Downtown Chicago – On Wednesday, a small group of Bridgeport residents staged a protest outside the Invest for Kids conference at the Harris Theater, targeting White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia for his role in a plan to relocate Amtrak’s 24/7 rail‑maintenance facility to their neighborhood.
Local concerns drive the demonstration
Protesters held signs reading “Stop Ishbia in his tracks” and “Sox fans for clean air,” and chanted, “Stop the railroad, save our kids.” Attendees of the conference paused to read the signs and ask questions about the proposed project.
Bridgeport resident Charlie Baumstark, 35, attended with one of his two young children. He said, “It’s not about the White Sox or Amtrak. We just want to be healthy and keep our community healthy.” He warned the project could set a precedent for similar developments in low‑income neighborhoods lacking the resources to fight them.
Other residents echoed the sentiment. Maximilian Esterhammer‑Fic, 32, said the protest aimed to reach conference participants who claim to care about children’s futures. Mary Lopez, pregnant and mother of a five‑year‑old, called it “darkly funny” that Ishbia would discuss investing in children while potentially worsening air quality near schools.
Proposed facility and its opponents
Ishbia’s company, Canal Edge, is involved in redeveloping Amtrak’s 14th Street Yard in the South Loop into a mixed‑use development called The Railyards, which could include a White Sox stadium. In August 2025, Ishbia approached Amtrak about acquiring the rail yard for commercial use, though Amtrak says it controls its own plans. The White Sox lease for Rate Field runs through the 2029 season, with an option to extend to 2030.
Amtrak’s alternative plan would move its maintenance operations to a site along South Canal Street near Rate Field. The $915 million facility would operate around the clock and has drawn opposition from residents of Bridgeport, Chinatown and Armour Square, as well as some elected officials.
Federal environmental review
The Federal Railroad Administration announced it will conduct an environmental assessment of the proposed facility, reversing an earlier categorical exclusion that would have allowed the project to proceed without a detailed review. The assessment, prompted by Amtrak’s plan to use federal funding for structural repairs to 17 viaducts supporting the Canal Street Yard, is expected to be completed by year‑end and will include a 30‑day public comment period and at least two public meetings.
In a joint statement, Amtrak and Canal Edge said they welcomed the additional review and public input, noting it would help stakeholders understand the need for the facility and its potential environmental effects. However, residents and community advocates are calling for a more extensive environmental impact statement to examine alternatives and detailed effects.
Community response
The protest reflects months of organized opposition by the Armour Bridgeport Coalition, which argues the facility would bring noise, diesel emissions and other health concerns to nearby homes, schools and parks. Residents also point to existing pollution from the Stevenson and Dan Ryan expressways as a burden they should not bear further.
Organizers of the Invest for Kids conference did not respond to requests for comment.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
