March 12--The Chicago City Council on Wednesday took a step toward turning over parkland for a Barack Obama presidential library, giving preliminary approval to an ordinance that would allow the transfer of one of two University of Chicago locations for the library is chosen.
The joint council committee on Budget, Housing and Cultural Affairs voted without dissent to provide about 20 acres for the project in either Washington Park or Jackson Park. The approval was expected, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel supports the proposal and aldermen very rarely reject pieces of his agenda. The ordinance now heads to the full City Council for consideration March 18.
No aldermen on hand Wednesday voted against the South Side land transfer, and those who testified said it's most important for Chicago to get the library, but West Side council members spoke in favor of a competing bid by the University of Illinois at Chicago to have the library built on city-owned vacant land in the North Lawndale neighborhood.
"Nothing against my colleagues on the South Side, but as we look at the economic development that this project would bring, we clearly see a need from way back in the 60s, a need for economic development (on the West Side), and looking at a site that does not have to have any parkland or anything done other than to build a library," said Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th, who is headed to a runoff election against challenger Tara Stamps.
The library issue recently come into play in the mayoral runoff campaign between Emanuel and challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia. After Emanuel's campaign tried to make an issue out of Garcia's opposition to using parkland for the library, Garcia last week dropped his months-long resistance to the building going in Jackson Park or Washington Park.
The Barack Obama Foundation was expected to announce this month where the library will be built. But a source this week said the uncertainty of the mayoral election has prompted officials to put off the decision until after the April 7 election.
In addition to the two Chicago bids, the library foundation is also considering proposals for the library from the University of Hawaii and Columbia University in New York.
jebyrne@tribpub.com
