Wrigley Renovation Thread

[Cubswin11]

Danny Ecker ‏@DannyEcker 7m

Landmarks Commission says he wants to proceed with this today, despite Tunney's recommendation to defer it.

 

Translation: Eat a dick, Tunney

 

Is the Landmarks Commission one guy?

http://images1.cliqueclack.com/tv/files/2012/03/south-park-tsa.jpg

[Vinestal]

As the rooftops issue a statement saying they look forward to continuing negotiations. LOL.

 

Maybe you should have agreed to the original 2 signs before they got approval for 7.

 

ChicagoCubsOnline ‏@TheCCO

RT @dan_bernstein #Cubs began ordering materials weeks ago.They plan to start work immediately, ignore rooftops.

[NOLA]

I am really starting to get nervous with the stream of good things happening right now.

It's sort of indicative of the situation that I feel this way and the big league team lost their last 6 coming into today.

[treebird]

I am really starting to get nervous with the stream of good things happening right now.

It's sort of indicative of the situation that I feel this way and the big league team lost their last 6 coming into today.

 

it is embarrassing, but i feel the same way. it'll probably be something like castro and bryant both get hit by pitches and break their wrists at the exact same time.

[Guest]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2014/07/wrigley-field-restoration-update-landmarks-commission-unanimously-approved-revised-wrigley-plan.php#.U7_xpvldXFA

 

Good breakdown of everything that came out yesterday.

 

Initial Phase will include surface parking lots and two-story parking lot on Eddy Street. The Brown Lot will be demolished later in July. The Brown Lot will be expanded by 100 parking spaces to accommodate gameday parking and guests of the new Sheraton Hotel. After the season, work will begin on the Gold, Red and Purple Lots. The Gold Lot will be the home of the Cubs new broadcast center for home and visiting television networks.

The Cubs will begin excavation of the Purple Lot and lay the foundation for the sub-basements that will house the Levy commissary space and the players’ new clubhouse.

The City will close portions of Waveland and Sheffield Avenues for the relocation of underground water and sewer infrastructure which is necessary for the team to move the footprint of the park (outside walls) onto Waveland and Sheffield.

After the season, the team will immediately start the Budweiser Bleacher expansion and anticipate completing the installation of new seating, group terraces, outfield signs and lighting, including the new left field video board by Opening Day of 2015.

 

Kinda crazy that the first part to be rebuilt is the part that was actually already rebuilt like 8 years ago, but also makes complete sense since that's where the big stuff is happening with the signs/lights.

[Guest]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/WrigleySigns-71014.jpg

[seanimal]

I am really starting to get nervous with the stream of good things happening right now.

It's sort of indicative of the situation that I feel this way and the big league team lost their last 6 coming into today.

 

it is embarrassing, but i feel the same way. it'll probably be something like castro and bryant both get hit by pitches and break their wrists at the exact same time.

 

oh man, totally. i actually was considering researching the steel market expecting to find out that there's some historical shortage of steel because that would likely be the next thing to [expletive] this plan up

[Sammy Sofa]

I am really starting to get nervous with the stream of good things happening right now.

It's sort of indicative of the situation that I feel this way and the big league team lost their last 6 coming into today.

 

it is embarrassing, but i feel the same way. it'll probably be something like castro and bryant both get hit by pitches and break their wrists at the exact same time.

 

oh man, totally. i actually was considering researching the steel market expecting to find out that there's some historical shortage of steel because that would likely be the next thing to [expletive] this plan up

 

Have all of the prospects travel on separate buses/planes.

[seanimal]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/WrigleySigns-71014.jpg

 

i must have missed the detail about the new lighting; they seem really low on the horizon and could potentially impact players ability to see. hit a deep foul ball and you end up staring directly at the sun. of course, impairing vision is probably the whole point of putting them there, whether they ever turn them on or not

[seanimal]

I am really starting to get nervous with the stream of good things happening right now.

It's sort of indicative of the situation that I feel this way and the big league team lost their last 6 coming into today.

 

it is embarrassing, but i feel the same way. it'll probably be something like castro and bryant both get hit by pitches and break their wrists at the exact same time.

 

oh man, totally. i actually was considering researching the steel market expecting to find out that there's some historical shortage of steel because that would likely be the next thing to [expletive] this plan up

 

Have all of the prospects travel on separate buses/planes.

 

this plan has the makings of a bad horror movie

[Guest]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-wrigley-renovation-20140710,0,82965.story

 

Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney acknowledged Thursday that the team no longer is concerned with assurances from rooftop owners that they won't sue.

 

“In short, we are ready to go,” Kenney said. “With your support today, we'll preserve Wrigley Field for generations to come.”

