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The 1901 Project, touted as the largest private
investment in Chicago’s West Side, is being spearheaded by the
Reinsdorf and Wirtz families, who own the arena. It is to be
built in phases on more than 55 acres of privately owned land
over about a decade-long period.
“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 calls for a 6,000-seat theater, multilevel
parking facilities with rooftop greenspace, more
pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and bike lanes, and hotel and
retail space. Plans for future phases include housing and
transportation enhancements.
“We set out to do something with no existing blueprint,”
Blackhawks chairman Danny Wirtz said. "Our commitment is to
create spaces that empower all generations, fostering a thriving
community that enhances the cultural and economic fabric of the
West Side.”
The approval for this project comes at a time when the NFL's
Chicago Bears and MLB's Chicago White Sox — also owned by the
Reinsdorfs — are looking to build new stadiums with public
funding.
The Bears are trying to build an enclosed stadium next to
Soldier Field as part of a reimagined museum campus. They also
own a 326-acre tract of land in suburban Arlington Heights that
could also be the site of a future home, and have looked at the
old Michael Reese Hospital site on the near South Side.
The White Sox are looking to move out of Guaranteed Rate Field
on the South Side and construct a new stadium as part of a
ballpark village in the city’s South Loop with green spaces,
residences and businesses.
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