Fellow "Lemont-ster" Christian Vande Velde is stoked on a new velo campus in my ward.

The cycling subculture is grand. Chicago is among the most accommodating cities for cyclists, and we've already hosted some of the best racing circuits. So it's no surprise an indoor racing facility has been proposed, but the Chicago Velo Campus is probably much further from fruition than some make it seem.
The proposed location of the Chicago Velo Campus is the old U.S. Steel South Works Plant, which stretches along the lake between 79th and 87th streets. The entire site is supposed to be a major redevelopment equipped with residential high rises, retail and commercial development. Dave Matthews Band (the group that shits on Chicago) will be headlining a three-day concert event this July to start showcasing the site.
Emanuele Bianchi is spearheading the Chicago Velo Campus project and has supposedly received an offer on the land. He compares his idea for it to the United Center. The facility will sport: a 250-meter velodrome track, outdoor and indoor mountain bike tracks, an indoor 400-meter running track, fitness center, Olympic-size swimming pool, with restaurants, shops, a cycling museum and a community center.
The United Center cost $175 million, with a wealthy family footing the bills. Bianchi estimates the velodrome to cost $40 million. It'll probably costs much more when you factor in unforeseen construction obstacles and whose campaign fund he has to donate too.
He's projecting construction to start in 2013 with an outdoor track opening on the site this summer. The plan is magnificent, a great idea and I love people accomplishing the American Dream (Bianchi is an Italian immigrant who came stateside in 2004).
But the biggest obstacle is, where's the money? Sponsors are not lining up, donations are not pouring in, and this economy has everything in limbo. Mayor Marty Moylan of Des Plaines announced the city wants a velodrome. With the mayor spearheading the project and the impending influx of casino money, Des Plaines could pedal past Chicago.

http://www.chicagovelocampus.com/

Chicago’s own Indoor Velodrome; training and racing in 2013. The Chicago Velodrome will be nearly as large as the Chicago United Center and will host world class cycling events as well as being a multi-use facility with a health club, swimming center and other amenities.

Amenities;
- State of the Art Indoor 250m Velodrome Track

- Outdoor & Indoor Mountain Bike Tracks (MTB)

- Outdoor Cyclocross Track- Triathalon Training Center

- Olympic Sized Swimming Pool

- Indoor 400 meter Running Track and Fitness Center

- Coaching and Olympic Development Training

- Youth Beginner, Elite and Masters Programs

- Community Center

- Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Center

- Sports Retail and a Cycling Museum

- Restaurant, Cafe, and a Healthy Juice Bar

The Chicago Velo Campus will create a vibrant district of sport and health facilities focused on the spirit of cycling and athletic facilities.
The Chicago Velodrome is designed to appeal to all types of athletes with a special emphasis on cyclists. The anchor of the facility will be an indoor world class, 250 meter velodrome that will serve as a setting for a variety of programs from junior development to elite and Olympic development. The VeloCampus will also be home to a BMX park and a dirt loop for cyclocross and mountain bike skills practice.
The location of the Chicago Velodrome will be announced in April 2011.
As construction begins on the ChicagoVeloCampus there are plans on opening a community center and interim wood track which will be used for races starting in June 2011 – more details coming soon…
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