Bally’s casino proposal clears Chicago Plan Commission as concerns raised over developer’s hiring plans

The Chicago Plan Commission approved a proposal Monday to redevelop the Freedom Center printing plant into a $1.74 billion Bally’s casino complex.

It’s another major step in the process to build Chicago’s first casino on the 30-acre site in River West, but objections remain, including new concerns from Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, whose district would be home to the development.

Burnett, who has been a vocal supporter of the proposal, recused himself from the Plan Commission vote pending review of Bally’s hiring plans.

“I need to see their workforce development plan, because I need to make sure that people from our community can get a job,” Burnett said.

In May, Bally’s won a heated competition to build the Chicago casino, which is expected to generate $200 million in annual tax revenue for the city. The proposed casino complex would include an exhibition hall, 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, 11 restaurants and 4,000 gaming positions including slot machines and table games.

The development would also feature a 2,100-square-foot Riverwalk and park along the Chicago River, along with a three-level underground parking garage. Gone are plans for an outdoor theater and a pedestrian bridge, which were excised by Bally’s in response to concerns from neighbors.

Despite accommodations by Bally’s, many residents are not sold on welcoming a 24/7 casino to the neighborhood, according to Ald. Brendan Reilly, whose 42nd Ward borders the proposed development and would be home to the temporary casino at Medinah Temple in River North.

“At the end of the day, the vast majority of neighbors that I represent remain strongly opposed to this project,” said Reilly, urging the Plan Commission to reject the proposal.

The Plan Commission voted 12 to 1 to approve the plan, with Laura Flores, the commission chair, the sole vote against the proposal. Burnett was one of three recusals.

Dallas-based Nexstar Media Group, the nation’s largest TV station owner, acquired the Freedom Center site in 2019 as part of its $4.1 billion purchase of Tribune Media — the former broadcast parent of Tribune Publishing. In 2018, Tribune Media got approval for a planned multiuse development at the site including offices, a hotel and thousands of residential units.

Rhode Island-based Bally’s bought the 30-acre Freedom Center printing site last month for $200 million and executed a sale-leaseback on the land with Chicago-based Oak Street Real Estate Capital, raising up to $500 million to help build the casino complex.

Bally’s and the city hosted community engagement meetings in recent weeks to present the revised plans and hear from residents, many of whom voiced concerns about crime and traffic at both the proposed temporary and permanent sites.

Those concerns were echoed at Monday’s meeting.

Reilly, who is not on the Plan Commission, questioned the city’s process to select a casino site, which he likened to building an airplane while it’s flying.

“I wish that they’d listened more carefully to impacted constituents and stakeholders downtown,” Reilly said. “I do believe the city missed a real opportunity to extend some real economic development and job growth in those areas of the city that just need a little nudge to get around the corner.”

The pushback from Burnett was perhaps more meaningful, given he has been one of the casino’s biggest boosters. Burnett said he was being pressured to show the casino would provide jobs to constituents in his ward, as promised by the developer.

“I really risked a lot supporting this plan,” Burnett said. “One of the assurances that I got out of this was that people from our community were going to be able to work. And I need to make sure that people from my community are going to be able to work now.”

As part of its winning bid with the city, Bally’s said it would create 3,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs, of which 60% would go to minorities. In October, Bally’s signed a project labor agreement to work with unions on construction of the casino.

Burnett said he wanted to see Bally’s workforce development plan before the proposal heads to the City Council’s zoning committee Tuesday for further review.

“I want to see that before tomorrow or I’ll just raise a lot of hell at the zoning meeting,” Burnett said.

Chris Jewett, director of corporate development for Bally’s, said he appreciated Burnett’s support and said the casino company would get him the workforce development plan, and follow through on its commitment to minority hiring.

“We promised you this and we will come through,” Jewett said.

Bally’s filed its Chicago casino license application with the Illinois Gaming Board in August, with plans to open a temporary facility at Medinah Temple by June. The permanent casino is not expected to open before 2026.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com