People living in Chicago’s Bridgeport are questioning Amtrak’s push to build a maintenance facility, which could also lead to the White Sox leaving the neighborhood.
The proposed Amtrak facility would be located along Canal Street just to the west of Rate Field, and in exchange the neighborhood could potentially lose the team to a new stadium in the South Loop.
As part of their opposition to the swap, neighbors are now urging the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the state agency that owns Rate Field, to support them in their fight against Amtrak.
“We ask that you please support not letting them come to our community,” said one longtime Bridgeport resident.
Other residents expressed environmental and health concerns during public comment at a board meeting Wednesday.
“It’s pretty much going to be my next-door neighbor,” said another resident. “The air pollution, the noise pollution, pretty much everything that we don’t want in our own backyard.”
Maria LaGiglio started a petition to stop the proposed development. So far more they’ve collected more than 3,000 signatures.
“If you’re the steward of publicly owned land, we ask you not to sell, lease, or transfer or provide Amtrak access to any property under your control,” she said. “This land belongs to the public and should be managed in the public’s interest.”
The chair of ISFA said they’re still working to get more information from Amtrak on the proposed development that could include the use of space now occupied by a Rate Field parking lot.
So far, the board said nothing has been presented to them.
“Our main priority is to keep the White Sox right here in our community,” said Leslie Darling, ISFA board chair.
Amtrak in a letter to the city last week says it doesn’t need city approval to relocate its maintenance facility given its federal statutory exemptions.
“It appears that they have every intention to move forward,” said 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee. “I’m working with the city right now to determine where federal preemption ends and home rule authority begins.”
Residents worry about the future of their neighborhood and believe this signals a possible move for the White Sox.
The team’s lease at Rate Field is up in 2029. The team’s minority owner Justin Ishbia is the driving force behind a proposal to not only construct a new $900 million maintenance facility for Amtrak, but to use land currently being used by the agency to construct a ballpark for the White Sox along the Chicago River in South Loop.
His private equity firm Canal Edge has already been granted categorical exclusions, allowing them to bypass environmental testing and studies.
“I’m urging the members of the general assembly to renew the current lease work with the Illinois Sports Authority,” said Cook County Commissioner John Daley.
A community meeting is scheduled for Thursday night at 2121 S. Union Avenue. Residents will get a chance to hear from Amtrak and Ishbia about the development. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
Hence then, the article about bridgeport residents air concerns about amtrak facility possible white sox move was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Bridgeport residents air concerns about Amtrak facility, possible White Sox move )
Also on site :
- I Happily Paid All of My Girlfriend’s Housing and Travel Costs for Two Years. Then I Learned Something Outrageous.
- Surviving Members of Tom Petty’s Original Heartbreakers to Reunite for the First Time in Over 20 Years
- Dunamis Premium Spirits Accelerates National Growth with Reyes Distribution, New 2026 Gold Medal Wins and Expanding Global Footprint