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
Updated Designs for Obama Presidential Center Revealed
According to the architecture critic for the Chicago Tribune, the Obama Presidential Center is still falling short of the iconic status that can serve as a landmark for the South Side of Chicago.
Obama Presidential Center Breaks Ground on Chicago's South Side
Years of controversy and delay were in the rearview this week when the Obamas joined the governor of Illinois and the mayor of Chicago to break ground on the Obama Presidential Center .
Obama Library Displacement Concerns: City Council Falls Short of Local Demands
The Chicago City Council has approved an ordinance intended to protect residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the planned Barack Obama Presidential Center.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie