For years, the United Center has been surrounded by a vast stretch of asphalt. Now the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families, who respectively own the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, hope to turn it into a mixed-use district with green spaces, residential units and more. The Chicago Plan Commission approved the $7 billion expansion plan in January.
The Reinsdorf and Wirtz families have planned the expansion for several years. The expansion, which has been named the “1901 Project” for the United Center’s address on West Madison Street, includes plans to transform the space surrounding the arena into new community areas. The project is expected to be completed in 10 years, with the first phase beginning this spring.
Asante Tresean, a worker at the United Center, expressed concerns about the expansion.
“It’s probably going to be a little more expensive,” said Tresean, who works in concessions. “I hope it doesn’t make it hard for the workers to get around, or the residents.”
The parking lots that surround the United Center are central to the 1901 Project, with usage rates of less than 60%. New renovations would include a parking garage with green spaces on the roof, as well as playgrounds. The project also includes plans for restaurants, a hotel and a music hall of 6,000 seats.
The 1901 Project will also create 9,500 housing units, 20% of which are expected to be affordable. Millennium Park is being used as a reference; following its construction in 2004, surrounding residential units showed 57% growth as well as an increase in value for housing units overlooking the park.
Architecture companies Field Operations, site design group and RIOS have been consulted for the 1901 Project.
The plan aims to revitalize the neighborhood by bringing economic opportunity. The project is expected to create 63,000 construction jobs as well as 13,000 permanent jobs.
Oliver Daily, a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, thinks the 1901 Project could revitalize the area.
“Turning it into a green space sounds amazing,” Daily said. “I would hope that it would bring (residents) outside more.”
Whether or not the city will provide financial support is uncertain. Although the $7 billion cost will be fully covered by the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families, they are relying upon the city of Chicago to fund a Pink Line station near the United Center.
The Green Line’s recently built Damen stop is within walking distance — less than half a mile away from the United Center.
However, the closest Pink Line station is several blocks away. A new Pink Line station would likely come with a large price tag — the Green Line’s Damen stop cost roughly $80 million.
Andrew Benjamin, a Bulls fan, said that the city should focus its efforts on other services for inner-city residents.
“I think they should put up community centers for children, outreaches, health care centers,” Benjamin said. “The inner city’s (where) we needed that.”
Benjamin also said providing such support could bring the crime rate down.
“(People are) worrying about the city not caring about them,” he said. “(If) the city started doing something to help them, maybe their opinions are changing.”
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