To say that the Chicago Tribune editorial board is not a fan of George Lucas's proposal to build a museum along Lake Michigan would be putting it mildly.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board has some strong words about the smooth political path tread by the proposal for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The editorial opens thusly:
"One by one the public bodies answerable to Mayor Rahm Emanuel are approving the city's de facto donation of Lake Michigan shoreline for the museum that billionaire George Lucas wants to build. The Chicago Park District, having negotiated a $10 fee for a 99-year lease, was the first to deliver for Emanuel. Maybe you think $10 is a lot to ask of Lucas for a century's claim to some of the most prized land on Earth. But the 'Star Wars' creator has to be relieved; Chicago's opening bid was to charge $1 every year."
The editorial goes into more detail about the special protections afforded the site by the public trust doctrine before suggesting some alternatives for the museum proposal. One would be to move the museum to the site of the James R. Thompson Center, which Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is already shopping. The editorial also supports a proposal presented by Chicago Tribune Architecture Critic Blair Kamin: to build the Lucas Museum on the site of the Lakeside Center of McCormick Place. Finally, the editorial makes the larger point about the city's need to create and adhere to a larger vision of reclaiming this part of the shoreline.
FULL STORY: Lucas' monument and McCormick Place: Cutting deals on Chicago's lakefront
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
Podcast: Addressing the Root Causes of Transit Violence
Deploying transit police is a short-term fix. How can transit agencies build sustainable safety efforts?
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.