Emanuel Supports Wrigley Field Patio Over Sheffield Avenue

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 31, 2013 1:40PM

Here's the proposed mini-triangle development at Addison and Sheffield. The Party Deck would hang over Sheffield, if approved. (Image credit: Chicago Cubs)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he was receptive to the idea of extending Wrigley Field’s right-field wall back to create a party deck Tuesday and noted it was one of the rare occasions where the Ricketts family and the rooftop club owners surrounding the ballpark agree on something. But Emanuel allowed the proposal would have to pass muster with the community first before moving forward.

If approved, Wrigley Field’s right-field wall would be extended back eight feet, removing a lane of parking on the east side of Sheffield and creating a patio that would hang over the street. Both the Cubs and rooftop owners have vested interest to get this done. The rooftop clubs support the plan because it means the Cubs would install a 650-square foot sign in right field that wouldn’t obstruct their views of the field. Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, meanwhile, wants assurances the rooftop clubs won’t sue the Cubs throughout the remainder of their contracts with the team.

Emanuel said the patio idea was “brought up toward the end” of negotiations on the Cubs’ renovation plan and “was too soon to have shoehorned it in to the planned development that City Council passed.” He said Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) will conduct meetings with the community to gauge their feedback.

"Because the community has to be heard, as they were throughout the process getting to the point we were last week where we finally ended a three-year process and allowed the Ricketts to make their investments and do it without any taxpayer support," the mayor said.