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Home · News

The Obama Foundation Moves Ahead With Presidential Center After Release Of New Design

The Obama Foundation Moves Ahead With Presidential Center After Release Of New Design
Scott Olson/Getty Images
By Paula Rogo · Updated October 24, 2020

The Obama Foundation is moving full steam ahead with its plans for the Obama Presidential Center.

The foundation formally started the process with the city of Chicago by submitting its planned development and lakefront protection ordinance applications on Wednesday.

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“Michelle and I are absolutely grateful to all of you for being a part of all this remarkable process,” said former President Barack Obama in a video.

The news comes after the foundation had to change its initial plans following opposition from more than 150 University of Chicago professors. The professors had signed a letter that called the original plan “socially regressive,” according to the Chicago Tribune. 

From the very beginning, @BarackObama and I knew the Obama Presidential Center had to be on the South Side. It’s where we met and where our girls were born. It’s home. We've been designing the Center as a place that inspires young people and gives them the tools they need to find their voices, then go out and change the world. It will be a place to learn, connect, and have some fun. The South Side will finally have a sledding hill, a vegetable garden like the one we had at the White House, and other attractions for Chicagoans and visitors from around the world to enjoy. Follow the @ObamaFoundation for updates, and let us know what you think!

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Jan 10, 2018 at 3:38pm PST

“We urge the Obama Foundation to explore alternative sites on the South Side that could be developed with more economic benefits, better public transportation, and less cost to taxpayers. We would be pleased to support the Obama Center if the plan genuinely promoted economic development in our neighborhoods and respected our precious public urban parks,” the letter read.

The changes included an underground garage, and more play areas for children, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

In its first 10 years, the new center is expected to have a total economic impact of $3.1 billion, according to the Foundation

“The economic impact to the people who live there currently would be amazing. And infusing that kind of investment with this this kind of project is an opportunity that can’t be passed up,” said Shari Runner, President and CEO, Chicago Urban League.

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