One Central is the vision of Wisconsin developer Bob Dunn.  The Wisconsin Developer wants Illinois taxpayers to pay more than $6 Billion to subsidize his proposed mega-development over the Metra railroad tracks from 14th Street to McCormick Place. Dunn’s One Central consists of a ten block long, 50-foot high concrete "deck" over the existing rail tracks, topped by a continuous layer of midrise buildings up to 130 feet tall. On top of all of that, One Central includes 10 super high-rise towers (80 stories or higher), and a “transit hub” as to which an expert declares “virtually no meaningful analysis” supports any need.

We, the undersigned, petition Governor Pritzker, Sens. Mattie Hunter and Robert Peters, and Reps. Kam Buckner and Lamont Robinson to indefinitely suspend action on funding or proceeding with the One Central project earmarked under Article 25 of the Illinois State Budget.

We cannot afford to subsidize developers with up to $6.5 Billion when our State and the City of Chicago are in financial crisis.  We object to the current plan to funnel an estimated $6.5 Billion of Illinois taxpayer dollars through a state allocation plus interest to a Wisconsin developer.  The developer has not provided any credible, independent public analysis demonstrating a transit center is needed or desired at the proposed location.

These funds are urgently needed elsewhere.  Now is the time to rethink priorities and redirect Illinois tax dollars away from the Wisconsin developer and to Illinois’s many marginalized communities.  We implore you to use our tax dollars where they are truly needed.