George Lucas Chooses Chicago for New Museum Site

"'Star Wars' creator George Lucas has selected Chicago over Los Angeles and San Francisco as the future home of his collection of art and movie memorabilia, according to a spokeswoman for the museum," reports Melissa Harris.

"Pending approval by the Chicago Plan Commission, Lucas' institution would be built on what are now parking lots between Soldier Field and McCormick Place and would open in 2018. Architectural renderings will be presented to city officials in early fall, according to a statement from the museum."

Harris also points out the flip side of the announcement: San Francisco's failure to keep a project that had once been hoped for the Presidio's Crissy Field. "The decision to select Chicago reflects both a bungling of the billionaire's legacy project by the board of a national park in San Francisco as well as an aggressive lobbying effort by Mayor Rahm Emanuel."