River West

Chicago

Open-water swim in Chicago River to be held in September, the first in more than 100 years

Five hundred swimmers will participate in the first organized swim event, which will raise funds for ALS research and swim programs for at-risk youth.

By Jessica Ma

Up-close experiences with birds of prey inspire Justin Suarez's Chicago murals

By Katie Anthony

An artist’s rendering of Bally’s Chicago Casino at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, with a redesigned hotel atop it.

Casinos and Gambling

City approves new hotel design for Bally’s Chicago casino site — but location of additional 400-room tower still up in the air

Bally’s and the city still haven’t determined where a massive 400-room hotel tower could go in the second phase of construction, after its initial site was ruled out due to the risk of damaging city water pipes.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Bally’s Casino Chicago at Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave., in River West.

Casinos and Gambling

Bally’s lands full casino license, locks in Medinah Temple operation through 2026

Bally’s now has until Sept. 9, 2026, to complete its 505,000-square-foot permanent casino complex in River West.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Casinos and Gambling

All bets are ... ‘a little delayed’? Temporary Chicago casino now expected to open in September

Bally’s executives initially aimed for a mid-August opening at the Medinah Temple. The corporation still needs the final green light from state gambling regulators.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Bally’s temporary casino Medinah Temple bar.

History over histrionics? Bally’s nods to Medinah’s past in Chicago casino plan: ‘It’s not going to be your bright, flashy casino’

By Mitchell Armentrout

Chonkosaurus was spotted again Wednesday, June 8, 2023, around 4 p.m. near the Division St. Bridge on the east side of Goose Island.

News

Return of Chonkosaurus: notorious turtle spotted on Chicago River

The massive snapping turtle, estimated to weigh about 35 pounds, went viral after being spotted sunbathing on a rusted metal chain in the Chicago River last month.

By Catherine Odom

Bally’s plan for its River West casino, which includes a grassy plaza.

The Watchdogs

These are some of the people in line to profit from Lightfoot’s Bally’s casino deal

Among them: the family of the woman chairing the mayor’s reelection campaign fund, contractors who are Lightfoot financial backers and two clout-heavy real estate investors whose children attended the elementary school where Lightfoot’s daughter was a student.

By Tim Novak and Robert Herguth

A rendering of the proposed Bally’s casino the hotel tower along Chicago Avenue.

City Hall

Bally’s $1.7 billion River West casino gets final zoning approval from City Council

Chicago’s 30-year quest for a casino is now in the hands of the Illinois Gaming Board.

By Fran Spielman

News

Bally’s officials address concerns about temporary Medinah Temple casino at community meeting

Bally’s casino is set to temporarily occupy the historic Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave., before moving to its permanent riverfront location on Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Medinah Temple at 600 N. Wabash Ave in River North, Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

Casinos and Gambling

Medinah Temple casino won’t have big impact on River North traffic, says report; alderperson dismisses it as ‘thin gruel’

Ald. Brendan Reilly has led opposition against Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan for a temporary gambling house in his ward, and he’s skeptical of the traffic study, which was commissioned by Bally’s.

By Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout

A view along Chicago’s 1.25-mile Riverwalk, which was developed in three phases starting about a decade ago. Each phase showed an evolution of thinking about how to design a riverfront for public use.

Downtown casino plan has a surprising ally: Chicago River lovers

By Steve Johnson | WBEZ

Sam Bell died Thursday after he was struck by a driver while biking on Milwaukee Avenue at Huron Street in River West.

News

Cyclist killed on dangerous stretch of Milwaukee Avenue was a devoted volunteer: ‘Exactly what you’d want in a friend and mentor’

Samuel Bell was struck by a driver Thursday in River West. He’s the second cyclist killed on Milwaukee Avenue this year.

By Mohammad Samra and David Struett

An artist’s rendering of a proposed casino that would be located near Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street.

City Hall

Lightfoot creates Casino Advisory Council

Weeks after Bally’s filed its application with the Illinois Gaming Board, the mayor created the panel, which has four “neighborhood representatives” and 15 “issue experts.” She said she wants it to be a channel for community input.

By Fran Spielman

Medinah Temple, at 600 N. Wabash Ave., in River North on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

Casinos and Gambling

Community meeting aims to ease fears about Medinah Temple’s temporary future as casino

‘The Las Vegas strip is not going to be on your doorstep,’ said Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Chief Engagement Officer Martina Hone.

By Mary Norkol

Louis Barak painted this mural, which he titled “Jump,” on a viaduct at 47th Street and Western Boulevard.

COVID temporarily closed his River West tattoo parlor, so Louis Barak turned to murals

By Nicky Andrews

Rendering of the proposed Bally’s casino in the River West neighborhood.

City Hall

River North group demands changes to make Bally’s casino more palatable

The River North Residents Association issued a wish list divided into eight categories. The most costly asks are infrastructure projects — led by the proposed Jefferson Street extension and construction of entrance and exit ramps off the Ontario-Ohio feeder.

By Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout

Casinos and Gambling

City Council approves Bally’s $1.7 billion casino in River West

The plan for a casino along the Chicago River passed 41-7, but not before a screaming match between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, who accused her of being “more worried about campaign contributions than doing the right thing for the city of Chicago.”

By Fran Spielman

City Hall

$1.7 billion Bally’s Chicago casino clears key hurdle

Thanks to a push from organized labor, a special City Council committee approved an ordinance authorizing Bally’s to build a $1.7 billion permanent casino in River West, preceded by a temporary home at Medinah Temple.

By Fran Spielman and David Roeder

A rendering of Bally’s proposed casino complex at 777 W. Chicago Ave., site of a Chicago Tribune printing plant.

Casinos and Gambling

Lightfoot rushing to get City Council approval of Bally’s casino bid next week

It’s an unusual timeline for any legislation to move through the council, and unnecessary at that, said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), who vehemently opposes Bally’s proposal to break ground at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street.

By Mitchell Armentrout and Fran Spielman