At a heated neighborhood meeting June 27 for the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, many South Loop residents expressed discontent of the proposed arena location that will house DePaul basketball in 2016.
Tina Feldstein, president of the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, led the discussion making clear that she and many residents did not approve of the arena location.
“We really don’t want this arena at 21st and Prairie,” Feldstein said. “We don’t believe DePaul quite frankly needs it there either Š—ê there’s plenty of options for DePaul.”
However, the opinion of the crowd was not unanimous.
“You should acknowledge that there are other people who feel differently than you,” DePaul alum Frank Nowicki said from the crowd. I could find anybody in this room to tell me that you don’t think Cermak and Prairie would be in better shape with more people coming in there and more restaurants. All I’m saying is that I think you have to keep an open mind. I haven’t seen one drawing of what this building is going to look like and this organization is against it Š—ê that’s outrageous to me.”
Many residents interrupted Nowicki and yelled that he was wrong. Most residents appeared to side with Feldstein with a loud applause when she said the community feels 23rd and State would be a more appropriate location for the arena.