A majority of survey respondents from Chicago’s South Loop and neighboring communities say they oppose a proposal that would put a casino in The 78 megadevelopment in the vicinity.
According to WBEZ News, about 74 percent of those surveyed said they are “highly unsupportive” of the casino proposal. More than 75 percent of respondents said a casino is not an appropriate use “for a healthy, vibrant riverfront.”
Last Tuesday, the 78 Community Advisory Council hosted a virtual meeting to share the results of the survey, which contacted 380 area residents. More than 100 community members joined the Zoom call.
Four other sites are on the table for a Windy City casino: the Lakeside Center of McCormick Place; the Marshaling Yards near McCormick Place; the Chicago Tribune printing site in River West; and the One Central development near Soldier Field.
“We believe it was important to take the temperature of folks in … South Loop, Chinatown, Pilsen and Bronzeville, regarding a proposal for casino as part of the 78,” said Josh Ellis, a member of The 78 council. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the council in December 2019 to serve “as a conduit for community input as construction moves forward over the next three years.”
Ellis told participants on the Zoom call that initially, “a casino was not part of the original proposal. It wasn’t part of anybody’s proposal in Chicago” until 2019, when the Illinois General Assembly passed a gaming expansion bill.
The survey showed that a minority of respondents were optimistic about new jobs and increased revenue for the city and state, but far more were opposed due to concerns about increased crime and traffic, gambling addiction among low-income residents and potential negative impacts on schoolchildren in the area. They also cited concerns that some local families would move from the neighborhood if the casino is built.
“This is got to be the absolute worst site they can possibly pick for a casino,” said Shadan Tofighi, a resident whose condo overlooks the future site of The 78. “I can’t imagine where in the world you would have a casino next to a neighborhood with an elementary school, a whole bunch of children’s activities, parks, and people who have been living there for 30 years or so.”
Elisa Bell, another South Loop resident who is also a child psychiatrist, agreed. “I can only imagine the increase in traffic, crime and the possibility of harm to our youth and community activities in that park and other places around in these areas. I’m really against this project because I foresee a lot of problems.”
A community group called South Loop Community Against a Casino is also collecting signatures for its petition opposing the gaming industry from coming to their community.
