Updates
Federal Review Process for the OPC Continues
The Section 106 process that requires federal review of the siting of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park has moved to the next stage of public input. The Assessment of Effects (AOE) report was released Monday, July 29th and a public meeting that will be part of the public commenting process is scheduled for this Monday, August 5th, from 6pm-8pm at the University of Chicago's Logan Center (915 E. 60th Street) in the first floor theater. Preceding this meeting will be a consulting parties meeting from 3-5pm.
Please consider attending the public meeting to hear more about the review process and to voice your support of the OPC in Jackson Park.
There is a 30-day public comment window (ending August 30th) before generation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The City, National Park Service and National Highway Administration must take into account all comments received on the AOE report both at the public meetings and any written comments sent to the city via DPD's Public Participation Officer, Abby Monroe (Abby.Monroe@cityofchicago.org).
We strongly encourage you to write to Ms. Monroe in support of the OPC in Jackson Park.
What was in the report? The report was very thorough and detailed. Not surprisingly, the report details the impacts that the construction of the OPC will have on the Jackson Park site, namely that in some places the OPC will modify the historical context of Olmsted's original plan of the park ( listed as "adverse effects"). The report details changes in the vehicular flow (through closing of Cornell) and changing in terrain on the ~20 acres of the site. These "adverse effects" and how they will be mitigated will be considered in the MOA. Public comments are a vital part of the formation and implementation of this agreement, so we encourage you to participate.
SSN4H's take on this: There are important issues to keep in mind as one considers this report. First, modifications to Historical sites, including those of Olmsted's, are not rare. Indeed, Central Park, one of Olmsted's major jewels, has been modified extensively from his original plans. These changes include the massive expansion of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the recent elimination of all vehicular traffic in the park by Mayor de Blasio. These changes were to increase the people/park interface and enhance the value of the park as a resource for all. Indeed, Mayor de Blasio said, "“This park was not built for automobiles, it was built for people.”
Many people are not aware that Olmsted and Vaux were originally opposed to the siting of the Met in Central Park, but were eventually won over by Andrew Haswell Green, who advocated for the complementary nature of the Met and parkland. We see the OPC as having similar if not greater value to enhancement of the plan for Jackson Park and imagine that Olmsted would have welcomed a museum and center in honor of the first African American President of the United States of America.
If you have questions regarding what you can do to participate in the Federal Review process, please contact us directly (sosideneighbors4hope@gmail.com) and we would be happy to advise you on what to do to be involved.
