The first demolition to make way for the new Bally’s Chicago Casino has begun along the Chicago River in West Town. The City of Chicago issued a demo permit for 700 West Erie Street on August 2, with Brandenburg Industrial Service Company serving as the demolition contractor. A long, single-story metal building that was most recently the home of a U-Haul rental facility, it sits on the southwest corner of the development site, at the intersection of Erie and Halsted.
Brandenburg making short work of 700 West Erie Street. Photo via Building Up Chicago
Demo progress, taken August 13, 2024. Photo via Building Up Chicago
Brandenburg in the mist of demolition work. Photo via Building Up Chicago
Coming soon will be the much larger demolition project, that of the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center. The Tribune printed its final edition at this facility back in May, and interior work is ongoing as crews prepare to tear the building down. Bally’s plans to have its new casino open by the end of 2026.
Photo via Building Up Chicago
Photo via Building Up Chicago
Photo via Building Up Chicago
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
“[I]n the mist of demolition work.”
I don’t know if that was intentional or not, but given the photo it captioned, it made me chuckle.
What are the proposed grey buildings to the right of the casino in that rendering? I know that opposite Chicago is Halstead Landing. Thanks to anyone who can answer!
They are theoretical Housing/Office that someone wants to build later on. Proposed but not approved.
From what I understand, the planned development is approved, but the individual buildings are not yet approved. So the site is approved for a lot of housing and they have to now decide how to apportion that out between the future building sites on the former freedom center property.
Do we know if they are going to knock down or implode the main building?
Pretty sure it’s a knock-down.
Thats a ton of brick on the freedom center. Wonder how long it will take to get all of that on pallets and shipped out.
Has there been a plan unveiled for how Halsted will be changed to accommodate all of the traffic going to Bally’s and the Onni development?
Halsted today is regularly backed up from Lake st. to North ave. How on earth do they plan to accommodate all of the new traffic?
https://chicagoyimby.com/2024/07/details-and-timeline-revealed-for-chicago-avenue-and-halsted-street-reconstruction.html
This doesn’t fix the existing traffic (which will get worse) north and south of Halsted/chicago. It only ensures that the intersection near the development won’t become more congested.
That’s the traffic plan I’ve seen that’s been revealed to the public. As far as I can tell, the plan is to hope people stay off Halsted.
They plan on making the road smaller. The War on Cars has won.
I’m not convinced the traffic will be as bad as people fear. Typically, one use, unless it’s an “all at once” type of use, like a stadium or theater, doesn’t generate much traffic relative to all other uses and through traffic along a road like Chicago.
Why the casino was closed. We dont have casino in the loop now ?
Bally’s in River North is still open. The demolition is for the permanent casino development at Chicago and Halsted.
Casino in the middle of the city!? Corruption at it’s best
Corruption at it’s best…Sounds like stupid on steroids.Can you explain why having a casino in the city makes is corrupt?