Chicago Sun-Times

By Fran Spielman

Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) on Monday declared his opposition to key elements of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to help the Cubs wring $150 million more in advertising and sponsorship revenues out of Wrigley Field and surrounding streets to minimize any taxpayer contribution toward renovating the 98-year-old stadium.

Tunney said he’s dead-set against any additional signage that blocks the view of the rooftop clubs overlooking Wrigley that share 17 percent of their revenues with the team.

“The rooftops and the owners of Wrigley have a unique partnership. They want to be protected long-term. They have a lot invested. The city has asked them to spend millions to keep their buildings safe. We’ve got to find ways they can both stay in business,” said Tunney, whose ward includes Wrigley.

“One of the tenets of the landmark ordinance is the view into the residential area. The more signs you put in there, the more you block the view into the neighborhood. We’ll find some appropriate places. But, what I want is long-term peace between small business owners and the big business at Clark and Addison.”

Tunney said he is equally opposed to the Cubs’ plan to close Sheffield and Waveland every game day to make way for money-making street fairs that duplicate the festival atmosphere around Boston’s Fenway Park.

“Street closings have been a real quality-of-life issue for residents. To think they would like to close them every game is problematic. It interferes with the quality of life of a residential community. How would you like your street to be shut down 80 days a year. Yes, you knew you bought near the park. But, the streets belong to the people,” Tunney said.

“It’s in the best interest of the residents and the quality of life of LakeView to keep these streets open. If there’s commercial activity, it belongs on the Clark Street corridor.”

Tunney then referred to the Cubs’ revised plan to build a long-stalled triangle building adjacent to Wrigley promised, but never delivered to residents in exchange for a bleacher expansion.

“They’ve come up with a plan that’s more of an open-air plaza. That is probably the most appropriate place for them to do their Yawkey Way: on their own property,” he said.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported last month that Emanuel is privately pushing a Fenway-style plan to relax Wrigley’s landmark status and allow the Cubs to wring as much as $150 million in advertising and sponsorship revenues out of the stadium.

The changes range from more outfield signage behind the Wrigley bleachers, possibly including a jumbotron in right field to street closings on Sheffield and Waveland every game day to make way for money-making street fairs.

Click here for the full report from the Chicago Sun-Times.

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