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* Daily Herald…
The [Arlington Heights] village board Monday night unanimously approved an ordinance banning owner Churchill Downs Inc. from placing a restrictive covenant tied to horse racing and gambling on the land — as part of the municipality’s effort to preserve the option of those things under new property ownership.
The board also took initial steps on future zoning changes that would prohibit certain types of uses on the land. The 23-item list includes adult businesses, car washes, currency exchanges, kiddie parks, funeral parlors and wholesale offices, including warehouses and storerooms.
The votes come amid a June 15 deadline for developers to submit proposals to Churchill, which put the property up for sale in February. Village officials say they’ve been working with the Louisville-based corporation and its Chicago-based commercial real estate broker CBRE. […]
The restrictive covenant ban will prevent Churchill from seeking language in any potential land deal that bars the continued operation of horse racing at the track, or addition of other forms of gambling. Churchill might have been inclined to ink such a deal, in an effort to thwart any competition with its other property, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.
* Paulick Report…
Roy Arnold, who served as president and CEO of Arlington Park from 2006-10, announced his intention on behalf of a group of investors to purchase the Arlington Heights, Ill., racetrack in a letter to the village’s board of trustees prior to their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night at which Arlington’s future was on the agenda.
Arnold, who currently heads the Endeavor Hotel Group, is aligned with Mike Campbell, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association in an effort to continue live racing at the suburban Chicago racetrack after owner Churchill Downs Inc. said in 2019 it would not seek a casino license and now has the property listed for sale.
Arlington Park opened for live racing on April 30 and is scheduled to run through Sept. 25 in what many assume will be its final meeting.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up. As we’ve seen with the pending Tribune sale, the current owners will do what they want to do. And, in this case, the owners don’t want a gaming site anywhere near their Des Plaines casino.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 9:02 am
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I know very little about the real estate market of Arlington Heights. I wonder what value a restrictive covenant is to that racetrack site up there. At the same time, I still want to visit that track up there and especially if it’s in operation.
Comment by Levois J Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 9:09 am
I wouldn’t get my hopes up. As we’ve seen with the pending Tribune sale, the current owners will do what they want to do. And, in this case, the owners don’t want a gaming site anywhere near their Des Plaines casino.
The new Chicago casino won’t be much further than arlington heights is.
Comment by Hmmmmn Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 9:09 am
Let’s be honest nobody wants left of the Tribbie scrap pile. AP could easily be one of the nation’s great racing centers. Hopefully bidders will announce plans to get slots and sports book. Perhaps the village might hint at a down zone so a new buyer could only build on 2 acre lots OR anybody got a blank landmark we could toss in?
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 9:20 am
May not be going anywhere, but this news has me getting my hopes up.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 9:24 am
I wish Arlington Heights success. They had better hire a top, well connected law firm and be prepared for extensive (in terms of time and money) litigation. It will be very interesting to see who blinks first and to what judge/judges the multitude of suits are assigned.
Comment by DEE Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 9:41 am
While Churchill Downs can’t force the restrictive covenant, they can still sell the land to whoever they want, right? Meaning they can refuse to sell the land to someone they suspect might keep the racetrack or put a casino on the location.
Comment by Sox Fan Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 9:53 am
As someone who lives within a mile or two of the track, our Board’s attempt to keep it a race track seems like more for show than anything. I don’t know anyone around here who cares about racing. I can’t even think there are businesses in the area that the track supports. It is not like Wrigley where the neighborhood depends on track events.
On the other hand, the zoning restrictions are huge. Nobody wants to see something like an Amazon warehouse there, or some of these self-storage places.
The lines about racing will get the attention but the ban on warehouse and storage centers will be the most significant when it comes to the neighborhood.
Comment by Crash Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 10:04 am
Wonder if they thought to also ban data server centers?
Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 10:09 am
Best guess: it isn’t about the racing, it is about the hypothetical casino that a racetrack can become.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 10:38 am
==prohibit certain types of uses on the land. The 23-item list includes adult businesses, car washes, currency exchanges, kiddie parks, funeral parlors and wholesale offices, including warehouses and storerooms.==
But this list doesn’t exclude “new stadiums” (hint, Bears).
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 12:22 pm
===(hint, Bears)===
hint, take a nap
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 12:23 pm
If the state was more financially stable, and the idea of multiple State Fairs was more popular around here, then the Arlington Heights racetrack would make a great site for a third State Fair location. First the original (Springfield), then DuQuoin (”Southern Illinois State Fair”), now Arlington Heights (Chicago-area/”Northern Illinois State Fair”).
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 12:26 pm
Wouldn’t want to Bet on the Arlington Height Ordinance, as is , surviving extensive litigation.
CDI is extremely aggressive. well represented , & well funded . Expect Challenges valid or not.
But sure would like to see the Home of ” Spinning Out of the Turn ” Keep Racing.
Comment by Red Ketcher Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 12:50 pm
Expecting Illinois politicians to do the right thing is like expecting Lucy to not take away the football from Charlie Brown. One thing I will miss about 2020 is the endless stream of political indictments (granted 2021 looks to be a good year as well)
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 1:03 pm
I say let them build a convent on the land, the nuns deserve a nice home. Oh, I see, never mind.
Comment by Emily Litella's Nephew Snarkie from Schaumburg Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 12:30 am
=== adult businesses, car washes, currency exchanges, kiddie parks, funeral parlors and wholesale offices, including warehouses and storerooms.=== I believe that suburb is called Melrose Park
Comment by Snarkie from Schaumburg Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 12:32 am