Zona de Azar USA – Bally’s Chicago Adjusts Hotel Tower Plans to Safeguard Infrastructure

USA.- January 22th 2024 www.zonadeazar.com Bally’s Chicago faces a relocation challenge for its planned hotel tower at the Freedom Center casino site, as concerns about potential damage to city water pipes near the Chicago River arise.

The tower, initially set for the north end, may undergo design revisions and possibly a reduction in height.

Chairman Soo Kim stated, “We need to come up with a different way to build a tower because we can’t now put it on Chicago Avenue.” The shift in plans emerged during a detailed examination of the foundation requirements for a 500-room hotel tower along the river, with caisson installation posing a risk to municipal water management infrastructure pipes.

Bally’s won the bid to construct the Chicago casino at the 30-acre River West site in a competitive process, gaining final approval in December 2022 for an entertainment complex featuring an exhibition hall, 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, 10 restaurants, and 4,000 gaming positions.

The revised plan involves relocating the 100-room first-phase hotel to the south, next to or atop the events center. The 400-room tower may shift to the south or west side, subject to city approval. While the tower might be shorter, the commitment remains to build the full 500-room hotel.

The unexpected water pipe concerns are termed a “force majeure,” not accounted for in the original plans. Despite the change, Bally’s aims to open the permanent casino in 2026 without delays.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com