Today the Barack Obama Foundation announced that the Obama Presidential Center will be in Chicago’s South Side, and will collaborate with the University of Chicago. The center will house a museum, library, and foundation offices.
Today’s announcement did not include a specific site selection, but a foundation news release states that the potential sites are Washington Park or Jackson Park. The University of Illinois at Chicago, Columbia University, and University of Hawaii had also submitted proposals for the project.
According to the release: “Over the last 15 months, the Foundation has considered a number of key factors in locating the future Center, such as transportation and accessibility, local economic development opportunities, community interest and the potential for academic collaboration. The South Side offered several unique advantages, including its significant community support for the project, proximity to the University of Chicago’s hub of activity, strong economic development potential, and its rich history that helped shape President Obama’s worldview.”
This post has been updated.