 

The video board in left field — it had been reduced to 4,452 square feet from 5,700 square feet as the Cubs progressed through iterations of their plans — will shrink to 3,990 square feet. The team still plans to move bullpens from foul ground along the base lines to underneath the bleachers but will replace doors with a chain-link mesh. In a nod to concerns from the commission, the team will not remove portions of the outfield bricks and ivy.

 

The five additional signs are limited to 650 square feet each and must be spaced at least 20 feet apart. They can be either script or neon, but not billboards or have any flashing or chasing lights. Unclear are details of a right-field LED scoreboard, details of which must be submitted and approved separately.

 

Meanwhile, the bleachers will get more seats. The bleachers in center field may be demolished and rebuilt to make room for a restaurant.

 

The landmarks commission reviewed the plan because Wrigley Field has city landmark status that in 2004 protected a number of historic features, including the “uninterrupted sweep of the bleachers.”

 

The 6-0 vote in favor of the Cubs' plan — two commission members were absent — capped a four-hour meeting in a standing-only room packed with media, team representatives, fans and residents. Despite testimony from more than a dozen people, including 20 minutes by an attorney representing rooftop owners, the commission's vote came quickly and without discussion among the panel. Commissioner Ernest Wong, an architect, felt comfortable asking the Cubs to promise that Donald Trump wouldn't get a sign.

 

Although the Cubs have begun renovations at a nearby parking lot, much of the construction is expected to begin after this season. The last regular-season home game is scheduled for Sept. 24. The team told fans and Lakeview neighborhood residents in an email Thursday evening that it plans to finish installing new seating, group terraces, outfield signs and lighting, including the new left-field video board, by Opening Day 2015.

 

Last year, the Cubs said they would build a sign in right field before the 2014 season but didn't follow through.

 

“With this vote today, we hope the politics are behind us and we are ready to move forward with our $575 million restoration,” Cubs spokesman Julian Green said after the vote.

[Guest]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/WrigleySigns-71014.jpg

 

i must have missed the detail about the new lighting; they seem really low on the horizon and could potentially impact players ability to see. hit a deep foul ball and you end up staring directly at the sun. of course, impairing vision is probably the whole point of putting them there, whether they ever turn them on or not

 

I wouldn't assume the height on the lighting trusses on there to necessarily be to scale, but who knows?

 

But it's definitely needed. Our outfield is really dark.

[Andy]

A big part of me will miss the more quaint Wrigley Field, but I have to admit I'm very interested to see how this all turns out. It's going to look so [expletive] different next year.

[Guest]

If the other articles didn't make it clear, release from the Cubs confirms that they will begin work during this season.

 

Much of this work won’t impact fan access and gameday operations, so construction will occur throughout our remaining homestands. Following the conclusion of the season, we will immediately begin the Budweiser Bleacher expansion and anticipate completing the installation of new seating, group terraces, outfield signs and lighting, including the new left field video board, by Opening Day 2015.

Finally, as we begin work to restore beautiful Wrigley Field, we hope to avoid litigation and will continue to talk with rooftop businesses to determine if there are opportunities to broker a final settlement. If not, we are prepared to defend our right to expand Wrigley Field.

 

http://www.wrigleyfield.com/expansion-updates

[jersey cubs fan]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2014/07/wrigley-field-restoration-update-landmarks-commission-unanimously-approved-revised-wrigley-plan.php#.U7_xpvldXFA

 

Good breakdown of everything that came out yesterday.

 

Initial Phase will include surface parking lots and two-story parking lot on Eddy Street. The Brown Lot will be demolished later in July. The Brown Lot will be expanded by 100 parking spaces to accommodate gameday parking and guests of the new Sheraton Hotel. After the season, work will begin on the Gold, Red and Purple Lots. The Gold Lot will be the home of the Cubs new broadcast center for home and visiting television networks.

The Cubs will begin excavation of the Purple Lot and lay the foundation for the sub-basements that will house the Levy commissary space and the players’ new clubhouse.

The City will close portions of Waveland and Sheffield Avenues for the relocation of underground water and sewer infrastructure which is necessary for the team to move the footprint of the park (outside walls) onto Waveland and Sheffield.

After the season, the team will immediately start the Budweiser Bleacher expansion and anticipate completing the installation of new seating, group terraces, outfield signs and lighting, including the new left field video board by Opening Day of 2015.

 

Kinda crazy that the first part to be rebuilt is the part that was actually already rebuilt like 8 years ago, but also makes complete sense since that's where the big stuff is happening with the signs/lights.

 

Is there a map showing where all these lots (brown, purple, gold, red)?

