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  "path": "/city-hall/2026/05/20/city-council-tax-break-united-center-entertainment-district",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-20T20:48:09.136Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>The City Council on Wednesday approved a $54.7 million<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/05/11/city-council-economic-development-committee-tax-breaks-united-center-entertainment-district\" > property tax break </a>that developers say is critical to secure financing for their $7 billion plan to turn a sea of parking lots around the United Center into a massive residential and entertainment complex.</p><p>Mayor Brandon Johnson has defended the United Center subsidy even though he’s trying to block a separate property tax break that could pave the way for the Bears move to Arlington Heights by arguing that owners of billion-dollar sports franchises shouldn’t receive handouts.</p><p>The City Council overwhelmingly agreed — even though the 12-year $54.7 million Class B property tax cut only applies to Phase One of the $7 billion development.</p><p>The Wirtz and Reinsdorf families, owners of the United Center and the Bulls and Blackhawks, have not ruled out seeking additional property tax breaks for subsequent phases. </p><p>Tens of millions in public funding may also be required to build a new Pink Line CTA station near the United Center. Specifics of that project have not finalized.</p><p>Steve Rucks, chief financial officer of the United Center, told a City Council committee earlier this month that it’s been a struggle to nail down the remaining 80% of private financing to bankroll the $500 million first phase of the project “with the market where it is today and construction costs where they are.”</p><p>That private financing is contingent upon City Council approval of the property tax break, Rucks said.</p><p> Ald. Walter R. Burnett (27th) has hailed the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2024/07/23/united-center-reinsdorf-wirtz-1901-project-housing-entertainment-hall-retail-campus-arena\" target=\"_blank\" >1901 Project</a> as the largest investment on the Near West Side since the United Center was built more than 30 years ago under his father’s tenure as 27th Ward alderman.</p><p>Burnett has predicted that, even with the tax break, the project will be a catalyst for growth on the Near West Side and beyond, generating millions of dollars in new development and tax revenue for the city.</p><p>Phase 1 of the 1901 project will be anchored by a 6,000-seat music hall, and will include a public plaza, boutique hotel and parking deck with a rooftop park.</p><p>The 800,000 square feet of development is expected to generate $46.3 million more in tax revenue and create nearly 2,000 construction jobs, 600 permanent jobs and 180 part-time positions.</p><p></p><p>Developers' 2014 zoning application called for up to 9,463 residential units, 20% of them affordable; and 1,309 hotel rooms. The height of the tallest building t would be 660 feet, making it the tallest building in the surrounding area.</p><p>The 6,000 seat music hall and other entertainment-related uses at Damen and Adams would fill a void on a Chicago music scene that now includes small and large venues, but nothing in between.</p><p>A parking deck topped by a 2.5-acre park is part of Phase One. The entire project would include roughly ten acres of new green space, if developers proceed with all seven phases.</p><p>Burnett’s father, retired Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. was enticed by the increase in affordable units, which would include student housing for nearby Malcolm X College.</p><p>“I love the green space. I love the skating rink. I love the retail. I love the fact that the United Center is working with the community with some of their retail spaces,\" the elder Burnett told the Sun-Times when the zoning application was introduced.</p><p>The initial filing made no mention of the CTA station that developers believe is need to access the planned residential and entertainment district and minimize the need for parking.</p><p>But the elder Burnett said nearly two years ago that the new Pink Line station was under discussion and that a likely funding source would be the surrounding tax increment financing district, though the TIF “may be expiring.”</p><p>Further complicating matters is Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1.25 billion bond issue to bankroll affordable housing and economic development projects. It weans the city off of its longstanding dependence on TIFs.</p><p></p>",
  "title": "City Council approves $54.7M tax break to jump-start United Center development",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-20T21:17:57.594Z"
}