CHICAGO (CBS) — Plans by a restaurant group to open a brand new location on the Eurostars Magnificent Mile lodge have been put beneath a microscope.
The River North Resort was a identified hotbed of violence in the course of the peak of the pandemic. Now, as CBS 2’s Tara Molina reported Monday, neighbors are involved about plans for a restaurant group to maneuver into the lodge.
Neighbors are involved concerning the lodge’s historical past of violence and unlawful actions. We discovered concerning the fines and penalties they confronted and finally settled with the town.
They’re in an excellent place now.
So Molina requested the restaurant group immediately concerning the neighbors’ considerations.
From indoor shootings to violent crimes like armed theft and sexual assault, we have informed you concerning the reported issues on the Eurostars Magnificent Mile lodge, 660 N. State St.
Finally, the town was compelled to intervene. At one level, company have been required to signal agreements at check-in stating that they didn’t have a weapon and wouldn’t have a celebration of their room.
On September 1, 2021, the town and the lodge reached an settlement. The lodge has been in good standing since spring 2022, with a plan of operation that addresses these points.
However permits for LM Restaurant Group to open a brand new bar and restaurant on the lodge’s rooftop have residents frightened once more, and they’re closing in on metropolis permits.
The lodge staff’ union despatched a flyer to space residents, involved concerning the occasion venue on the roof and referring to the lodge as a “dangerous neighbor.”
The union, UNITE HERE Native 1, issued this assertion:
“UNITE HERE Native 1 just isn’t at the moment negotiating a contract with Eurostars Chicago Magnificent Mile. We imagine that all Resort staff in Chicago need to work for employers that totally adjust to native rules. We additionally imagine that Chicago deserves a high-standard hospitality business.
“The proposed restaurant and occasion venue can be operated by LM River North, LLC as a part of the LM Restaurant Group. The Eurostars Chicago Magnificent Mile is operated by Golden Mile Resorts, LLC. On the web site for the proposed venue Twenty-six on the roof of the Eurostars, LM Restaurant Group introduced that company might ‘dance the evening away on the highest of the town patio’ and working ‘as a nightclub or dance membership’ After alerting the Division of Industrial Affairs and Safety Client and Councilor Brendan Reilly, the web site was modified to take away the reference to the dance, I’ve hooked up a screenshot of the unique webpage and the up to date model.
“The Chicago Municipal Code consists of provisions to make sure that residents are consulted about new improvement. Specifically, the code specifies that candidates for public leisure and liquor licenses should put up a discover ‘in a location clearly seen from the highway Public Amusement and Liquor License Software Notices have been posted under eye degree, behind a valet sales space, and between a cloth awning and a metallic partition coated with giant planters I’ve hooked up photographs exhibiting the location of the notices We additionally notify Councilor Reilly and the BACP of the location of the notices Based mostly on the date of utility the 35 day interval wherein neighbors can object to any of the licenses ends on Tuesday, January 10”.
A spokesman for the River North Residents Affiliation stated they’ve heard the identical considerations and “a lot of modifications are really useful to their plan of operation.” This was his full assertion:
“On the finish of the day, the aim is to reassure neighbors that their comprehensible considerations are thought-about and addressed, whereas supporting accountable hospitality operators that can contribute to the native financial system with out negatively impacting high quality of life.”
“RNRA could be very conscious of earlier points associated to the lodge at 660 N State and has been in dialogue with representatives of LM Restaurant Group and the Alderman Reilly workplace for a number of weeks. Based mostly on these ongoing discussions, a lot of modifications in its operation plan, its operation is really useful, with the purpose of bettering security and mitigating adverse exterior impacts associated to noise, lighting, and pedestrian and vehicular site visitors.
“Surrounding residents have authentic considerations based mostly on this location’s historical past, and one efficient strategy to handle such considerations is to make sure venues are run by high-quality hospitality operators. LM has operated a lot of profitable institutions in Chicago, together with a restaurant referred to as Troquet at Clark and Huron, with no detrimental impacts to the encircling group The proposed River North Bistro ought to function just like a full service restaurant The 26th flooring house is not going to be open to the general public and can solely be used for gatherings non-public, invitation-only occasions comparable to company occasions and weddings The really useful working plan would prohibit visitor DJs, bottle service, gate prices, ticket traces, amplified outside music, limitless drink packages, and others Objects generally related to nightclubs or nightclubs.
“The highest precedence for the RNRA, as we all know is true for Councilmember Reilly as effectively, is to guard the protection and high quality of life for individuals who stay and work on this neighborhood. Accountable hospitality operators are welcome at River North, so long as they display good company practices. citizenship.”
So we contacted LM Restaurant Group and discovered that there are literally no plans for a prime flooring bar or membership. A spokesman stated the house on the highest flooring will solely be used for personal occasions… not for a bar or nightclub.
LM Restaurant Group Director of Model and Communications Lauren Hammond issued this assertion:
“LM Restaurant Group is happy to open two tasks on the Eurostars Magnificent Mile lodge in River North. Twenty Six, the highest flooring occasion venue, can be for personal capabilities solely and is right for company conferences, cocktail events and small weddings LM Catering & Occasions, the crew behind Chicago occasion venues Metropolis View Loft, Lacuna Occasions, LM Studio and the upcoming Sky on 9 in Rosemont, will deal with all meals and beverage operations at Twenty Six, no exterior catering.
“The restaurant downstairs, River North Bistro, is a family-friendly American bistro with a deal with accessible modern delicacies. It is the second location in LM’s standard bistro idea, which will also be seen at Grant Park Bistro, positioned on the bottom flooring of Le Méridien Essex Different eating places within the LM portfolio embody Land & Lake Kitchen, on the bottom flooring of the LondonHouse Resort, Land & Lake Andersonville, Land & Lake Ravenswood and the upcoming Land & Lake Rosemont within the not too long ago renovated Vacation Inn/Staybridge Suites in Rosemont..
Having beforehand owned and operated a River North restaurant for a number of years, Troquet River North on the Felix Resort, LM is happy to be again within the neighborhood and appears ahead to being part of this vibrant group once more for a few years to return. “
We by no means heard from the Eurostars Resort.