Without getting into a debate as to whether moving to the Firehouse is even possible in the city of Chicago, I was wondering--how much land would be need to build the stadium? The reason I say this is because I noticed a plat of land just northwest of the Clybourn stop on the Northwest line coming into work today that seems fairly large in size. It is for sale (will have to read the sign to get an idea of who the landbroker is), but seems perhaps a bit too small to fit the stadium. The land is wedged between Elston and the train tracks that are immediately adjacent to 90/94. Like I said, I don't think the area would be big enough for the stadium. It seems to be surrounded by a bunch of old, decrepit and seemingly abandoned buildings. I think that the city could become pretty interested if the Fire indicates that it would revitalize this area. The location is ideal. First, it's still in the city. Second, it is right next to the Clybourn stop, which services both the Milwaukee line trains and the Northwest line trains. THird, it is right next to the 90/94 expressway. For a point of reference, it is right across the street from the channel 50 WPWR building, which is located at 2151 N. Elston.
Don Garber once said if you know of 30 acres of land available in the chicago area let fire officials know.
I take the NW train in and pass by that every day and i know exactly the land you're talking about. However, I don't think it'll work. One, it is TOO close to the expressway and railroad tracks. It'd be great to have it there but there would be some serious noise issues in the stadium, I'd be sure. Two, I don't see how they could manage parking there, being so close to a major interchange and with so little land available. Go in either direction and you're traversing into some recently yuppiefied retgentrification neighborhoods, so it would be a problem. Three, because of the location, it could be prohibitively expensive. Four, not positive on this, but in addition to demolishing the current buildings on the site (and having to deal with how it would impact the Metra lines and 90/94 with construction) I think the nature of the business that used to be in the unoccupied bildings might necessitate some substantial cleanup. Not positive on that. Anyway...good idea. Not the first to have it though.
Re: Re: Land for Firehouse? here is my interpretation of Fire management looking at a site................. Fire employee: Hey Boss, I have this ineteresting site in the borders of the city that could possibly be used for the teams stadium. Fire Management: No!! It's isn't in Aurora and this land is actually in the city, so the fans would be too loud and boisterous. Besides that land would be too much like Wrigley Field type of setup. We can't possibly want to mimic a successful organization such as the Cubs!! Also we would have no room for the soccer moms, OR STRONGEST FANS! to be able to park their SUV's. Oh yeah and I just don't like it. I should know I was born and grew up in the area and so did my wing men! Fire Employee: So it has to be in the burbs. Why? Fire Management: Free land and quiet fans tha we can pass as a loud boisterous bunch like those in naperville. If I hear one more person tell what a great place Naperville Cardinal stadium is to watch the game, I am going to hurl. the fans there suck excpet for section 8. Please!!! but we have some dream that the suburbs are the answer so that is the way it's gonna be.
Did you ever leave Section 8 during a Fire game at Soldier Field? Sometimes it can be downright depressing--if not worse, because in Soldier Field you had a bunch of quiet, sit-on-your-hands types spread out in the vast cavern of the stadium. At least at Naperville, there was some electricity in the crowd no matter where you sat because everyone was jammed in there.
Re: Re: Land for Firehouse? I wonder how loud it would be in the stadium. Aren't there condos and stuff that are right next to the expressway? How do they handle the noise? And if the Fire house is going to be a solid brick structure, wouldn't that help to keep some of the noise out? I agree that there is little land available here for a stadium. I don't know what the surrouding land is like--whether it is just sitting vacant, or what-not. I'm sure the Fire have explored this issue, and it probably wouldn't work. As for it being close a gentrified area, there could be some NIMBY problems. But if the area is run-down, and the Fire could revitalize that area, then I think the city just might interested. The land could be expensive, because of the location--but then again, if there are some environmental problems, which I think there might be, the land could be really cheap--and the Fire may get some incentives from the city to clean up the mess. This would seem to contradict your point that the land may not be cheap. It could be true, however, because the land has sat there for an awfully long time. And I would think that with the noise of the expressway and the trains, the land would be even tougher to sell, thereby making it even cheaper. I'm sure the Fire have looked into it. I think the hardest problem to solve is it just wouldn't be enough land for the stadium.
from http://www.sqfeet.com/landgrid.html Since I am not from Chicago I don't know where these are but they are locations for sale. Acres/Location/City/Zoning 10.38 Route 53 & Caton Farm Joliet, IL M-2 12.00 (One block North of IL Genoa City, WI Business 33 Elgin, IL industrial 44 Lake Zurich, IL industrial
Re: Re: Re: Land for Firehouse? Well, no, not really, because if the land itself is cheap, then the necessary cleanup needed that would almost be part of the land cost wouldn't be. Either way, no good. Hey, I think it's a great idea. I just don't think that particular city site is the answer, though it would be pretty cool to have a Metra stop practically inside the stadium
I said that I was not from the area, and had no idea as to where things are. I went and did a google search for land in Chicago and that is what came up. Sorry.
[/color] Look enough like a Firehouse? The architectural point of this stadium was that it was wedged into a tight urban space. Firehouse wouldn't need to be so big, either. This was Genoa/Sampdoria's home ground, revamped for World Cup '90.
How could Uncle Phil and MLS top their act in LA? Build one of these byootz downtown, in a big-time market like Chicago.
If a stadium is built with no on site parking it would have to be near several forms of public transportation.
Underground parking? B.T.W the Genoa stadium seats 40,100, so the Firehouse could be significantly smaller.
Well, considering how much underground parking is costing for Milennium Park and Soldier Field, we may have to take a pass.
Sure, some pipedreaming going on here, but 1. You want a stadium IN Chicago 2. You have to have parking anyway 3. Part of the reason for building the thing is to get parking money! I mean, couldn't that part pay for itself? Especially if it's parking in an increasingly yuppified area, near public transit stations.
parking econ 101 Structure parking cost is north of $12k per spot. Unless tied in with other use, the revenues from stadium parking would take at least 12 years to pay back even with high rates (50 events per year x $20 (net of taxes, labor maintenance) per spot x 12 years). As you said above, part of the reason for building the stadium is to retain parking revenue. Likely would need surface parking or shared existing or subsidized structured parking to make it work in the city. peter
Re: parking econ 101 Thanks - you've probably responded to this point alone 50x. If so sorry. But if you could rent those spots out daily, to commuters who don't want to drive into the financial district, the numbers look better, and there would be an argument for subsidies. Above poster said this was near public trans and major expressways. Personally, I have no idea if this is workable, location-wise.