By Jerry Jordan, Editor
The future of the Chicagoland Speedway will not be affected by plans for a new industrial complex and the track itself, will be spared, Kickin’ the Tires (KTT) has confirmed.
“Yes, the track would remain,” said Michael Schwarz, Joliet’s Director of the city’s Planning Commission told KTT via email. “The proposed sale only involves accessory parking on the east side of the property.
“I have attached the staff report which was presented to the Joliet Plan Commission at their meeting on April 16. The staff report provides some background. At the request of the applicant, the Plan Commission voted to table the subdivision request to their meeting on July 16. Under the proposal, 82.3 acres which is presently an accessory parking area would be sold to Hillwood Investment Properties for future warehouse development. Chicagoland Speedway LLC would own the remaining balance of racetrack property.”
According to records, Hillwood Investments Partners is applying for the subdivision on behalf of NASCAR Enterprises LLC, which owns 100 percent of Chicagoland Speedway, LLC. Even though the final plat encompasses about half of the track, warehouses planned for the site would not interfere.
“The approval of the Preliminary Plat and the Unit 1 Final Plat for Chicagoland Speedway Subdivision will allow a future multi-lot industrial park,” states the documents. “The preliminary plat is made up of 4 buildable lots, 1 stormwater detention lot, a private road (Victory Lane extension) lot and three outlots that will not be developed upon. The final plat consists of one buildable lot (Lot 1) consisting of 76.5 acres and the private road lot (Lot 2). Four warehousing/distribution buildings of various sizes are proposed for Lots 1, 3, 4 and 6, which range from 17.6 to 76.3 acres. There are no known users for the warehouses as of the writing of this staff report. Access to all lots within the development will be from Laraway Road onto Victory Lane.”
When first reported by KTT, on Sunday, NASCAR declined to comment when asked for clarification on the industrial complex plans and the fate of Chicagoland Speedway.
More information will come from a Planning Commission meeting on July 16, 2020.
The track might remain for now but will it be used again for a NASCAR Cup Series event in the foreseeable future? I doubt it. Perhaps it might reopen in five or ten years if national attendance and TV ratings return sufficiently to warrant a Cup race. Otherwise, down the road one day, it will close permanently once everyone has forgotten about it.
The people of Joliet and Chicagoland deserve a cup race do too poor decisions by the France family we should not have to suffer there are many loyal cup fans in this part of the country go back to the old school ways no more chase that has been a true killer for the cup series
All speculation. What are the future winning lottery numbers? But New Hampshire still has a race date. Chicagoland has stands that more full than Michigan and Texas with 2 dates and somehow with the terrible racing at the Brickyard is still on the schedule.
i think if we don’t go to chicagoland next year let’s just go to soldier field.
it hosted a exhibition race in the 50’s. the point is if it will be a dirt race or if it will be a asphalt or concrete.
Go to Gateway.
Is there still gonna be a NASCAR Cup Race at Chicagoland next year?
Michigan also seats 55,000 more than Chicagoland.
This track has already had its last gathering of Dip chewing toothless inbred cousin Banging backwoods rednecksi.
I bet anything our government hard at work to.benefit itself.we the people should have a vote on industrial parks and speedway. No mattef hoew ee protest they overide every concern. We elect these grubbers and pay then to.destroy our cith and our beautiful farmland. Vote them out