South Side Location Selected for the Obama Library

"President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have selected historic Jackson Park, just east of the University of Chicago, as the site for the Obama Presidential Center," reports Kathy Bergen, Blair Kamin, and Katherine Skiba for the Chicago Tribune.

The news comes via a source, and an official announcement is not expected until possibly next week.

In the meantime, the Tribune reporters imagine the possibilities:

Located near the Museum of Science and Industry, the lakefront and the eastern edge of the University of Chicago campus, the site allows for the creation of a museum campus in the heart of the park, accented by an existing lagoon, lush woods and greenery. The winding 543-acre park is an oasis on the South Side. The center would be a short hop to either Lake Shore Drive or to two Metra train stations, strong pulls for visitors.

The article also discusses the potential for the Obama Library to revitalize the nearby neighborhood of Woodlawn, which "has seen decades of unfulfilled promises for redevelopment" and "has tracts available for nearby projects."

The breaking news has been flying fast with regard to the Obama Library. At the end of June, the Obama Foundation announced the selection of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners (TWBTA) to design the library.