Convention center idea genuine or political ploy?
Visions of a 10,000-seat multipurpose convention center on Waukegan's far west side were unveiled at a news conference Wednesday, but not everyone is optimistic about such a project.
Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian didn't attend the announcement at the Lake County building and he's not publicly excited, contending the proposal amounted to a political stunt by a state representative candidate less than a week before election day.
Great Lakes Entertainment LLC is supposed to lead the $70 million venture at Waukegan's Fountain Square development, about a mile east of Route 120 and the Tri-State Tollway.
Managing partner Arlee Williams, who co-founded the Milwaukee Bonecrushers indoor football team in 2007, said it's hoped construction on the state-of-the-art structure starts this year. Various funding sources would be used for the public-private project.
Williams provided details about the plan after he was introduced by Lake County Board member Angelo Kyle, who is running against state Rep. Eddie Washington in Tuesday's Waukegan-area House District 60 Democrat primary.
If built, the 250,000-square-foot convention center would have up to 10,000 seats for concerts, sports and assemblies. There would be a 75,000-square-foot convention surface, 1,000 club seats, restaurants, bars and parking for 5,000 vehicles.
Williams said indoor football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts, graduations and automobile shows could be brought to the building.
Sabonjian did not embrace the idea Wednesday. He said the city has received an informal proposal about the convention center on the former Lakehurst Mall site, but no financial studies or other projections were presented.
"To be honest with you, this is a bit of politics at play and the city won't be pulled into the middle of it," he said.
Kyle said Wednesday's announcement was not designed to boost his state representative campaign.
Waukegan Alderman Samuel Cunningham Jr. said he expects the proposal to proceed through the city's approval process. He said Waukegan-owned property at Fountain Square would be sold to the developers for the project.
"Obviously, this is in the preliminary stages," said Cunningham, who attended the news conference.
Express Employment Professionals of Libertyville plans to head staff recruitment for the convention center.
"The type of capital investment discussed (Wednesday) will spawn hundreds of jobs initially and hundreds more eventually as the convention center becomes operational," Express Employment owner Steve Bowman said.
Washington said he "could only assume" the announcement was crafted to boost Kyle's campaign. He added he'll have an announcement of his own Friday at Waukegan Township headquarters on a capital development grant.
Fountain Square includes a Walmart Supercenter, Sundance Saloon and a SpringHill Suites hotel. Waukegan officials have been unsuccessful in their effort to bring a casino to Fountain Square.