ZBA will review plans for sports facility at 1802 W. Lake

The Illinois Basketball Academy is planning a new sports facility located at 1800 W. Lake. Situated in the Near West Side near the United Center, the project will occupy the property stretching from N. Wood St to N. Wolcott Ave along the north side of W. Lake St. A one-story industrial building at the corner of W. Lake St and N. Wood St would be demolished to make way for the project.

Founded in 2003, the Illinois Basketball Academy has provided basketball instruction to boys and girls in K-12 grades, as well as training for many college and pro-players. It currently operates the 57,000 sq. ft. West Suburban Sports Complex in Lisle, Illinois and this facility will be its first Chicago-based facility.

Designed by Wefing Design Studio, the project will include a 3-story building at the corner of N. Wood St and W. Lake St connected to a long air-supported dome enclosing the sports courts with a small one-story structure at the west end of the site with additional restroom facilities connected to the air dome. 

The dome will allow the Illinois Basketball Academy to host a variety of sports and recreational activities, including basketball, soccer, lacrosse, flag football, pickleball, and volleyball. The three-story support building will contain various uses and services related to the participant sports and recreation activity and a restaurant. The first floor of the building will contain the restaurant and a concession station for patrons, the second floor will provide a lounge/cafeteria/study area for teams and visitors to gather between games, and the third floor will be for office use.

The proposed project will also provide space for local sports leagues to partner with each other and facilitate tournaments, recreational leagues, training clinics, and open play sessions. Further, the proposed facility will house and host programming for non-profit CVC Foundation. The relationship with CVC will allow for year-round sports programming, tutorial services, after-school programming, and other support services for at-risk youth. Programs will primarily be held Monday through Friday and related activities during weekends. The CVC Foundation is also partnering with the Chicago Sport and Social Club and other nonprofit organizations from the West and South Sides to provide inclusive programming. 

Later this month, the ZBA will review a Special Use application to allow for the Participant Sports and Recreation Use on the property as it is located in the Planned Manufacturing District PMD-4A. If approved, the project can move forward with permitting and construction. A timeline for the project has not been announced.