A day before the Cubs were scheduled to meet with the Landmarks Commission, Ald. Tom Tunney demanded major changes to the agreed upon framework deal that would allow the Cubs to restore Wrigley Field.
According to reports from Crain’s Chicago Business and the Chicago Sun-Times, Ald. Tunney sent a letter to Cubs Executive Vice President Mike Lufrano on Wednesday that “demanded a sharp reduction in proposed signage in the ballpark and other shifts, including the removal of a proposed pedestrian bridge over Clark Street between the stadium and the proposed hotel.”
Tunney sent the letter in advance to the scheduled meeting on Thursday morning with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.
In the letter, Tunney said he would not support the Cubs’ application until certain changes were made. Tunney wants the proposed jumbotron in left field reduced from 6,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet and the sign in right field reduced from 1,000 square feet to 600 square feet. Tunney said the pedestrian bridge and an outdoor patio/party deck must be removed from the proposal and the hotel’s lobby must be moved.
In response to Tunney’s letter, the Cubs said, “We look forward to continuing to work with the city and the landmarks commission.” A statement from the Mayor’s office said, “All sides continue to work together to modernize Wrigley Field and invest in the surrounding neighborhood. We have made a great deal of progress in a short amount of time. Tomorrow, we will continue to move forward on a number of major items at the Landmarks Commission meeting.”
Fran Spielman reported that the Landmarks Commission is going to approve other elements of the stadium remodeling but the Commission is going to hold off on approving the signage. According to the report from the Sun-Times, the Cubs will receive the approval to “extend outward the right and left field walls of Wrigley Field, build a new western entrance, remodel he dugout and build a new Captain Morgan Club.”
The meeting to vote on the signage has been postponed until a regularly scheduled meeting on July 11.
Letter from Ald. Tunney to the Chicago Cubs from Crain’s Chicago Business
