56 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

This would have been 2011 or 2012?

https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/Resources/d071eb72-bca0-4533-8fe1-b23b45e71d0d/Thompson_Jam_PFNL_Vol_V.pdf

Interesting exchange. So, it was Jerry that didn't want it, but at the same time the location wasn't going to turn this area into another Wrigleyville even if they did. They did open the ChiSox Bar and Grill. It seems fine, but doesn't seem to be a massive draw either.

Also interesting point about all the parking lots that are to the south of the stadium. They border a church, a school, and CHA housing (plus a senior housing high-rise). That doesn't sound like prime "stadium district" land to me.

Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by 77 Hitmen

18 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Interesting exchange. So, it was Jerry that didn't want it, but at the same time the location wasn't going to turn this area into another Wrigleyville even if they did. They did open the ChiSox Bar and Grill. It seems fine, but doesn't seem to be a massive draw either.

Also interesting point about all the parking lots that are to the south of the stadium. They border a church, a school, and CHA housing (plus a senior housing high-rise). That doesn't sound like prime "stadium district" land to me.

It was written about at the time that JR wanted all income opportunities inside the park so the franchise would get all of the fans money.

10 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Interesting exchange. So, it was Jerry that didn't want it, but at the same time the location wasn't going to turn this area into another Wrigleyville even if they did.

From Thompson’s comments about being a “dreamer”, it seems that he envisioned just that, actually. Apartments and retail space, likely mixed use, as well as a hotel would have definitely led to more activity/development around that stretch. While it’s hard to justify going to the ChiSox Bar & Grill when it’s offering its concessions at stadium prices, any independent businesses neighboring it would have lower prices to compete in the market. Jerry likely knew this and didn’t want that.

Bridgeport never had a chance to proof itself. Reinsdorf’s reluctance to commercialize the area guaranteed that.

36 minutes ago, Mouthsider said:

From Thompson’s comments about being a “dreamer”, it seems that he envisioned just that, actually. Apartments and retail space, likely mixed use, as well as a hotel would have definitely led to more activity/development around that stretch. While it’s hard to justify going to the ChiSox Bar & Grill when it’s offering its concessions at stadium prices, any independent businesses neighboring it would have lower prices to compete in the market. Jerry likely knew this and didn’t want that.

Bridgeport never had a chance to proof itself. Reinsdorf’s reluctance to commercialize the area guaranteed that.

Fair enough about the ChiSox B&G. I still have my doubts that the stretch of 35th St around the stadium could become a thriving mixed-use district akin to something like the Baseball Village in St. Louis. Would a hotel there really succeed year round? Like a Hyatt or something? But, as you said, we'll never know how the area could have turned out if Jerry didn't block development.

4 hours ago, Mouthsider said:

Amtrak has plans for ISFA, White Sox parking lots - Sox M...

Amtrak released new designs of its planned maintenance facility in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood. But it requires access through a state-owned parking lot.

Sox Machine article summarizing meetings/takeaways from the last 48 hours. Also answers why the area was never were developed akin to Wrigleyville:

As per usual, it’s Reinsdorf’s fault.

In case people missed it, the Sox Machine article has a link to Amtrak's website for this proposed project.

https://mwmaintenancefacility.com/

44 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

In case people missed it, the Sox Machine article has a link to Amtrak's website for this proposed project.

https://mwmaintenancefacility.com/

They updated this since I last posted it. This link has some early renderings of the proposed facility building:

https://mwmaintenancefacility.com/viewer.html?d=trainshed-renderings&y=1084

It doesn’t seem too obtrusive.

JR was never going to develop the area around the park. Keep in mind most of the investors were never thrilled about having the stadium built at the present location. They thought the franchise would always play second fiddle to the Cubs at the present location. Eddie Einhorn who wanted to move the team to Florida sold most of his shares of the White Sox to JR shortly after the present stadium deal was finalized. He thought it was impossible to compete against the Cubs at the present location. He didn't like being number 2 in the city. So he sold his shares and left the scene.

