Posted on 12/26/2017 3:48:23 PM PST by grundle
Barack Obama’s Obama Presidential Center, a three-building complex designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien on Chicago’s South Side, has made its intention to embrace its neighborhood very clear—specifically Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance, the historic Frederick Law Olmsted–designed greenways that have hosted, among other things, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, a.k.a. the “White City.”
But what the Center hasn’t made as clear is that the complex’s footprint is growing, with its leaders recently proposing an aboveground parking garage that could take up about five acres of the Midway. The library’s concession for eating into this space is a green roof, which opponents claim should not be considered green space at all.
Original plans for the center, released in May, did not include any building on the Midway. The land is owned by the city’s Department of Transportation, and the move would need to be approved by the Chicago City Council.
“To say it’s ok to carve up a work of art and replace it with something else is ridiculous,” said Charles Birnbaum, president and CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation. “The issue is not whether a green roof is considered green space; what’s disconcerting is the Obama Center’s insistence that they need more parkland.”
When completed, the Obama Center—whose footprint currently measures roughly 20 acres—will consist of a tall, stone-clad, geometric presidential museum, a green-roofed library, and a forum for events, all clustered around a broad plaza. The greenery is meant to blend with the existing park, but will not, say critics, make up for the amount of space it is taking from the famed parks.
A spokesperson for the Obama Foundation told AN: “The parking facility on the Midway will revitalize underutilized section of the Midway Plaisance. The facility will be covered and surrounded by a new park that will be open to the public.”
The Chicago Park District has called three meetings for citizens to weigh in on the planned changes, particularly to Jackson Park and the Midway.
“We thought a comprehensive planning process was in order,” Friends of the Parks Executive Director Juanita Irizarry told CBS Chicago. “Now it’s happening so quickly that we don’t believe it possibly can be a real, transparent process.”
it only takes a couple of feet space to display his REAL birth certificate
all those acres and acres of space are for the millions of Americans who want to see it. (no translator needed since Kenya was under British administration then....)
Obama wiped out a lot of stuff when he was President
Why should Chicago be any different
His library will be in NYC or Hawaii. Not even Rahm is stupid enough to fall for this boondoggle.
L
like the previous articles, no PHYSICAL evidence/display of birth certificate, college transcripts etc. for the worst president in US history eclipsing even Carter.
That my FRiends is one hell of a lot of stolen cars!
Yup, all those goats are gonna take a lot of space.
Hope they’ve got private rooms when all the Dorkbama the Muslim eunuch quota baby worshippers want to have some private time with their animals.
the historic Frederick Law Olmsted–designed greenways that have hosted, among other things, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, a.k.a. the “White City.”The real reason the location was picked.
Five acres for a parking garage?
They should just move the whole damn thing to Meigs Field at this point....
We are talking about the singularity that is Barack H Obama and you are surprised?
That’s ok, just have Melania cut all the trees down,....she hates trees, especially old ones...that can’t defend themselves and are sick...
You have to vote on the process to find out what's in it.
Uh, oh. Hussein could get the boot. He really needs to get used to that.
Why....has bammy ever written anything original??
Phfft. At the rate DJT is dismantling Obozo’s legacy you could put all of his accomplishments on a 5x7 postcard in a FEMA trailer in the parking lot at West 64th and Ashland.
U of C needs more parking. Best part of the library!
Obama spent 100’s Billions on Green stuff ,LOL
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