* Crain’s…

After publicly labeling the former Michael Reese hospital site as unsuitable for the new venue, the [Chicago Bears] team is said to be reconsidering the 49-acre property south of McCormick Place in hopes of jump-starting discussions with politicians to keep the team in Chicago, according to sources familiar with the talks. […]

While it’s unclear how far discussions have advanced, the softened stance on the property is the latest twist in the team’s stadium pursuit after previously announcing their intention to decamp to Arlington Heights before shifting their focus back to staying on Chicago’s lakefront. […]

The mayor’s office and local Ald. Lamont Robinson, 4th, said they are aware of the discussions. The potential development was also broached at a breakfast meeting between Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle last week.

Pritzker’s office said a more palatable financial request has not been discussed but declined further comment. Preckwinkle’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Nothing in there about what sort of government money the team would seek. As far as I can tell, that’s still off the table in Springfield.

…Adding… Sun-Times…

State Sen. Robert Peters, the South Side Democrat whose district includes both Soldier Field and the Michael Reese site, said he hasn’t gotten details on the latest proposal, but he suggested it could get a warmer reception from Springfield legislators who have flatly rejected publicly financing the Bears’ lakefront aspirations.

“If they’re bringing something to the table with broad economic development benefits and affordable housing, that sure beats what the Bears had been proposing before,” Peters said.

“They were asking for billions of dollars from the state to have their own little playground next to their current publicly funded stadium, with little economic benefit to the surrounding community. Here, there is at least an argument to be made around building a community center and bringing affordable senior housing to an area that has needed development for 20 to 30 years now.” […]

[Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson] noted the Reese site is eligible for tax increment financing subsidies “to accommodate — not only the stadium, but the building of a whole new economic anchor point that is the gateway to the South Side,” Ferguson said.

He added: “It could be done as an economic development project … that includes a stadium that keeps the Bears in Chicago that involves far more creative, less taxpayer-burdensome funding sources…It actually brings back online one of the most valuable pieces of urban property that, right now, is not performing at all from a tax perspective.”

…Adding… Senate Republican Leader John Curran was asked about the new Bears development today…

I think the public has expressed their frustration with the high cost of living. They’re looking for relief. So any entity, including Chicago Public Schools and the CTU, coming to Illinois looking for dollars or surplus dollars, they are not here. We have this $3 billion deficit in front of us, and that’s what we have to focus on.