Original by Tianshu

06/17/2025 18:11

Closed to Chicago’s Chinatown, the long-dormant tract of The 78 is about to welcome a large stadium. What are your thoughts on this development?

The youth organization Teen Coalition of Chinatown, which has long been engaged in the development of the 78 community, and the community advocacy nonprofit, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC), are convening a community meeting on July 30 at PuiTak Center, to solicit residents’ opinions and prevent potential negative impacts on the community during the development process.

On June 16, Chicago Fire FC released renderings of a $650 million stadium. The community meeting hosted by 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell, Related Midwest, the developer behind The 78, and Chicago Fire FC jointly presented the project’s development plan.

The 78 is located in the South Loop, bordered by Roosevelt Road to the north and Clark Street to the east, with the Chicago River to the west. To the south, it adjoins Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown. Covering approximately 62 acres, it is one of the largest undeveloped parcels in Chicago, and also one of the most strategically located.

In early June, Chicago Fire FC owner Joe Mansueto announced he would invest $650 million of his personal funds to build a new soccer stadium at The 78. The 22,000-seat stadium is expected to be completed by March 2028 and will serve as a multi-use venue for sporting events, entertainment, and community activities.

According to the plan, the stadium will be built near the Roosevelt CTA station, on the northern end of The 78. The area adjacent to Ping Tom Memorial Park will be redeveloped into new green space. Surrounding the stadium will be at least 5,000 residential units, along with commercial and entertainment facilities. The riverfront will be transformed into the new Chicago South Shore Riverwalk. These areas are expected to open in phases following the completion of the stadium.

At the community meeting, Curt Bailey, President of Related Midwest, said the stadium is expected to host about 20 Chicago Fire FC matches each year, along with 10 to 15 other major events. The project is projected to generate $8 billion in private investment and contribute more than $200 million in annual tax revenue.

*According to a transportation map provided by the developer, the stadium will be located near the Roosevelt Road side of the site.*

However, stakeholders have not yet disclosed specific funding details for the initial phase of development. Bailey mentioned that The 78 is located within an active Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, and that public tax revenues would be used for early-stage infrastructure improvements.

In April 2019, the Chicago City Council approved the TIF plan for the area. At the time, it was estimated that the TIF district would generate $551 million to reimburse Related Midwest for public infrastructure work during the community engagement process.

Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC), believed that new development at The 78 is generally a positive sign.

“However, I hope that once the stadium is completed, the space will be accessible and usable for residents,” McKibben said. “Beyond the stadium itself, the project should also consider the development and design of the surrounding neighborhoods and commercial areas.” She added that the development of The 78 will impact not just the South Loop, but all adjacent communities, especially Chinatown.

At the meeting, the developer emphasized that the project would generate significant job opportunities and serve as a catalyst to the local economy. Still, during the Q&A session, many residents raised concerns, such as how noise will be controlled, how adequate parking will be ensured, and how safety will be maintained. The development team acknowledged these issues and said they would be taken into consideration, but no actual solutions were presented.

Debbie Liu, a member of the Ping Tom Park Advisory Council, questioned the transportation planning after attending the meeting. From Liu’s perspective, the developer’s decision to reject proposals for a new CTA station and rail realignment will lead to overcrowding in both pedestrian and vehicle traffic around The 78. Meanwhile, the plan to build a pedestrian overpass to ease foot traffic is not feasible.

“If you want to enter the area, you have to do so from either the north or south end. If you are on bikes, the only access point is the north side near the Roosevelt station,” she said. “That naturally excludes Chinatown on the south side.”

The development team did not thoroughly address how the project might affect the surrounding communities’ historical and cultural landscape. Liu worried that The 78 could ultimately lead to displacement within Chinatown. “Many residents in Chinatown work in restaurants or nail salons. If the stadium drives up housing prices and the cost of living, those who can not afford it will be forced to leave the neighborhoods they belong to.”

The arrival of large commercial projects can pose a threat to the immigrant communities, a reality made clear in a similar case in Philadelphia. In 2024, residents of Philadelphia’s Chinatown took to the streets to protest Philadelphia 76ers’ proposal to build a new basketball stadium nearby. They argued that the influx of outside visitors would erase their history and culture, expelling them out of the neighborhoods where they grew up. In January 2025, the 76ers had to drop the plan under pressure.

According to Liu, Related Midwest’s current proposal was too commercially driven. She suggested the developers take more responsibility for protecting surrounding communities, for example, by signing a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) to legally safeguard community welfare and ensure that local residents can afford the rising housing or living expenses.

“At the beginning, it may be just one block, one family that is impacted, and it doesn’t seem like a big deal. But over time, as a community, are we really willing to sacrifice our culture, history and languages? Are we willing to go that far?”

Residents can check plans for the Chicago Fire stadium at dearchicago.com, where they can submit feedback through an online form or by emailing Alderman Dowell directly to participate in further discussions.

Alderman Pat Dowell promised to prioritize the voices of nearby residents and said that more community meetings would be held to keep the public informed about updates on The 78’s development.

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