According to a report from Crain’s Chicago Business, the first of what could be many lawsuits was filed against the Cubs to block the construction of the proposed Wrigley Field hotel. The lawsuit was filed by Thomas A. Romano against the City of Chicago, Wrigley Field Holdings LLC, Wrigley Field Operations LLC, Triangle Property Holdings LLC and North Clark Street LLC.
Thomas Romano Sr. owns three apartment buildings immediately west of the hotel site bound by Addison, Clark and Patterson streets. According to the report and the lawsuit, Romano is “alleging that the City Council Zoning Committee’s approval of the project improperly amended the site’s current zoning status and that the development will cause the value of the surrounding property to decrease.”
Thomas Romano Sr. is “asking for an injunction blocking construction of the hotel” and “is seeking more than $6 million in damages.”
Danny Ecker reported the suit “alleges that the city had no legal authority to approve the project because the planned development status on the site expired two years ago and also alleges that the approval was arbitrary and capricious. The suit also alleges that the development will cause issues for the surrounding residential area including noise, light disturbance, traffic and blocking the alley between his property and the hotel, the only way for his tenants to exit.”
A spokesman for the Cubs was not available for comment.