As the mayor of Arlington Heights, Jim Tinaglia advocates for building a Chicago Bears stadium there. He also warns against a proposed site in Hammond, Indiana. As an architect, he cautions about the potential hazards of building on industrial land. “I would throw up the red caution flags immediately,” Tinaglia shared with the Tribune, highlighting his experience with sites contaminated by hazardous materials.
Concerns about the Hammond site, located near Wolf Lake, are not new. Residents have previously fought for the site’s cleanup, resulting in a golf course that covers slag from steel production, capped with treated human waste. The area is surrounded by hazardous waste sites, an oil tank storage complex, and is near the Midwest’s largest oil refinery.
Bears officials did not comment, though they have conducted soil tests and remain comfortable with the site. Nonetheless, the site’s industrial history raises questions about its suitability for a stadium. Environmental issues, however, have not significantly influenced lawmakers’ discussions about the Bears’ relocation. Indiana lawmakers have approved substantial funding for a stadium in Hammond, taking advantage of its proximity to Chicago.
The Illinois government may counter Indiana’s plan with tax break negotiations for the Bears. The team argues that Illinois should cover infrastructure costs at Arlington International Racecourse. Environmental groups have remained mostly silent about the Hammond project, relieved that it isn’t intruding on the Indiana Dunes National Park. Michael Boos, executive director of the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative, opposes the stadium, concerned about its impact on the lake.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. defends the site, suggesting it exemplifies proper environmental cleanup. He emphasized the Bears’ thorough understanding of the area’s environmental status, given their financial investment. He noted that northwest Indiana has undergone significant cleanup since the closure of the State Line Generating coal plant. Nonetheless, the federal EPA continues to address hazardous waste sites nearby. These cleanup efforts include a $200 million project to remove contaminants from the Grand Calumet River area.
Despite these issues, McDermott describes the area as a recreational haven, with local residents regularly engaging in outdoor activities nearby. He reassures that legacy environmental concerns do not make the site a deal-breaker. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expects legislation supporting the Arlington Heights stadium proposal to pass soon.