In your why-wouldn’t-that-happen update of the day, Alderman Tom Tunney is still working to see changes made to the comprehensive Wrigley renovation and development plan before City Council passes upon it on Wednesday.
According to the Tribune, Tunney sent an email on Thursday evening to his fellow members of City Council saying that unless certain changes were made to the plan, he could not support it before the Zoning Committee on Tuesday (and, presumably, full City Council on Wednesday). Since that’s basically what he said for most of last week, you’re not surprised, right?
Except that at the Plan Commission meeting earlier on Thursday, Tunney publicly said that he no longer had any objections to the project. It stunned everyone – so much so, that we all steeled ourselves against the possibility that he was misunderstood or was playing more games. I can’t say whether one of those things is true, but the Tribune report goes on to say that Tunney would not rule out trying to rally fellow aldermen against the project if the Cubs do not acquiesce to his remaining demands (removing a pedestrian bridge over Clark Street, imposing a 10-year moratorium on outfield signs at Wrigley beyond the two large ones recently approved).
So, what exactly happens now? That’s the thing with the renovation story: you never know. The Zoning Committee will meet tomorrow to hear the plan, and then City Council meets on Wednesday to potentially vote on the entire kit and caboodle. I suppose we’ll get a better sense tomorrow at the Zoning Committee meeting on just how Alderman Tunney plans to proceed. No one expects City Council to do anything but pass the project at the urging of Mayor Emanuel, but it all becomes so much easier and smoother if Tunney is on board.