Back in December, my stance on the proposed hotel/retail development on Addison between Clark and Sheffield was as such: It’s not really going to destroy the neighborhood, but I understand the concern. There will be some gripes and complaints about such a structure, and those naysayers are well within their right to voice their concerns. But, it’s not like they’re tearing down Wrigley to build this thing, and there will be some tangible benefits for the neighborhood if it goes in. The area around Wrigley is loud and crowded already. And plus: It could be worse.

The structure was originally going to stand “eye-to-eye” with Wrigley Field. But, it looks like it’s been shaved down a bit, to quell any neighborhood concerns about the building towering over the field.

Plans for a more than $100 million hotel, apartment and retail complex southeast of Clark and Addison have been shaved to win community and aldermanic backing. Property owner Steven Schultz and M&R Development LLC took the equivalent of a floor or two off the tallest elements in the complex. No longer would they set a new height precedent for the neighborhood with buildings that seem to crane for a glimpse of Cubs action.

Makes complete and total sense, as long as it doesn’t turn into a center for ants.

(UPDATE: Eamonn and I had a spirited debate about this on IM, and he responded over at NBC. What I’d like to clarify is this: I don’t necessarily think this ruins Wrigley’s aesthetics. It’s not some huge overhaul. And like I said, I think Cubs owners should be seeking out new revenue streams. That’s their job and it benefits the team. But there is a certain sect of fans that won’t like this, and I think that’s what I was speaking to here.)

I’m a few days late on this, only because I didn’t think it warranted much of a post. But, I’m not really finding much else to write about, and if there’s anything that’s going to get you through your Friday, it’s a mediocre post about a new bar/restaurant going in at Wrigley Field.

I’ve noticed construction in and around the Harry Caray statue at Addison and Sheffield for some time now, but I guess I figured it was park improvements, or more bricks with people’s names on them, or something like that. But no: it’s a new 491-seat establishment that will be open year round, and will have a turnstile so patrons with a ticket can get into the stadium for games. It will be run by the Harry Caray folks, who currently operate kitty corner to the statue at the old Hi-Tops location. If you remember, inside the stadium at this location there was that “The Friendly Confines” bar, but this is going to really ramp it up a notch.

At first glance: Hey cool! There’s a public bar with TVs and stuff that’s attached to Wrigley! I can’t wait to go there this summer and have meaningful experiences with all my best friends. We love the Cubs. And even though we don’t have tickets for the game, it’s like we’re there.

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There seems to be two camps on Wrigley’s rooftops: there are those that enjoy them, see them as another bit of charm to the shrine that is Wrigley, see them as a unique locale to catch a game. These people like the rooftops.

Then there is the second camp, those that see them as money-making, corporate machines leeching off the Cubs’ popularity and screwing people out of cash. These are the people that don’t like the rooftops. I suppose there is also a third camp: the people that just don’t care. (Perhaps you fall into this category!)

In any event, their latest move serves to divide people once again: five rooftops, including the likes of Murphy’s and Beyond the Ivy, have teamed up with Gravitas Marketing to be branded under the moniker “The Wrigleyville Rooftops.”

Here’s why they did that via the Sun-Times:

The way the Wrigleyville Rooftops deal is structured, access to the rooftop facilities would, in essence, serve as promotional content. A beer company, for instance, could structure a promotion that would offer winners a ticket to one of the participating rooftop venues or make access to one of the venues a prize for an internal brewery promotion. In addition to beer companies, Kenyon said he has proposals out to digital imaging companies and wireless companies, among others.

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