Agreement to enter into Security Enhancement Project with Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, LLC for all events at Wrigley Field and Gallagher Way

Votes › Finance › 44th Ward: Bennett R. Lawson

Record number: SO2025-0017546
Type: Ordinance; category: Stadiums/Arenas
Status: Final
Sponsor: Bennett R. Lawson (44th Ward)
Committee: Committee on Finance
Introduction Date: May 21, 2025
Final Action Date: Jun 18, 2025
Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed Jun 18, 2025

50 yea, 0 nay. On motion of Alderperson Dowell, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Jun 18, 2025.

Yea (50): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)

Impact report

Written by AI from the official document. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

The City would split the cost with the Chicago Cubs to install security bollards and other safety upgrades around Wrigley Field, and would settle a land ownership dispute by giving the Team most of the Highlander parking lot while the City gets a strip to widen the alley.

Who it affects

Residents of Clifton Avenue near the Highlander Lot: The alley behind their homes would be widened with a 4-foot strip and an access area off Grace Street, which the text says should make it easier to get in and out of garages.
Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, LLC: The Team would get the City's interest in most of the Highlander Lot and would pay at least about $8 million toward the security project plus all long-term maintenance and repair.
People attending events at Wrigley Field and Gallagher Way: Anti-terrorism bollards and other security improvements would be installed around the ballpark for all events.
City sanitation and service crews: A permanent easement off Grace Street would let garbage trucks and larger vehicles access the alley.
Pedestrians on Addison Street: The project includes widening the sidewalk on Addison Street and moving light poles.
Construction workers and minority- and women-owned businesses: The project must follow city rules on minority- and women-owned business participation, Chicago resident hiring, and prevailing wages.

What changes

Anti-terrorism security bollards would be installed in the public way around Wrigley Field.
The sidewalk on Addison Street would be widened and light poles moved.
The alley west of the Highlander Lot would be widened by about 4 feet, with paving and utility work paid by the Team.
Garbage trucks and larger vehicles would get a permanent access area into the alley off Grace Street.
The Team must keep a 2-foot building setback along Seminary Avenue and maintain the trees and landscaping there.

Money

The Team estimates the security project will cost about $32.1 million, not counting design fees.
The City will pay one-third of the guaranteed maximum price contract or $10 million, whichever is less, possibly using leftover money from the CubFund.
The State plans a $12 million grant; if it is not used directly for the project, the City will provide $12 million of City funds instead.
The Team will pay the rest of the cost, expected to be at least $8 million, including any cost overruns, plus all long-term maintenance and repair.
The City appraised the Highlander Lot at $5,300,000 in 2024; the City will transfer its interest in most of it to the Team for no extra payment.

Where: Wrigley Field; Gallagher Way; 1088 W. Waveland Avenue (Highlander Lot); Grace Street; Seminary Avenue; Clifton Avenue; 3701 N. Clifton Avenue; Addison Street

When: Immediately upon passage and approval

Timeline

May 21, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
Jun 12, 2025: Substituted, Committee on Finance. The matter was Substituted in Committee.
Jun 16, 2025: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Finance. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
Jun 18, 2025: Passed, City Council (50 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Dowell, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.

Documents

w44 - o17546.pdf (Legislation)
w44 - o17546 exib a.pdf (Exhibits)
w44 - o17546 exib c.pdf (Exhibits)
w44 - o17546 exib b.pdf (Exhibits)
SO2025-0017546 Committee Letter.pdf (Committee Letter)
SO2025-0017546 Ordinance.pdf (Legislation)
SO2025-0017546 Exhibit B - Depiction of Property.pdf (Exhibits)
SO2025-0017546 Exhibit A - Legal Description of Property.pdf (Exhibits)
SO2025-0017546 Exhibit C - Depiction of Team and City Parcels.pdf (Exhibits)

Lobbying and money

Computed links; money near a vote is not evidence that it influenced the vote.

Who lobbied on it

Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, LLC: ISSUES RELATING TO WRIGLEY FIELD AND RELATED ENTITIES AND OPERATORS. (179 filings, Apr 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2026; Crane Kenney, Heather Way Kitzes, Julian Green; matched by client named)

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