19-Apr-21 – Low, pandemic-pummeled hotel rates are blamed for a surge in crime and disturbances at hotels in downtown Chicago, and one River North hotel in particular is in the crosshairs of city officials.

42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly has asked the Chicago Police Department and the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) to conduct task force investigations of Eurostars Magnificent Mile. This follows a public nuisance complaint that was filed by the city against Golden Mile Hotels, LLC, which does business as Eurostars Magnificent Mile.

The 216-room State Street hotel, formerly the Dana Hotel and Spa, is a “hotspot” of crime and disturbances, says Reilly, 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. Reilly says complaints to his office about hotels in general started last summer. “These low rates, coupled with the limited hours and capacity of downtown entertainment venues, have transformed hotels into convenient alternatives to bars and restaurants,” wrote Reilly to constituents on April 16.

Over the past year, the BACP has conducted 11 inspections and issued “numerous” citations against the Eurostars hotel for Municipal Code violations, according to Reilly. Since October 16, there have been 12 separate incidents involving firearms at the hotel, including an armed robbery on December 8. Other allegations include a criminal sexual assault at the hotel on February 18.

Hotel management has been ordered to appear at an online hearing with the Mayor’s License Discipline Commission on April 28.