When Mayor Lori Lightfoot discarded two bids last month to build a Chicago casino, she left three players at the table competing for a multibillion-dollar project to bring tax revenue, visitors and jobs to the city.
The remaining proposals will also dramatically change the face of one Chicago neighborhood for decades to come, turning a large swath of urban real estate into a gambling and entertainment mecca.
This week, developers behind the Hard Rock, Bally’s and Rivers bids will make their case to residents of the Near South Side, River West and South Loop in three separate community engagement meetings, addressing concerns about everything from crime and traffic to home values.
