Chicago is putting the pieces in place to land the Obama Library. One proposal hinges on the availability of parkland on the South Side near the University of Chicago.
"Mayor Rahm Emanuel…will introduce an ordinance to transfer at least 20 acres of public parkland to the city if President Barack Obama decides to build his library and museum in either Washington Park or Jackson Park on the South Side, according to a source close to the process," reports Dahleen Glanton and Melissa Harris.
The transfer would commence only if the University of Chicago is selected as the site of the presidential library. Bids from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Columbia University in New York, and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu will compete to land the library and museum.
The University of Chicago's bid has sparked some controversy with regard to the parkland in question, "pitting park preservationists against residents of the surrounding South Side neighborhoods who fear they could lose a chance of securing the library if the parkland is not made available." The article also mentions the possibility of a lawsuit to prevent the city from moving forward with the transfer.
Earlier this month, Vicky Ranney and George Ranney penned on op-ed with five ideas for how the University of Chicago's bid might benefit either of the parks proposed as the potential site for the Obama Presidential Library.
Read the full story: Emanuel to unveil ordinance transferring parkland for Obama library
Dog Parks and Gentrification
When is a dog park more than just a park for dogs?
Mayor Emanuel Wants to Open More of the Chicago River to the Public
Plans to double the length of publicly accessible riverfront will be included in Mayor Rahm Emanuel's State of the City address tonight.
Obama's Presidential Center Raises Displacement Concerns
As the former president seeks to distinguish the Obama Presidential Center from for-profit development, many locals still want to see a binding community benefits agreement.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority