Community Groups Hope Strength In Numbers Results In Binding Obama Library Agreement
A coalition of South Side community groups continues to push for a binding benefits agreement from the Barack Obama Foundation that the construction of the Obama Presidential Library will bring economic opportunities to surrounding communities. Demand for a written benefits agreement was at the center of a standing room-only meeting in Hyde Park, the Sun-Times reports.
Obama Foundation vice president of community engagement Michael Strautmanis told the crowd that community input is an essential component of the development of the library. And while the coalition of groups stressed that trusting the Obama Foundation is not an issue, it still wants the document so the foundation is legally bound to its promises of bringing jobs and affordable housing to Woodlawn, South Shore and Washington Park.
Earlier this March, Jackson Park and South Shore Cultural Center Park were named to Preservation Chicago's 2017 "Chicago 7" list of endangered landmarks. Preservation Chicago executive director Ward Miller said Jackson Park made the list because of concerns the library and construction of a competition-level golf course connecting Jackson and South Shore parks will move forward without sufficient community input.
