Planned Wrigley garage back in limbo

April 4, 2007
BY FRAN SPIELMAN fspielman@suntimes.com

The Tribune Co.'s decision to put the Cubs up for sale after the 2007 baseball season spells trouble for the 400-space parking garage and restaurant that was supposed to follow expansion of the Wrigley Field bleachers.

The $50 million project was already on hold because of rising costs. The Cubs have spent the last seven months exploring partnerships after initially planning to go it alone.

Now that the Tribune Co. has been sold to real estate magnate Sam Zell and the Cubs are about to go on the block, a decision on whether to proceed with the project will await Major League Baseball's approval of the team's new owner sometime next year.

179 new spots if delayed
The Cubs paid the city $2.1 million for city-owned land that was once a continuation of Seminary Street. If the garage is scrapped or delayed beyond the start of the 2008 season, the Cubs must provide at least 179 new parking spaces -- one space for every 10 new bleacher seats.
"When we learn who the new owner is, I'm sure it'll be high on the agenda," said Mike Lufrano, Cubs vice president of community relations.

"The building has been talked about with the city and the community, and it will continue to be on the agenda as we try to make sure the right project is built at the appropriate time."

'Built into the price'
The Cubs once-strained relationship with Wrigleyville residents will go sour fast unless the project is completed, said Ald. Tom Tunney (44th).
The five-story triangle-shaped building was supposed to house a 400-space garage, upscale restaurants, retail stores and rooftop garden above ground plus subterranean batting cages, pitching mounds and work-out facilities for Cubs players.

"We'll be realistic knowing there are new owners. But the commitment made to the community was to finish it off and make Wrigley a better ballpark. If the future owner of the Cubs understands that's part of the deal, that gets built into the price."

If the garage project is scrapped, the Cubs will pay a price, Tunney said. "I don't think we would take away night games, but we would be a lot tougher in terms of additional night games as we move forward."

The original plan called for the Cubs to fill the property with a triangular building with rounded edges and a rooftop garden.

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