A new pitch to draw the Chicago Bears to stay in the city has been presented to the public by the team behind the previously announced Bronzeville Lakefront megadevelopment. This is not the first attempt to lure the Bears to this site, with the same developers having put forward a much smaller plan in 2025 that was ultimately scrapped due to various issues.
Rendering of revised Bronzeville Lakefront via Grit
Now, Farpoint Development and McLaurin Development Partners have partnered up with Capri Investment Group as their new capital partner under the umbrella name of Grit. The new plans double the size of the proposal by incorporating Prairie Shores and the air above the McCormick Place marshalling yards to meet the Bears’ demands.
PREVIOUS rendering of Bronzeville Lakefront by LJC
The Rejected 2025 Plan
The 2025 plans called for a new stadium and mixed-use district to fit within the former Michael Reese Hospital site, which was initially earmarked for the mixed-use megadevelopment known as the Bronzeville Lakefront. This 48-acre parcel is bound by Metra tracks to the east, East 31st Street to the south, and the Prairie Shores high-rise complex to the west.
PREVIOUS rendering of Bronzeville Lakefront by LJC
On the southern end of the site would have sat the stadium, slightly constricted by the property’s width. Because of this, the stadium would not have the 300-foot security perimeter required by the team, while also limiting the size of the surrounding mixed-use district that the team’s owners want in order to maximize their profits. Because of this, the Bears walked away.
Rendering of revised Bronzeville Lakefront via Grit
The New 2026 Plan
In order to address the core issues from above, Grit has worked on receiving handshake agreements to incorporate Prairie Shores into the new $10 billion development. Initially, three of the five towers within the existing complex would have to be demolished. These hold roughly 1,000 units which are highly affordable and are largely occupied by students.
Rendering of revised Bronzeville Lakefront via Grit
To mitigate the impact, the development team would work with Prairie Shores governing board to oversee the construction of 1,500 replacement units. These would be the first thing to be built, with the existing buildings remaining untouched until replacement structures are underway. They would also offer existing residents rent protections for five years. An agreement has also been made to build student housing on the campus of Illinois Tech.
Bronzeville lakefront site comparison via Google Maps
With the towers removed, along with a massive multi-acre cap over the existing rail tracks, the revised development site would span 100 acres. Once again, the massive 75,000-seat domed stadium would sit on the southern end of the site, surrounded by pedestrian plazas and a covered parking garage with room for tailgating. This provides the necessary security perimeter.
Rendering of revised Bronzeville Lakefront via Grit
While the stadium design is conceptual, it breaks from the ongoing copy of Allegiant Stadium that the Bears have floated. To the north would sit an expansive new mixed-use district containing:
- 5,000 residential units
- 2,000 hotel rooms
- 300,000 square feet of commercial space
- 300,000 square feet of additional space for McCormick Place
- 400,000 square feet of office space
- 400,000-square-foot health and wellness center
- 500,000-square-foot youth sports complex
- 28-acre public park and potential festival grounds
- Connection to the lakefront
- New 29th Street Metra station
- New CTA Green Line station (not on site)
Rendering of revised Bronzeville Lakefront via Grit
Though not fully addressed, the plans would span all the way to McCormick Place, necessitating the demolition of the existing McDonald’s, storage facility, and primary care center, while incorporating the land on which Metropolis Pointe is proposed. The team would also work with Lake Meadows to the south to develop up to 5,000 units already approved on the site.
Rendering of revised Bronzeville Lakefront via Grit
Grit has been working to receive a memorandum of understanding with a major capital provider, per Crain’s. This also includes a potential offer to purchase the Arlington Heights property currently earmarked for the Bears’ Illinois plans. While this is the most fleshed-out proposal for the team in recent weeks, the Bears have remained quiet on their decision and were not involved in the creation of these plans.
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This looks like the best plan yet, and a good use of space. Love the parkland and open space on the east side. Build it so we can move on already…
I feel like at this point…. The Onion should put out a headline along the lines of – “Vacant Lot Owner In Mississippi Pitches Bears Stadium Plan”…..
Daley the Younger had the best plan. If the Bears leave Chicago we’ll just get another team. It’s the third most profitable team in the NFL. Any number of NFL owners would love to move here and any restrictions the league tried to impose would not survive an antitrust lawsuit. Rattle that saber and keep the Bears in Soldiers Field.
In light of the recent election showing support for a festival space, I think this creates a good opportunity to redevelop this space and allow the old stadium site to be repurposed. There are a lot of moving parts, but the City could really benefit from coordinated development like this.
This plan has a big bonus for the Chicago convention industry. Allowing access to the McCormick Place complex and the hotels nearby benefits both the Stadium and McCormick. Also close to Interstate highways and good local road access with DSLSD, Michigan, Cermack and Roosevelt. Also the McMk Busway and IC/South Shore train lines and Green line Cermack station. And plenty of new parking and tailgating options. Also moving Bears out of SF allows for it to be converted to the permanent festival grounds which is so badly needed in Chicago’s lakefront.
In a world where time, complexity and cost have no meaning, this plan sounds great!