Championship Round for Obama Library: UChicago v. Columbia
After President Barack Obama’s foundation made it clear that the president’s library needs to be on land owned and operated by the City, Chicago’s moving quickly and proposing a transfer of land from the Park District to City Hall in public forums next week, the Chicago Tribune reports. UChicago’s narrowed its plans to either a Washington Park or Jackson Park location, and its biggest competitor still seems to be Columbia University in NYC (Obama’s undergrad alma mater).
Time is short since a decision is expected in March, and if UChicago wins the university it has said it anticipates 1,900 new jobs and a $200M economic boost. Community support is still tricky, as George Lucas has learned with his proposed Star Wars treasure trove (The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art), so public forums seem like the right first step.
