Casino operator Bally’s faces no city fines for demolition debris dumped into the Chicago River
Bally’s will not be fined for an accident at the site of its future casino that sent demolition debris into the Chicago River last month, officials confirmed.
Demolition work at the site is still on hold until the company and its general contractor get word from the city. They were required by the city’s buildings department to submit a “corrective action plan” after the incident.
However, the casino operator and its contractor did not violate any laws related to the mishap, according to both the city of Chicago and the regional government body that oversees water quality of the river.
Perlite, a material used in building insulation, fell into the river in mid-December after a wall collapsed at the demolition site at 77 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago Community Builders Collective is overseeing the teardown of the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center printing plant to make way for the future Bally’s Chicago Casino.
The city’s Department of Buildings has ruled that there were no violations of city law related to the demolition, according to a spokesperson. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which oversees stormwater and wastewater in the Chicago area, said in an email that there were no violations of its laws.
Late last month, Bally’s and its contractor said that it recovered all the perlite insulation, which is lightweight and floated up the river. One witness described a large white cloud of material that spread out across the water after the spill.
In a statement, Bally’s and Chicago Community Builders said that 95% of the former Tribune building has been demolished.
“We stand at the ready to resume demolition upon city approval and we are confident we will complete demolition by the end of this month,” the companies said in a statement.
The contractor added netting and a barge that is parked parallel to the building to catch additional material before it fell into the water, the statement added.
The demolition is considered an “environmentally complex” operation by the city’s buildings and public health departments. City health officials said the water reclamation district has jurisdiction over any potential pollution in the river.
There are other environmentally complex demolitions occurring or planned around the city, including the expected teardown of the Damen Silos. That demolition has not been approved by the city, and preservationists are still hoping the massive structures can be saved.