The Chicago Cubs announced on Mar. 12 plans to expand a team-owned parking lot near Wrigley Field by hundreds of spaces after acquiring neighboring property, a proposal that has raised concerns among local residents about increased traffic and congestion on game days.
The expansion is significant for both fans and neighbors, as it aims to address ongoing issues with parking availability around the ballpark while also sparking debate about its potential impact on the surrounding residential area.
During a community meeting with the East Lakeview Neighbors Association, Cubs officials outlined their request for city approval to amend the planned development of the Camry Lot, which currently holds up to 688 vehicles. The proposed changes would increase capacity to as many as 947 spaces by incorporating recently acquired properties, including the former House of the Good Shepherd site. Team representatives said this move is intended to meet existing demand from fans who drive and reduce overflow onto residential streets.
Some residents at the meeting questioned whether expanding parking would actually encourage more driving and worsen congestion. “To take a quote from baseball: ‘If you build it, they will come,'” one resident said during the discussion, expressing concern that additional spaces would draw more cars into the neighborhood.
Will McIntee, director of government and community affairs for the Cubs, responded by saying that about 37 percent of fans travel to Wrigley Field by car according to a recent team survey. “We’re not adding more fans,” McIntee said. “We’re not adding seats to the ballpark. What we’re trying to do is accommodate people who already drive and give them a place to park.”
Brendan O’Sullivan of Catholic Charities explained that his organization decided to sell its property due to aging infrastructure and shifting program needs. “When we made a decision, the natural reaction for us was to talk to our neighbors who we already had a close relationship with, to see if they were interested in the property,” O’Sullivan said.
Michael Lufrano, executive vice president of community, government and legal affairs for the Cubs, emphasized that providing more team-owned parking could help alleviate pressure on nearby permit-only residential spots. “If we can’t provide them a place to park, they’re going to park on neighborhood streets,” Lufrano said.
The proposal includes adding an exit route through an adjacent lot so drivers can access Clark Street directly after games instead of passing through smaller residential roads. Lufrano also addressed environmental concerns raised by neighbors regarding tree removal: “We are looking at the trees and the landscaping… We need to look at replanting and preserving as many as we can as part of the design.” He added that efforts are being made “to avoid adding as much traffic as possible” through controlled layouts and improved exits.
The plan still requires city approval as an amendment to current zoning regulations. Officials from Alderman Bennett Lawson’s (44th) office and Alderman Angela Clay’s (46th) office are collecting feedback from community members before any final decisions are made.
