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Obama Library Land Swap Approved by City Council

By Ted Cox | March 18, 2015 12:39pm | Updated on March 18, 2015 3:22pm
 About 20 acres of Washington Park could be devoted to the Obama Presidential Library if the University of Chicago's bid is selected.
About 20 acres of Washington Park could be devoted to the Obama Presidential Library if the University of Chicago's bid is selected.
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University of Chicago

CITY HALL — Aldermen on Wednesday signed off on a controversial proposal to include Chicago Park District property in a bid for the Obama Presidential Library.

Already approved by a joint committee, the measure was passed by the City Council Wednesday on a unanimous vote. Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) threatened to cast the lone vote against, but was prevailed upon to make it 47-0. Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) recused himself, as his wife works for the University of Chicago, which is submitting the bid requiring parkland.

"The library belongs in Chicago," said Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th).

Ald. Will Burns (4th) cited President Barack Obama as a mentor and said the library would create "thousands of jobs."

 Cassandra Francis, president of Friends of the Parks, talks with Ald. Bob Fioretti during Wednesday's City Council meeting.
Cassandra Francis, president of Friends of the Parks, talks with Ald. Bob Fioretti during Wednesday's City Council meeting.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) called it the "absolute correct move."

"This is a great opportunity for Chicago," said Ald. Edward Burke (14th).

Ald. Ray Suarez (31st) said it would bring 800,000 visitors a year to the city.

Ald. George Cardenas (12th) called the vote a "no-brainer," saying, "It has to go where it all started for Obama, on the South Side."

"We can build another park," said Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th). "But we cannot get another Barack Obama library."

Yet Friends of the Parks has led opposition and has threatened to file suit against the use of parkland, much as it has already in suing to halt the building of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the lakefront between Soldier Field and McCormick Place.

Fioretti said there weren't sufficient conditions set for potentially using park property for the project.

Later Wednesday, Friends of the Parks President Cassandra Francis said she wasn't giving up in her fight against surrendering park property for the library.

"Over the past 40 years Friends of the Parks has worked diligently to advocate for parks and open spaces," she said in a statement. "While we strongly support the location of the Obama Presidential Library in Chicago, the transfer of public land sets a dangerous precedent of opportunistic planning, violation of public trust, and the pseudo engagement of local residents and stakeholders in community decisions.

"Friends of the Parks does not support the ordinance and intergovernmental agreement approved by Chicago City Council today that proposes the unparalleled transfer of historic public parkland from the Chicago Park District to the City of Chicago for use by a private institution," Francis added. She said they "refuse to accept" that the parks were the only locations for the library in the University of Chicago area, and pointed instead to the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital.

Francis rattled legal sabers by calling the parks "irreplaceable assets worth fighting for and we defend this legacy fiercely, even through the courts when necessary." She said the group was exploring its "legal options" as the Obama Foundation works to select a final location.

The measure approved by the council would allow about 20 acres of park district property in either Washington Park or Jackson Park to be devoted to the library. It also cleared the way for city property to be transferred to the library if the University of Illinois at Chicago's bid is selected for a site in North Lawndale.

"The whole city will gain," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He added that it was "making sure Chicago is in the best position to secure the Obama Presidential Library." Saying that he had no preference between the UIC and University of Chicago proposals, he added, "What it can't do is go on the Upper West Side of Manhattan."

He dismissed talk of a lawsuit, saying, "We're in good standing." He promised to replace the acreage of the library proper, expected to be five acres, while the rest of the grounds would remain public open space.

"The people of the community could not be clearer about the opportunity of this library," Emanuel said. He said "we will work with" Friends of the Parks on the issues the group has raised, adding, "Their aspirations are something I share."

Other finalists bidding for the library are Columbia University in New York City and the University of Hawaii in Obama's native state. The Obama Foundation is expected to announce a final site some time after Chicago's April 7 runoff election.

"The City Council’s vote was an encouraging step for the University of Chicago proposal," said Obama Foundation spokeswoman Olivia Alair Dalton. "The foundation will continue to work with each institution to refine their bids as we prepare our final recommendation."

The council also approved an ordinance altering opt-out fees developers are required to pay for affordable housing, while amending it to phase in the new fees over a full year.

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