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The 1996 original special use application for the Ameritech tennis tournament was initiated by IMC, a subsidiary of IMG. The May 6, 1996 Planning and Development has language to that effect. However NU was far from a disinterested bystander in the pursuit of this proposal. Ameritech in fact was a large contributor to NU's academic programs.
On May 20, 1996 the Council voted against the two ordinances that dealt with the issue: the zoning ordinance text amendment and the special use. The text amendment would have not subverted the entire "temporary events" section of the ordinance as NU's 2019 proposal is intending to do in a single swoop, because in 1996 temporary uses were under the umbrella of special uses. In 2019 they are not, an unfortunate change in the zoning code which can be used as an excuse to dismantle the entire U2 code and at the same time deny due process to the residents by NU not having to undergo the ZBA procedures. It's true however that if the Ameritech proposal would have passed the ordinance would have been weakened. That is the principal reason why residents fought so hard to stop the Ameritech tennis tournament.
The May 20, 1996 Council voted on the two ordinances:
The May 20, 1996 Council voted on the two ordinances:
1996 Docket 98-5B-96: Ordinance 58-0-96 - ZBC 954-(T) Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 58-0-96, introduced on May 13, 1996, by which the City Council, in accordance with the Plan Commission's Report, would amend Section 6-15-6-3 of the Zoning Ordinance to list professional indoor tennis events limited to a maximum of seven consecutive days as a special use in the U2 University Athletic Facilities Zoning District.
Docket 96-5A-96: Ordinance 56-0-96 - ZBA 96-6(SU-R) Special Use - 1501 Central - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 56-0-96, introduced on May 6, 1996, by which the City Council, in accordance with the Zoning Board of Appeals' recommendation would grant the application of International Merchandising Corporation for a special use to permit a professional tennis event at Welsh Ryan Arena for a maximum of seven days each year, subject to conditions on the property commonly known as 1501 Central Street. The property is zoned U2 University Athletic Facilities District.
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