The head of the Obama Foundation, as well as local dignitaries, made the formal announcement Wednesday that Jackson Park will officially host the Obama Presidential Center.
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City officials developed Jackson Park, named for the seventh president of the U.S., Andrew Jackson, more than 120 years ago.
Nesbitt described the separation between Jackson Park and Washington Park as an “artificial one”.
“With its aesthetics, iconic location, historical relevance from the World’s Fair, we believe Jackson Park will attract visitors on a national and global level that will bring significant long-term benefits to the South Side”, Nesbitt said in announcing the choice Friday.
But for the city’s residents, there are key differences between the two historic parks, which are both near the University of Chicago.
The location was selected after the foundation solicited proposals, it reviewed them, had the president and first lady Michelle Obama sign off on one and the board approved it.
At a news conference to unveil plans to build the Obama library in Jackson Park, Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed relief at Friends’ stance on the library.
The foundation says Obama believed Jackson Park would have the greatest long-term impact.
It’s been announced the Obama Presidential Center will be located in Jackson Park, in the heart of South Side, Chicago. They considered several places including NY and Hawaii, but ultimately, they settled on Chicago’s Jackson Park. He added: “We are proud that the center will help spur development in an urban area and we can’t wait to forge new ways to give back to the people of Chicago who have given us so much”. And the library will be but a short walk from the University of Chicago, where Obama taught law. The park also is home to the fair’s former Palace of Fine Arts Building, which now houses the Museum of Science and Industry. Selection of the library’s location follows last month’s announcement that Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects, a NY firm, would design the library center, honoring the nation’s first African-American president.
The complex in Jackson Park, which will contain the 44th president’s library, archives and foundation headquarters, is expected to be completed by 2021.
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Officials have estimated the library will cost more than $500 million in private donations but could be open by 2020.
