CHICAGO — Could Chicago lose Lucas?
Filmmaker George Lucas said his namesake museum could end up in Los Angeles if a federal lawsuit in Chicago derails the project, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
A lawsuit filed by Friends of the Parks seeks to halt the construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which would be built along the lakefront south of Soldier Field.
Lucas told the Times he's hopeful his camp will prevail in the courtroom, but "it's still a possibility Chicago will be unable to do it."
That leaves the door open for the museum to land somewhere else, including L.A., he said.
"The advantage Los Angeles has is that it's on the USC campus and I don't have to go through all the rigmarole of years and years of trying to get past everything," Lucas told the Times. "That's an advantage because I do want to get it done in my lifetime."
Lucas said he was confident Mayor Rahm Emanuel would see the project through.
"I have faith in Chicago and [Mayor] Rahm [Emanuel], who is dedicated to making it happen," Lucas said. "But he's also coming up for election next month."
Emanuel's campaign coffers have been bolstered by Hollywood heavyweights, including Lucas collaborator Steven Spielberg, who donated $25,000 to the mayor's campaign, state records show. Other heavyweights who donated to Emanuel's campaign include record executive David Geffen ($50,000), Dreamworks executive Jeffrey Katzenberg ($10,000), billionaire philanthropist and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers writer Cheryl Saban ($100,000) and Google CEO Eric Schmidt ($50,000). Emanuel's brother is powerful Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel.
The museum has drawn criticism for its proposed space-age design, and because the parkland east of Lake Shore Drive is considered sacred ground by parks advocates. Leasing the land to a private enterprise - in this case the city has offered to lease it for $1 a year - is tantamount to selling off the city's precious lakefront land, critics say.
The city has appealed for a dismissal of the Friends of the Parks suit. But late this week, the group filed a rebuttal, alleging the city violated the 14th Amendment by giving the Lucas Museum prime real estate before the General Assembly could vote on it. The group also complained the land, which is owned by the Chicago Park District, was given to the Lucas group before public input was considered.
"By cutting the General Assembly out of the decision, and failing to seek authorization from a body that is less self-interested in commercializing the lakefront, the defendants are rushing to impair a property interest without the 'fundamental fairness' that the (14th Amendment) requires," Friends of the Parks said in the Thursday filing.
A federal judge will rule on city's request to dismiss the lawsuit Feb. 26.
CONTRIBUTING: DAVID MATTHEWS
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