Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren met with Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli on June 2 to discuss moving the team from Soldier Field to the western suburb. The meeting comes after The Bears' initial plans for a $5 billion sports complex in Arlington Heights have faced new obstacles.
On May 30, The Bears began demolishing the interior of the Arlington Heights site. According to Crain's, a tax valuation was subsequently set on May 31, increasing property taxes on the location to $95 million. The Bears then issued a statement expressing uncertainty about the project’s future.
"The Chicago Bears' goal of building the largest single development project in Illinois history led by billions of dollars in private capital investment, and the jobs and economic benefits generated, is at risk in Arlington Heights," said the Bears in a statement issued Friday.
The statement confirmed that demolition plans at the Arlington Heights site will continue in hopes of lowering the property valuation but that the former race track is no longer the team’s sole focus. (Crain’s)
According to the Daily Herald, Mayor Wehrli addressed city council members on Tuesday regarding concerns over Friday’s meeting. The mayor stated that development proposals for the sports complex have yet to be submitted by The Bears to the city of Naperville.
“These conversations are just that. They're conversations", Wehrli emphasized. He assured that "a robust public input and review process" would be enacted before any decisions on the project are to be made.
The meeting is the latest development in The Bears' ongoing effort to leave downtown Chicago, its home of more than 50 years. The Bears have previously stated that their departure from Chicago will be contingent upon whether or not the team can secure public tax funds for the project.
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