In most  parts of the world, Wrigley Field in Chicago, Home of the Chicago Cubs, is instantly recognizable - even by those who have never visited our city.

Its famous red sign, at the Corner of Addison and Clark Streets on Chicago's North Side, in our Lakeview Neighborhood (please don't call it "Wrigley-ville" around me!)  Its ivy-covered brick outfield walls, its acres of Kentucky Blue Grass - the real stuff, not artificial turf!  It's historic scoreboard, shown here.  The ambiance, the smells, the character!

Late last year, the publicly-held Chicago Tribune Company became privately-held, as billionaire Real Estate Investor Sam Zell bought the company.  Included in the sale was the Chicago Cubs Team, and Wrigley Field itself, which he hopes to resell, to maximize his return, and reduce some the the massive debt load he acquired when he purchased the company.

Zell has recently stated his desire to sell the naming rights of the field -them's fighting words around these parts!    He would like city restrictions on night baseball games, as well as other night non-baseball events, such as rock concerts, softened.

He has floated the idea of the State of Illinois buying the ballpark, separately from the Cubs Team itself, and renovating the 1914-constructed structure in favor of a new ownership group.  Something similar was done in favor of the owners of the South Side Chicago White Sox, in the late 1980's.

And . . . he has asked the City of Chicago to loosen historic landmark restrictions affecting certain elements of Wrigley Field - the sign, the scoreboard, the ivy-and-brick walls in the outfield, and other elements - to give new potential owners flexibility in renovating the park the way they see fit.

Many are concerned that such a move could considerably weaken the historic landmark status of over 9,000 other vintage structures throughout Chicago, as many owners of these other buildings will apply for their own variances.  Indeed, many of Chicago's most historic gems could then be modified without concerned city and neighborhood oversight.

Several years ago, the City of Chicago loosened landmark rules regarding Soldier Field, Home of the Chicago Bears Football Team.  The result was a new stadium combining jarringly-opposite ultra-modern construction of a new football stadium, within the dwarfed shell of the old Soldier Field colonnades.   Many purists have not forgotten this!

We've posted the commentary of Chicago Tribune Columnist Blair Kamin, as well as our own thoughts, in our BlogChicagoHomes.comChicago Real Estate Blog today.  Please review, and link back to her Opinion Column for her further thoughts.

Just wondering - could action taken by the Chicago City Council on Wrigley Field be used as legal precedent in other cities across the U.S. as well - perhaps, YOUR city?  Hmmmm!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO