The Obama Presidential Center is still controversial, but it has also taken a key first step in the approvals process.
"As expected, the Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved measures to allow construction of the Obama Presidential Center," reports Lolly Bowean.
The City Council vote "means the Obama Foundation can move forward into federal reviews of the project with city support as a badge of endorsement."
The foundation must also still "secure a formal long-term contract to lease Jackson Park from the city" and fundraise the expected $500 million cost of the presidential center. The article also includes more detail of the tricky political issues the presidential center has raised, and still will require navigation before the project is complete.
FULL STORY: Obama Presidential Center gets green light from full City Council
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Journal of the American Planning Association