City of Portage looking for ‘Halas Harbor’ developer

Halas Harbor might be off the table as a location for a new Chicago Bears stadium, but the buzz from the proposal is still humming. The City of Portage plans to capitalize on the attention and attract a first-class facility to the site. Mayor Austin Bonta issued a press release May 26 saying that city will release a request for proposals for the site later this summer. In February, the city made a bid for the new Bears stadium. A video produced by Valparaiso's WeCreate showed why the Bears should come to Portage. The video received national attention and appeared on ESPN. “Our approach demonstrates that major league opportunities can be pursued without placing the financial burden on taxpayers, while still delivering a generational economic impact,” Mayor Austin Bonta said. “We believe this structure provides a clear path to getting a deal across the finish line.” While the Portage location isn't in the running for a Bears stadium, city officials are still excited about the site. “Since it appears that the Chicago Bears are now deciding between two different sites in Arlington Heights (Illinois) and/or Hammond, it is time for Portage to move on with our privately funded plan,” according to a city press release. The city is looking for developers who would like to build a “world-class performance and entertainment venue.” The location sits on 300 acres of prime lakefront property near major highways. Learn more about the site here . Author Heather Pfundstein Publisher/Executive Editor - Linker Media Group Heather Pfundstein is the publisher and executive editor of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine and NWIndianaBusiness.com. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of experience in Northwest Indiana and northern Illinois newsrooms. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She has been part of the magazine's team since 2018. View all posts Share on social