Residents excited about Wrigley Field renovations, concerned about public safety

Lakeview residents were buzzing about the newest renovations to Wrigley Field and the surrounding neighborhood at a community meeting Thursday evening.

Cubs officials confirmed that the opening date for the Hotel Zachary remains on track for March 26, ahead of the team’s April 9 home opener against the Pirates.

Many in the overflow crowd of about 100 who had gathered for the meeting at the 19^th District police station looked forward to the new addition, including Lawry and Jackie Price, who live a mile south of the ballpark.

“It would be a great addition to the neighborhood,” said Lawry Price, who’s lived in Lakeview for more than 80 years and wore a replica World Series ring. “It’s going to bring revenue to the community, and we’re going to benefit from that. We didn’t gain any revenue from those other businesses, the ticket brokers and 7-Eleven. Those were just stop-offs.”

As in recent years, Wrigley has undergone major renovations during the offseason. Among the projects, Cubs fans will see a relocation and widening of the dugouts, structural improvements and seat replacements.

Construction has also begun on four premier clubs that will accommodate season ticket holders. The Maker’s Mark Barrel Room along the first-base line, The W Club on the third-base line and the Catalina Club in the upper level behind home plate are expected to open in 2019. The American Airlines Club 1914 remains on schedule to open for the 2018 season.

The expansion of concession areas won’t be completed until 2019.

The updates fueled optimism that the Cubs might have a chance to host their first All-Star Game since 1990.

“It won’t be until they finish the locker room for the visitors,” Lawry Price said. “That will be the big steppingstone.”

In 2017, the Park at Wrigley, a 50,000-square-foot outdoor plaza marked by a large TV screen, concession areas and shops with merchandise and a tavern, opened amid some concerns, said Heather Way Kitzes, Cubs manager of government and community relations.

“Last year, we promised that this would not be a beer garden, and I think we can all agree that it is anything but,” Way Kitzes said. “It’s not a disaster waiting to happen as some believed. In fact, it’s become our neighborhood town square.”

Thursday’s update was the 15^th annual community meeting between the Cubs and city officials, according Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th.

“Here we are now, and it’s a brave new world around Wrigley Field,” he said.

Tunney said the neighborhood has maintained a “healthy tension between community and the Cubs.” But he reaffirmed that the team was only a portion of the neighborhood’s priorities.

“I often tell them that … the Cubs are an important asset, but this neighborhood is called Lakeview, because I think the lake is the biggest asset,” Tunney said.

A yearly survey revealed public safety ranked atop the list of concerns for neighbors who signed up for the Cubs email list. Deputy Chief Al Nagode and other Chicago Police Department officials tried to alleviate those concerns, saying the department would try to maintain safety at Cubs games and other large events at Wrigley by managing traffic and providing a police presence and barriers.

“We’ve had a lot of incidents throughout the country, right? There’s been a lot of concerns with large venues and security at these,” Nagode said. “We’ll make sure we address that with you. We’re always playing that game of how we have an entertainment venue versus our need for public safety. We’re always playing that balancing act.”

tbriscoe@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @_tonybriscoe

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