Casino Operator Bally’s Faces No Fines for Demolition Debris Dumped into Chicago River
No Violations of City Law or Regulations Found
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.
Corrective Action Plan Still Required
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.
No Laws Violated, According to City and Regional Government
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.
The Incident
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.
Project Overview
Chicago Community Builders is overseeing the teardown of the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center printing plant to make way for the future Bally’s Chicago Casino.
City and Regional Government Rulings
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.
Recovery Efforts
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.
Demolition Update
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.
Additional Measures Taken
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.
Environmental Considerations
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.
Other Environmental Demolitions in the City
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.
Bally’s will not face fines for the incident, as the city and regional government have ruled that no laws were violated. The company and its contractor are working towards resuming demolition efforts once approved by the city.
FAQs
* What happened during the demolition?
+ A wall collapsed at the demolition site, causing perlite insulation to fall into the Chicago River.
* Was Bally’s fined for the incident?
+ No, the city and regional government have ruled that no laws were violated, so no fines were issued.
* What measures are being taken to prevent future incidents?
+ The contractor has added netting and a barge to catch additional material before it falls into the water.
* When will demolition resume?
+ Demolition will resume once the city approves the corrective action plan, with a goal of completing the project by the end of the month.
