A slew of professors at the University of Chicago have signed a petition detailing their concerns regarding the plans for the upcoming Obama Presidential Center.
The grand campus will be constructed in the historic Jackson Park on the South Side with an overall goal of building ‘active citizenship’, Barack Obama explained of plan for the exciting project in a video Tuesday.
In a lengthy public letter shared by faculty members, some expressed worry over the ‘socially regressive’ project they say, as planned, ‘may not provide the promised development or economic benefits to the neighborhoods.’
The members included four main points in the letter, first, laying out how the center may not benefit the city’s economic and overall development.
A lost list of professors at the University of Chicago have signed a petition detailing their concerns regarding the plans for the upcoming Obama Presidential Center
Barack Obama has welcomed suggestions and ideas and said the public’s input is a main focus in the center’s development
Included on the campus: winding landscapes, a sledding hill, quiet spaces to read or reflect, a museum, library building and athletic center
The group said there is ‘no available adjacent land in which to start a new business, set up a new café or restaurant, bring another cultural center to the neighborhood,’ unless within the campus.
‘It looks to many neighbors that the only new jobs created will be as staff to the Obama Center, hence the widespread support for a Community Benefits Agreement,’ the letter reads.
Secondly, the faculty is furious that Jackson Park, developed back in 1893, will now be taken over by the center, and thirdly, also portion of another notable park.
‘Because of the planned location of the Obama Center, the Obama Foundation plans to take over a section of another historic, public park — Midway Plaisance, also designed by Olmsted — and turn it into an above-ground parking garage.
‘They have to date rejected many pleas of neighborhood groups to place the garage underground. The planners say they need the parking lot there so that visitors can walk directly across the street to the Obama Center, but that raises problems of its own.’
The campus will be constructed in the historic Jackson Park on the South Side with an overall goal of building ‘active citizenship’, Barack Obama explained Tuesday
Barack and Michelle Obama said they want to create an economic engine for the South Side of Chicago with the center
The Obama family has yet to respond to the letter citing community concerns, but said the center is still a work in progress
Lastly, the petitioners slammed the project for forcing taxpayers to hundreds of millions of dollars.
‘The required widening of Lake Shore Drive alone is estimated to be over $100 million. 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.
‘We are concerned that these are not the best ways to use public funds to invest in the future of Chicago.’
Barack Obama has welcomed suggestions and ideas and said the public’s input is a main focus in its development.
The Obama family has yet to respond to the letter citing community concerns, but said the center is still a work in progress.
Meanwhile, Obama spoke highly of the attraction that would be open year-round and free to the public
The impression of the Obama Presidential Center is shown here and below from an artist (Obama.org)
Obama went on to say that although the center has his name on it, it is dedicated to ‘ informing and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow’
He hopes for a ‘cultural attraction that showcases the South Side to the rest of the world’
‘From community meetings, to online surveys, we’ve heard from literally thousands of people about their hopes for the center,’ Obama said.
‘What they would like to see improved, or changed, and how we can best serve our neighbors in Chicago.’
Meanwhile, Obama spoke highly of the attraction he said will be open throughout every season, free to the public and a space for individuals of all backgrounds and interests.
He explained: ‘Winding landscapes, a sledding hill, quiet spaces to read or reflect. The campus includes a museum, a library building, an athletic center.
‘Public meeting space where people of all backgrounds can come together for programming, training, take in a performance in the auditorium.’
Obama went on to say that although the center has his name on it, it is dedicated to ‘informing and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.’
But the most important thing: ‘Michelle and I want this center to be more than just a building. We want to create an economic engine for the South Side of Chicago… a cultural attraction that showcases the South Side to the rest of the world.’