Residents concerned as data center could potentially be built on Hawthorne Race Course site
ALUM ACT 2023 LLC, a Delaware-based company, has purchased the Hawthorne Race Course site in Stickney, Illinois. Residents of the nearby Cicero neighborhood are concerned about a potential data center development on the property. In response, Cicero Town Trustees have passed a resolution opposing any such development.
The Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois, has concluded 135 years of horse racing operations following its bankruptcy. As part of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, the ownership is in court to settle outstanding debt with the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, while a new owner is preparing to take possession of the property.
In February, the racetrack filed for bankruptcy, leading to a judge's approval last month for the sale of the 119-acre site to ALUM ACT 2023 LLC, a Delaware-based company, for $90 million. ALUM ACT 2023 LLC was the only qualified bidder, but has not yet publicly revealed its plans for the land.
However, the prospect of a data center development on the site has sparked significant local concern. Just last week, the Cicero Town Trustees passed a resolution formally opposing the construction of a data center. Residents like Blanca Martinez, who has lived in a Cicero neighborhood adjacent to the racecourse for nearly three decades, voiced worries about potential noise impacts from such a facility.
Previous attempts to redevelop the site included a proposed $500 million casino project in 2021, which failed to secure funding. With the new buyer requiring the property to be cleared by the end of the month, residents are also anxious about job losses and are awaiting clarity on the future development plans, hoping for a project that benefits the community without causing disruption.