Obama Presidential Library Takes Another Step Forward
The Chicago City Council approved plans Wednesday in a 47-1 vote for the Obama Presidential Library, ignoring concerns of neighborhood residents regarding displacement and gentrification. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who placed a call to Obama after the vote, called the move a “giant step toward creating a living testament to the Obama legacy and an economic, educational and cultural engine in the South Side of Chicago.” Residents and community activists however, have been pushing for a Community Benefits Agreement to protect themselves from displacement. "Whether or not there is displacement in Woodlawn, due to the development of the Obama Center and University of Chicago, will depend on whether or not a Community Benefit Ordinance is passed to stop displacement" said Sharon Payne a spokesperson for the Obama CBA Coalition in a press release. The next step in the process is a federal review, since Jackson Park, where the center will be located, is on the National Register of Historic Places. (ABC7)