Among the projects Emanuel mentioned as being built without public money was the planned new basketball stadium for DePaul University, slated to be go up near McCormick Place in the South Loop.



As part of that project, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state-city agency known as McPier that owns McCormick Place, will contribute $70 million for the arena construction. McPier will also pay $33 million to acquire the land for the arena.



It also calls for $55 million from nearby property tax districts to purchase the land for two proposed hotels tied to the DePaul project.



A nonprofit controlled by McPier and DePaul would own the $173 million arena. DePaul will contribute $70 million to its construction and would lease the facility for its men's and women's basketball games.



Asked how Emanuel can say the DePaul project is not supported by taxpayer dollars, a mayoral spokeswoman said city tax money was going to McPier to build the hotel. She did not immediately respond when asked about the McPier financing for the arena construction.