May 12--After years of anticipation and speculation, President Barack Obama is set to announce Tuesday morning that his library and museum will be built in the community where he rose to political prominence -- the South Side of Chicago.
The project, to be called the Barack Obama Presidential Center, will include the archival library and the museum.
The president's foundation confirmed Monday that the announcement will be first released on its website at 5 a.m. and will then be discussed at a news conference scheduled for noon at the Gary Comer Youth Center, at 7200 S. Ingleside Ave.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and foundation Chairman Martin Nesbitt will participate in the news conference, which will be live on the foundation website
The Tribune and other media outlets have reported that the University of Chicago has been selected as the academic partner to host the presidential center. The U. of C. has offered two potential sites for the project -- Washington Park and Jackson Park, both public parks on the South Side. It is unclear whether the foundation will immediately announce which site has been selected.
The Barack Obama Foundation was formed in January 2014 by close family and friends of the president and first lady to oversee the building, construction, design and planning for the presidential center.
The foundation evaluated more than a dozen potential sites, considering factors such as transportation and accessibility, economic development opportunities, community interest and engagement, and the potential for academic and programmatic collaboration, foundation officials said.
dglanton@tribpub.com
