3 Arlington Heights-area school districts with direct stake in proposed Chicago Bears’ stadium launch website full of related info

Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune
Updated ·2 min read
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The three local school districts that draw taxes from the Arlington Heights site where the Chicago Bears have proposed a multi-billion dollar redevelopment have started a website that has information and frequently asked questions about the project — as it pertains to schools and school funding.

The website is suburbanstadium.org, is a collaborative effort of Arlington Heights-based Township High School District 214, and Palatine-based Township High School District 211 and Community Consolidate School District 15. It emerges as the football team seeks to finance the stadium and entertainment district it has proposed, and local government entities try to balance the appeal of it with the fact that other, similar stadium projects haven’t generated major economic benefits for their host municipalities.

The Bears have repeatedly said they won’t proceed with redeveloping the site, formerly the Arlington International Racecourse, unless it can be assured of property tax discounts. Those discounts would have the greatest impact on the school districts, respective officials have said.

The website has links to news coverage related to the redevelopment proposal, a “frequently asked questions” list, a timeline of the project, a short summary of stadium projects in other regions, links to related proposed state legislation and a brief explanation of how school districts get their operating money, among other information.

It also states that its contents are not intended to leave visitors with an opinion about the proceedings around Arlington International Racecourse.

“While the school districts involved do have a point of view concerning property tax assessment and revenue and what represents fairness on these matters, this site is not designed to offer or sway opinions,” a page on the website reads.

The website goes on to state that the school districts are generally supportive of the team coming to the northwest suburbs — “under terms fair to all.”