the right site for a 24-hour-a-day casino. Again, the math for projected tax revenues only works if the casino is drawing nonstop action 24 hours-a-day.

Transportation: While it's nice to dream, gamblers in Chicago with 100s/1000s in their pockets will not be taking public transportation or walking to a casino. Tourists with wads of money leaving or entering a casino would be easy pickings. Gamblers will take ubers, ubers, and yes, more ubers.

Access: The 78 is locked in on two sides by a river to the west and a walled subdivision to the east posing as a Chicago neighborhood. Wells St. to the North is one lane in each direction until Harrison, which would be a nightmare for this part of the neighborhood (it already is). Wentworth to the south, while improved, would still be a nightmare to get to 55 and 90/94 south. Again, picture endless cars, all day, 24-hours a day for the casino numbers to work out. Roosevelt Road to 90/94 or LSD is already a nightmare from 8am to 6:30pm on most days. This would make it a nightmare from 7am to 11pm on most days.

Leave the 78 to develop naturally over time through several business cycles, like Fulton Market, Lakeshore East, Lincoln Yards, or even the former Moody Bible area.

Hey mods, we have a Dearborn Park resident!

[Chi-Sky21]

Always so easy for everyone to argue they should just accept it right next to their home. Like I said before can you honestly say you would want this right next to where you live? There are other options that should be pursued. And I really love the good ole argument if you don't love it leave it. What makes your point of view any better? Just like everybody who goes goosestepping off to whatever war america steps into , if you do not support it get out!! How ridiculous.

[pilsenarch]

I was one of the neighbors who filled out the survey. I live in East Pilsen. I was one of the responders who stated that I was very familiar with the '78' prior to the casino and was a big supporter. After the casino, I hated it. For all of the reasons stated by others, but the most important one is that I think there are very few corporations or 'incubators' that would want to locate next to a casino... obviously the same could be said for residential. I think the introduction of the casino will kill the rest of the '78', kind of like it killed the 'crescent' park in the pre-casino plan...

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by Chi-Sky21

Always so easy for everyone to argue they should just accept it right next to their home. Like I said before can you honestly say you would want this right next to where you live?

I can't think of a person that I know who would want a brand-new casino built within a mile of their home. This isn't like people moving to Wrigleyville and then complaining about baseball games.

I dislike Dearborn Park as much as the rest, but this was always going to be the response of people who would have a new casino built near their home. It's why it needs to be put in a place without that type of built-in resistance nearby (Marshalling Yards, Museum Campus, etc.).

[Klippenstein]

There's a difference between disliking something and being harmed by it.