[Guest]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2014/07/wrigley-field-restoration-update-landmarks-commission-unanimously-approved-revised-wrigley-plan.php#.U7_xpvldXFA

 

Good breakdown of everything that came out yesterday.

 

Initial Phase will include surface parking lots and two-story parking lot on Eddy Street. The Brown Lot will be demolished later in July. The Brown Lot will be expanded by 100 parking spaces to accommodate gameday parking and guests of the new Sheraton Hotel. After the season, work will begin on the Gold, Red and Purple Lots. The Gold Lot will be the home of the Cubs new broadcast center for home and visiting television networks.

The Cubs will begin excavation of the Purple Lot and lay the foundation for the sub-basements that will house the Levy commissary space and the players’ new clubhouse.

The City will close portions of Waveland and Sheffield Avenues for the relocation of underground water and sewer infrastructure which is necessary for the team to move the footprint of the park (outside walls) onto Waveland and Sheffield.

After the season, the team will immediately start the Budweiser Bleacher expansion and anticipate completing the installation of new seating, group terraces, outfield signs and lighting, including the new left field video board by Opening Day of 2015.

 

Kinda crazy that the first part to be rebuilt is the part that was actually already rebuilt like 8 years ago, but also makes complete sense since that's where the big stuff is happening with the signs/lights.

 

Is there a map showing where all these lots (brown, purple, gold, red)?

 

Funny you should ask. A little while ago I wasted 5 minutes at work looking into this.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/images/ballpark/2013/parking-map_GENERIC.jpg

[Guest]

More on the overall timeline

 

 

CUBS' TIMELINE

 

But unless the two sides find a way to get along with ad and video board signs taking up 56 percent of the outfield views, that may be up to a judge to decide.

 

It's unclear what will determine if and when the rooftop owners pull the legal trigger, but the Cubs simply aren't concerning themselves with that anymore.

 

Barring litigation, the team is sticking to its rough timeline that the expanded bleachers will be ready for next season and that the team's new clubhouse will be ready by opening day of 2016.

 

Cubs ownership is planning to break ground on a hotel across the street from the park in 2016 with the goal of opening in 2017.

 

The rest of the project, including a new office building overlooking a new triangle property plaza adjacent to the ballpark, is projected to be completed by opening day of the 2018 season.

 

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140711/BLOGS04/140719974

 

I actually figured they'd do the hotel much sooner than that.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm surprised they're planning on the hotel that early, and kind of expect it to be delayed a couple years.

[Guest]

I'm surprised they're planning on the hotel that early, and kind of expect it to be delayed a couple years.

 

I just figured it was something they could do quickly (relatively speaking) since it wouldn't be impeded at all by the baseball season, but I could see how having all that construction going on around it after it's open wouldn't be ideal for business.

 

Plus PTR

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm surprised they're planning on the hotel that early, and kind of expect it to be delayed a couple years.

 

I just figured it was something they could do quickly (relatively speaking) since it wouldn't be impeded at all by the baseball season, but I could see how having all that construction going on around it after it's open wouldn't be ideal for business.

 

Plus PTR

 

But building new structures is never something that happens on schedule, especially in cities like Chicago.

[Splendid Splinter]

So when would the reno of concessions/concourses/bathrooms/seats/upper deck/etc (basically from foul pole to foul pole) fit in the timeline here? I imagine it's after the 2015 season and be ready for opening day 2016 along with the clubhouse? Or is it part of the "rest of the project" that will be ready for opening day 2018?

 

It hasn't been talked about much lately because they didn't change much of this stuff in the new proposal, but was curious if anybody read or hear about it.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

suck a dick rooftops

[Guest]

So when would the reno of concessions/concourses/bathrooms/seats/upper deck/etc (basically from foul pole to foul pole) fit in the timeline here? I imagine it's after the 2015 season and be ready for opening day 2016 along with the clubhouse? Or is it part of the "rest of the project" that will be ready for opening day 2018?

 

It hasn't been talked about much lately because they didn't change much of this stuff in the new proposal, but was curious if anybody read or hear about it.

 

They were always going to do those areas in phases. i.e. lf/3b side lower deck one year, then upper deck another year, then rf/1b lower deck and then upper deck...not exactly sure how they're going to phase it..originally were going to do the 3b lower deck first but that was when they were going to do the clubhouse under there. not sure if that has changed.

[NOLA]

A big part of me will miss the more quaint Wrigley Field, but I have to admit I'm very interested to see how this all turns out. It's going to look so [expletive] different next year.

I'll miss it too, but that memory is more from how it looked in the 80s and 90s. It's already changed. As for how it's going to look, if it can as good as the new Fenway and its spruced up block I'll be happy.

[Vinestal]

Not much new here but an interesting read:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-wrigley-construction-20140804-story.html