LIL' BUDDY'S BLOG - What's Happening At Wrigley Field is Driving This Dog CRAZY!
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
Woof, Woof - you dogs!
You know, next to my Human Dad, Dean's Team Leader, Dean Moss, I am probably the world's biggest Chicago Cubs fan (although I've put away my Cubs hat here - until Pitchers and Catchers report next month).
Have you caught wind of all the crazy talk coming out of Wrigley Field - that hallowed Home of the Cubs, on the corner of Addison and Clark Streets? It's just about a mile or so from the Dean's Team World Headquarters, in a basement on Western Avenue.
First, they raise ticket prices - 28%, on average, for a Team that is celebrating it's Centennial of Futility - 100 years without a World Series Championship - 1908-2008!
Then, there is talk, from last week's Annual Cub Fan Convention downtown at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, that the team might sell NAMING RIGHTS to my beloved summertime home! (Hey, they might as well get a sponsor for Holy Name Cathedral, too!)
Now, a developer want to build a Hyatt Hotel within scratching distance of the ballpark, right across the street, just to the south.
See the article and accompanying video in today's Chicago Tribune. Cool graphics - but a good idea?
Here's a summary -
Developer Steven Schultz, who presently owns property just south of the ballpark, including buildings housing such popular local establishments as The Salt & Pepper Diner and The Goose Island Brewery, wants to construct a couple of nine-story buildings on the site. Plans call for a new Hyatt Place Hotel, with 135 rooms or so, plus an additional 150 rental units.
There would also be about 100,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor - and Shultz envisions space for all current tenants in the property, including the Diner and the Brewery, plus other major tenant anchors, such as a large health club and a much-needed grocery store. The buildings would also contain parking for roughly 500 cars.
In the Lakeview Neighborhood of Chicago, in fact, all across the City, the first step in such an ambitious project is to get approval from the local alderman, in this case, Tom Tunney. A developer would also have to get the nod from members of the community as well - who are already concerned about the increased congestion from such major development - although many see the new hotel, apartments, and retail stores as a possible boom to the neighborhood, especially when no baseball is being played down the street at Wrigley.
Preliminary plans for a 25-30 story complex have been considerably scaled down, based on input from the neighborhood residents and the alderman. Further, plans for the vacant land just west of the ballpark, currently owned by the Cubs and The Tribune Company, to be developed into additional Cubs-related retail space, a Cubs Hall of Fame Museum, and additional ballpark and neighborhood parking have already been floated in Wrigleyville. These plans were put on hold pending sale of the team, now expected before the end of the 2008 baseball season.
But, man, all this development. Money, money, money. It all makes a dog hearken back for simpler days - when autographed baseballs were not immediately placed on E-Bay for resale, and you didn't need a Home Equity Line of Credit to take the pups to a ballgame and buy them a frankfurter or two (please - never use the words "Hot Dog" anywhere around me!).
Progress - please stop, will ya? Keep Wrigley - well, Wrigley!
(And, Dad - I'm sorry, but they did install lights there, and began playing night baseball, a few years ago!)
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
