City of Chicago Unveils Whopping $7B United Center Renovation Plan
Photo credit: NHL.COM
The Chicago Blackhawks have been given the green light to invest a large sum of money surrounding the United Center, to the tune of $7 Billion.
The undertaking which has been named "Project 1901" will invest $7 Billion into Chicago's West Side.
Project 1901 was given the go-ahead from the Chicago City Council to turn parking lots surrounding the United Center into green space.
The plan will transform a whopping 55 acres into greenspace on Chicago's West Side
With the Wirtz and Reinsdorf families spearheading the effort, it will be exciting to see how the transformation will take place. .
"Today is a historic moment for the West Side," Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. "This project is more than just development. It's a bold and unprecedented commitment to the future of our community. We are excited for the opportunity to reimagine what the future can look like. Our team is eager to get to work and turn this vision into reality."
The first phase involves a 6,000-seat theater, which includes parking facilities, more greenspace on the roof, and a shift in priorities to more pedestrian-friendly shopping centers, bike lanes, and a hotel.
The project itself is ambitious as Danny Wirtz has claimed they will be building the foundation from the ground up with no existing blueprints.
The plans for the future of the West Side will include housing, and public transportation elements too.
This major investment into the public good is a gesture that may deserve some side-eye, at least when it comes to CEO Michael Reinsdorf who is angling for funding for new stadiums for the White Sox and Bears.
Both franchises are currently owned by the Reinsdorfs.
Unlike a lot of other sports franchises, this is a significant investment into a community that has always opened its wallets and supported the Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears, and White Sox.
It's only an equitable return for those who have enjoyed these teams for so long to get something back.
We are excited to see what the future brings for the West Side of Chicago, and how greenspaces will flourish where pollution has remained.
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