CHICAGO | Obama Presidential Library

[left of center]

Good news regarding the garage being moved, and being put entirely underground beneath Jackson Park. On the other end, probably not so good news about UC staff opposing the Center though. A bit too late in the process for them to come out against the location now, isn't it?



Obama Center has picked up another opponent

Barack Obama may be the pride of University of Chicago, but a lot of heavy hitters there are strongly opposing current plans for his library.

More than 100 U of C faculty members who say they support the location of an Obama Center near the campus nevertheless are opposing plans for it on economic and preservation grounds.

They say the center's proposed location lacks room to jump-start economic development, and its footprint will consume parts of historic Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance. "Not only are public lands being given to a private entity but the public will pay to have Cornell Drive closed and Stony Island Avenue and Lake Shore Drive widened," at an estimated cost to taxpayers of more than $100 million, the faculty wrote in a letter.

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The signers include such luminaries as Neil Harris, a history professor emeritus, divinity professor Wendy Doniger and political scientist Charles Lipson.

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"We are concerned that rather than becoming a bold vision for urban living in the future it will soon become an object-lesson in the mistakes of the past," the group wrote. "We urge the Obama Foundation to explore alternative sites on the South Side that could be developed with more economic benefits, better public transportation, and less cost to taxpayers. We would be pleased to support the Obama Center if the plan genuinely promoted economic development in our neighborhoods and respected our precious public urban parks."

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Meanwhile, the foundation has called off plans to locate the center's parking garage on the east end of the Midway. The plan, for an above-ground parking structure, drew opposition from groups including Jackson Park Watch and Save the Midway, both of which include South Side residences and businesses.

“After numerous meetings with the community and other valued stakeholders over the past months, the Foundation understands that many of those voices feel strongly that the parking for the OPC should be located within the OPC campus in Jackson Park,” the foundation said in a statement regarding the location of the garage. “The Foundation has heard those voices, and has decided to locate the OPC's parking underground in Jackson Park.”

Source: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/2...ma-center-has-picked-up-another-opponent