Posted on 12/26/2017 3:48:23 PM PST by grundle
Barack Obamas Obama Presidential Center, a three-building complex designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien on Chicagos South Side, has made its intention to embrace its neighborhood very clearspecifically Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance, the historic Frederick Law Olmsteddesigned greenways that have hosted, among other things, the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition, a.k.a. the White City.
But what the Center hasnt made as clear is that the complexs footprint is growing, with its leaders recently proposing an aboveground parking garage that could take up about five acres of the Midway. The librarys 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 citys Department of Transportation, and the move would need to be approved by the Chicago City Council.
To say its 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; whats disconcerting is the Obama Centers insistence that they need more parkland.
When completed, the Obama Centerwhose footprint currently measures roughly 20 acreswill 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 its happening so quickly that we dont believe it possibly can be a real, transparent process.
For a grand total of three cars?
All this for a damn fag?
Triple LOL
“...vapid fraud”...and criminal traitor .
I just noticed the fly. Flies know where the crap pile is!
It is hard to imagine that an outhouse would take up this much space.
Well he was full of sheite
No wonder they are claiming that Melania ordered the murder of the old, diseased magnolia tree at the WH - need to deflect what their eco-hero is doing.....
Opening 2021??? LOL!! In his dreams.
This thing might break ground in 2021
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