Architecture Firm Proposes Casino for Michael Reese Site
The architectural firm behind some of Chicago’s most iconic buildings, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, has put forward an idea to redevelop the former Michael Reese Hospital Complex located on the city’s near south side into a multi-use property that would contain, amongst other things, a casino and entertainment venue.
The firm, one of the world’s largest, is responsible for both the John Hancock Tower and the Sears Tower in Chicago, as well as New York’s modernist masterpiece the Lever House. At the request of city officials looking for a new future for Michael Reese, a once-massive hospital facility that opened originally in 1880 but was closed due to financial problems and other issues in 2008, SOM presented their ideas for the property at a community meeting this week in Chicago’s 4th Ward Bronzeville neighborhood.
SOM’s plans for the site, which now is fenced off and contains only one remaining building, calls for a mixed-use development that would house President Obama’s library, a convention center and adjoining hotel, in addition to the casino and related entertainment spaces. The property is located close to McCormick Place, which is the nation’s largest convention center with nearly 2.7 million square feet of space. It is the host of the annual Chicago Auto Show.
Residents at the meeting were vocally displeased with the casino component of the plan, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Alderman for the Ward, Will Burns, told the paper that he was not entirely opposed to the idea of the casino, which residents argued would “cheapen” potential future development in the area.
Alderman Burns said he was more interested in a project resembling LA Live, a sprawling entertainment and sports complex that has changed the face of downtown Los Angeles, California.
While it comes as no surprise that a certain number of residents in the area are opposed to the idea of a casino coming to their neighborhood, to the casual observer it may seem like the people near Michael Reese are apt to object to just about any project suggested for the abandoned site.
When the city was still vying to host the 2016 Olympics, Michael Reese was much talked about as a possible location to host the athletes, with its many buildings well-suited to house the 15,000 Olympians who would have invaded the city for the games.
Afterwards, the property could have been sold or rented as housing units. Alas, when the city lost its bid to play host to the games, the Michael Reese project also evaporated. At the time of the Olympics bid, there was notable opposition to the plan by residents, who felt the neighborhood infrastructure unsuitable to handle such a crush.
Perhaps the only aspect of SOM’s vision for Michael Reese that was well-received by area residents was the idea to use a portion of the land to house President Obama’s presidential library and museum. Because the site is found to be environmentally contaminated and in great need of infrastructural upgrades, the team of architects support the casino element, as such interests are often amenable to the idea of paying for such work to be done.
Ultimately, whether the future of the Michael Reese campus will include a casino is up to Illinois lawmakers. The plan would have to be approved downstate before anything could move forward.
