7-Sep-21 – With four of its City of Chicago licenses at risk, the owner of Eurostars Magnificent Mile in River North has agreed to a 28-paragraph “nuisance abatement plan.”

Golden Mile Hotels, LLC, was also fined $10,000, according to 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly.

The hotel has agreed to ban parties and guns on its premises. Banned weapons include firearms, explosives, pepper spray, tasers, knives, and other weapons.

Guests will not be allowed to pay with cash or a credit card that does not have a security chip. They will have to sign a document, available on request to the Chicago Police Department, agreeing to the new rules.

Excessive noise and flashing lights that annoyed neighbors will be minimized, according to the agreement. There will be no live or amplified music on the rooftop patio. The hotel may have live bands and disc jockeys but will not be allowed to operate as a nightclub or dance club, or with a “nightclub atmosphere.” Residents of nearby buildings will have the telephone number of a manager at the hotel to complain to in case of excessive noise. Buildings mentioned specifically in the agreement include 2 East Erie, 33 West Huron, 10 East Ontario, and 630 North State, along with River North Residents Association and Magnificent Mile Association.

Balconies will not be accessible to hotel guests.

Representatives of the hotel have agreed to attend community meetings of CPD’s Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy. They will meet with the 18th district police commander to discuss any problems. The hotel’s exterior cameras will be linked to the city’s unified video surveillance network.

If they can go six months without issues, Eurostars will be allowed to request changes to the plan. Otherwise, they face fines and/or suspension or revocation of all business licenses.

Hearings followed investigation and complaint

Hearings were held by video conference from April 28 to September 1, following an investigation by the city and a public nuisance complaint.

The 216-room State Street hotel, formerly the Dana Hotel and Spa, was a “hotspot” of crime and disturbances, said Reilly in April, such as guests throwing bottles from balconies and lighting fires on balconies, and large gatherings without COVID-19 safety protocols.

On March 7, six men were arrested after police found handguns in their hotel room at Eurostars. One of the men had a 17-count arrest warrant from Ohio. Another had been in prison for six years for unlawful possession of a weapon by a gang member.

According to Reilly, there were 12 separate incidents involving firearms at the hotel, including an armed robbery on December 8, 2020. Other allegations include a criminal sexual assault at the hotel on February 18, 2021.