Construction of the Obama Presidential Center and library in Chicago has drawn criticism from some local residents and community leaders. The $850 million project, located in Jackson Park on the city’s South Side near the University of Chicago, is behind schedule and over budget.
Some activists previously opposed building the center, preferring to keep the area as a public park. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and construction proceeded. Now, several residents have voiced concerns about the impact of the new structure on their neighborhood.
“It looks like this big piece of rock that just landed here out of nowhere in what used to be a really nice landscape of trees and flowers,” Ken Woodward, a lawyer and father of six who grew up in the area, told the Daily Mail.
Community members have expressed fears that the center will lead to increased gentrification in the area. They worry it could drive up rents and displace longtime residents and families.
The design of the center has also been criticized by locals, with some calling it an “eyesore” or comparing its appearance to something from a science fiction movie.
Despite these concerns, plans for opening continue. The Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open in April. Recently, organizers announced they would begin offering free tours of the facility.
