So I've been doing some knocking around Wrigley Field (1060 W. Addison), IRL and on
the Internet, for a while now, and I have some things to report.
Since Wrigley Field is an historical landmark in Chicago, they have
to
get special landmark permits to do any work there. Here's a list
of all landmark permits issued by the City of Chicago in January 2010.
Tonight I went to meeting of the East Lake View Neighbors (ELVN) to
talk about EveryBlock and how it can be useful to them and other
community-focused groups. Mike Lufrano of the Cubs front office also spoke,
giving the neighbors an update on the upcoming season. He hinted at
"festive design work for Opening Day and Opening Week" featuring the
manager and players will be placed. He said this new stuff would be
"design/ pictures/ banners" on the stadium.
I'm pretty sure
this stuff will go here, above Gate F, right at the corner of Clark St.
and
Addison St.
Could go here as well:
I
couldn't find a spot-on permit for this work, but there is a permit for
the scoreboard. Permit # 2010–0024 has the following
description:
Exterior: Scoreboard repairs and remove
precast panels and install fencing and renovate sign on back of
scoreboard as per Landmarks stamped plans dated 14 January 2010.
Flagpole and lights on roof to remain in place during renovation. Metal
letters to be salvaged and reinstalled. If letter are beyond repair,
Historic Preservation staff to be notified immediately and approve
fabrication of new letters. Neon tubes to be salvaged and reused. New
neon to match existing in color, dimension, location, and design. All
removed elements to be salvaged and stored until the reinstallation is
complete. Paint analysis to be submitted to Historic Preservation staff
for review. New paint to match original subject to Historic Preservation
staff review and approval. No other work allowed.
That's
some specifics right there. Here's a view of the exterior of the scoreboard:
Lufrano also mentioned a permit
request for new sign in Left Field. He said (and for all you serious Wrigley watchers, I may be getting this wrong, so feel free to
correct me) that the sign will be placed "in the only place where they
don't have an agreement with owners" of rooftops across the street.
Oddly
enough, you can see in a map
of the Wrigley Field business licenses (yes, there is a special
type of license issued by the City for Wrigley Field rooftops), there is
a gap in left field, right between seven licenses and two other
licenses. I'm guessing that's where the sign will go.
"It's all about the revenue", said Lufrano.
He also said that the sign will be understated, much like "the Under
Armor signs on the outfield doors". One reason he said that they are
doing this is that the Cubs "the only team in baseball that gets zero
public money."
He also mentioned an improved batting cage. He
described a cramped, insufficient practice experience in the existing
space, where a net comes down to protect a television set that the
batter is hitting toward. Permit #100326340 covers "Interior only:
Batting cage enclosure per Landmarks stamped plans dated 1/15/10. No
exterior work permitted with ths". There are some spelling issues over
there at the Landmarks permitting unit or with the permittee; not sure
which one.
He didn't mention the umpire dressing room, which is
covered under Permit #2010-15, with the description, "Interior only:
Convert existing storage room to umpire's locker room. No exterior
alterations permitted with this approval."
Lastly, Lufrano
also mentioned that they are doing work on the restrooms in the
ballpark. He specifically called out adding capacity in the women's
restrooms. Would love to get some opening day reports on that, because
all I could find was Permit #100326273, calling for "Interiors only:
Men's restroom renovation per Landmarks stamped plans dated 1/15/10. No
exterior atlerations permitted with this approval." (sic)
If at this point you're sick of Wrigley Field and Chicago, take a gander at this kick-ass Brutalist bench in Boston:
