A forum is in the works to talk economic development on the South Side near Jackson Park, the future location of the Obama Presidential Center.
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Mayor Rahm Emanuel met with four South Side aldermen last week to announce plans to convene a group of stakeholders to gather community engagement on the process.
Officials from the Obama Foundation, the City of Chicago, the University of Chicago and local community leaders and elected politicians will discuss the announcement at a press conference at the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., on Wednesday, Aug. 3.
This May 12, 2015 file photo shows Jackson Park in Chicago.
Much of the land Barack Obama’s presidential library will occupy was once a part of the famous 1893 World’s Fair.
But Martin Nesbitt, chairman of the Obama Foundation, which will develop the presidential library, seemed to interpret the decision not to file suit as a green light. Now the legacy of the first African-American president will have a permanent fixture in the city he called home for so many years, as President Obama has selected Jackson Park as the site of his presidential library.
The two parks Barack Obama considered for his presidential library are only a mile apart in Chicago. It requested that the center’s construction fit with the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect who helped design Jackson Park, and conduct a study, led by outside and independent experts, to assess potential adverse environmental impacts of the center’s construction.
The library was likely en route to the South Side, in general, because of the president and first lady’s past experiences in the area. She contends that the Washington Park neighborhood will lose out on the economic development opportunities that the presidential center could have brought to the neighborhood had the Washington Park site been selected. “If that’s the case, wouldn’t Washington Park have been a better choice?” But a lot of ground remains vacant and there are few jobs, grocery stores, shops and quality housing.
The complex in Jackson Park, which will contain the 44th president’s library, archives and foundation headquarters, is expected to be completed by 2021.
Placing it near the lakefront benefits Hyde Park, which already has all the development it needs, while Washington Park comes out empty-handed, Hampton-Smith said.
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“On behalf of the Woodlawn community, its stakeholders and residents, we are thrilled to welcome and participate with the Obama Presidential Center as it comes to the South Side and Jackson Park”, said Brazier, whose church is located a few blocks west of Jackson Park.
