On Thursday, January 8, several rooftop club owners adjacent to the historic Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs, filed another lawsuit against the city of Chicago to block proposed renovations to the stadium.
Last July, the Chicago Cubs gained approval of renovations costing $375 million from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to add seven new signs to the ball park’s outfield. The Cubs then altered the placement and shape of the signs and received approval yet again. This lawsuit, brought by the rooftop club owners who refused to sell their property to the cubs, alleges that the new plans intentionally block the view of those rooftop clubs and enhances the view of the rooftop clubs that the Cubs were able to acquire. The Cubs claim the alteration to the plans was to ensure they receive a $75 million federal tax credit, but the club owners claim the new rendering to be unfair negotiation tactics by which the Cubs seek to strong-arm the owners into selling their rooftop clubs at a bargain price.
The rooftop club owners also brought suit last August seeking to stop the new signs from going up by claiming the planned additions violated the city’s landmark ordinance. That case is currently in federal court awaiting a decision on the city’s motion to dismiss. A city spokesman indicated they will similarly move to dismiss this complaint as well.