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Fair enough about the ChiSox B&G. I still have my doubts that the stretch of 35th St around the stadium could become a thriving mixed-use district akin to something like the Baseball Village in St. Louis. Would a hotel there really succeed year round? Like a Hyatt or something? But, as you said, we'll never know how the area could have turned out if Jerry didn't block development.

When the ChiSox Bar and Grill opened they tried keeping it open year around. After a couple of months of no customers they closed down. It remains open only on game days.

1 hour ago, Mouthsider said:

They updated this since I last posted it. This link has some early renderings of the proposed facility building:

https://mwmaintenancefacility.com/viewer.html?d=trainshed-renderings&y=1084

It doesn’t seem too obtrusive.

The FAQ slides talk about the maintenance building's height. When combined with the existing viaduct height, it'll be about half the height of Rate Field.

The slide about traffic and access says employee and contractor parking will be "on site within the yard's existing allocations. No permanent off-site parking needed". Does that mean that they will not be needing to take over part of Lots C and G other than during construction?

The slide also says "Amtrak is coordinating with the ballpark's stakeholders so construction preserves access and parking."

https://mwmaintenancefacility.com/viewer.html?d=faq-supplement&y=1200

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by 77 Hitmen

1 hour ago, WBWSF said:

When the ChiSox Bar and Grill opened they tried keeping it open year around. After a couple of months of no customers they closed down. It remains open only on game days.

That is exactly where I am going with any plan taking a number of years to build up to the type of following you hope for longer term. You aren't going to do all of this and draw 4 million people.

The public meeting got a lot of coverage in the local news, but I don't see how that changes Amtrak's ability to move forward on this project. It's all on railroad property, impacts will be less than when it operated as a freight yard, and they don't need city approval.

I know the loudest opponents get the most attention, but I bet more people in Chicago than not are in favor of improved Amtrak service thanks to a huge federal grant, a privately-financed new Sox ballpark, and a new Northwestern Medical campus.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by 77 Hitmen

12 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

The public meeting got a lot of coverage in the local news, but I don't see how that changes Amtrak's ability to move forward on this project. It's all on railroad property, impacts will be less than when it operated as a freight yard, and they don't need city approval.

I know the loudest opponents get the most attention, but I bet more people in Chicago than not are in favor of improved Amtrak service thanks to a huge federal grant, a privately-financed new Sox ballpark, and a new Northwestern Medical campus.

NIMBYs gonna NIMBY.

On 9/18/2026 at 5:41 AM, WBWSF said:

I don't think Ishiba showed up at the Bridgeport meeting.

On 9/18/2026 at 9:19 AM, Mouthsider said:

He did not, unfortunately. There was allegedly a representative from Canal Edge, but Alderman Lee’s source must have been mistaken.

Patrick Fazio of NBC 5 posted this on Facebook. It makes sense that he didn't attend the meeting. This was about Amtrak's proposed facility, which they had been planning since before Ishbia got involved, and not about any of the redevelopment plans of the 14th St. the railyard. The attendees were already there to shout down Amtrak. I don't see where having Ishbia as a lightning rod for their anger would have accomplished anything other than to make for good local news clips.

UPDATE: Ishbia’s rep tells us: “Justin Ishbia is not attending tonight’s meeting. I am not sure where that came from initially, but it was not us”

Ald. Nicole Lee had posted on Facebook: “I am told that Shore Capital founder & White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia plans to attend…

ORIGINAL POST: White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia is expected to answer questions tonight about his new stadium plan along the Chicago River in the South Loop. It would be at the Amtrak maintenance facility which is moving near the Sox current home Rate Field in Bridgeport. A community meeting tonight at 6:30 will be held at 2121 South Union Avenue for concerned neighbors

Edited just now1 min by 77 Hitmen

16 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

The former mayor is against huge private investments in the city because billionaires will benefit from it and because of NIMBY outrage against building a facility on an existing railyard. It is no wonder this city saw an exodus of businesses under her watch and no wonder she didn't even make it to the runoff in her reelection bid.