CHICAGO — After delays and financing concerns, Bally’s is set to take a big step forward in building its permanent casino.
Demolition of the old Chicago Tribune press building will begin Tuesday in River West.
Back in July, Bally’s revealed new refreshed plans for its 500-room hotel, casino and theater along the Chicago River. Cafes and a food hall are also included in the plans, along with a two-acre public park.
For about the past year, the casino has been operating at a temporary site in River North inside the Medinah Temple. That temporary casino will stay open until the permanent one is completed.
The project has been delayed several times and earlier this summer, Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed some doubt it would ever get built during an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board.
The casino however secured enough financing to get the $1.7 billion deal done.
The demolition is expected to start around 10 a.m. Tuesday. No explosives or wrecking ball will be used, instead an excavator will take down a section of the main building.