The Public Trust Doctrine—which Friends of the Parks or any other Illinois citizen can sue to enforce—is not about whether the land is a parking lot or something that might be prettier or more useful. The Supreme Court said 130 years ago that land reclaimed from the waters of the Great Lakes CAN NOT under any circumstances be used for private benefit. McCormick Place and Soldier Field were found to be sufficiently public; expansions of US Steel and Loyola Univ were not. Lucas refused to show the judge the 298-year lease, so we don't know if it would have been found permissible.
A new publicly owned stadium might well pass muster, depending on the lease details, but not a hotel or retail outlets on that land.
Very well-written article. Solider Field works okay for the Bears. If they want a better stadium, they can build it in Arlington Heights. And the Bears organization can pay for it.
The Public Trust Doctrine—which Friends of the Parks or any other Illinois citizen can sue to enforce—is not about whether the land is a parking lot or something that might be prettier or more useful. The Supreme Court said 130 years ago that land reclaimed from the waters of the Great Lakes CAN NOT under any circumstances be used for private benefit. McCormick Place and Soldier Field were found to be sufficiently public; expansions of US Steel and Loyola Univ were not. Lucas refused to show the judge the 298-year lease, so we don't know if it would have been found permissible.
A new publicly owned stadium might well pass muster, depending on the lease details, but not a hotel or retail outlets on that land.
Very well-written article. Solider Field works okay for the Bears. If they want a better stadium, they can build it in Arlington Heights. And the Bears organization can pay for it.
Maybe they could strike an agreement with the city where they only get taxpayer money if they find a quarterback who can throw a ball.