ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — As the Bears continue to insist their focus remains on Chicago’s lakefront for a potential new stadium, the Daily Herald reported this weekend that the team has received and responded to a proposed settlement from Arlington Heights regarding tax discrepancies over land the Bears still own in the northwest suburb.
According to the report, Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes told the Daily Herald the proposed settlement has “been communicated to the Bears, and that’s what we’re discussing now.”
READ MORE: What to know about the Chicago Bears’ new stadium plans
Impasse on property taxes
Arlington Heights at one point seemed to be the leading candidate for the Bears to locate their potential new stadium after the team purchased the 326-acre Arlington Park property, formerly home to Arlington International Racecourse, in February 2023 for $197.2 million.
However, three suburban school districts in and around Arlington Heights had the land valued significantly higher than the Bears did, and the Cook County Board of Review did not give the Bears the property tax relief they had been seeking.