After a plan to locate a new museum for the film memorabilia of George Lucas at Crissy Field in the Presidio in San Francisco failed, the City by the Bay and the Windy City have entered competing proposals for the location of the museum.
Phillip Matier And Andrew Ross report on the unfolding saga of the George Lucas Museum. According to Matier and Ross: "San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee plans to officially offer George Lucas a prime lot near the Bay Bridge as the site for a museum to house the 'Star Wars' creator's collection of illustrative art and Hollywood memorabilia."
"Known as Seawall Lot 330, the site is across the Embarcadero from Piers 30-32, where just a month ago the Golden State Warriors were planning to build their 18,000-seat arena." The height of the proposed museum would not be a problem in San Francisco's new land use regime.
"Lucas has been looking around for a site since the Presidio Trust vetoed his plans for a museum across from Crissy Field earlier this year. The Presidio has offered an alternative near the Letterman Digital Arts Center, but Lee's biggest worry is Chicago, which has invited Lucas to build his museum near Soldier Field."
About that Chicago proposal, Melissa Harris reports that "Mayor Rahm Emanuel has recommended the parking lots to the south of Soldier Field as the home for filmmaker George Lucas' collection of art and movie memorabilia, should the 'Star Wars' creator choose Chicago over San Francisco for his planned museum."
The two parking lots, owned by the Chicago Park District, are located between the stadium and McCormick Place and within walking distance of the Museum Campus.
Harris's coverage of the proposal includes a soundbite from a football fan concerned with the museum's potential impact on tailgating at Chicago Bears games: " "'You can kiss tailgating at Soldier Field as we know it good-bye if this deal gets done,' said Rob Radulski of Algonquin who attends tailgates in those lots. 'Where would thousands of people go? There are plenty of locations south of McCormick Place down the lakefront to build on. Why not expand economically there?'"
FULL STORY: S.F. to offer George Lucas prime lot for his museum
George Lucas Chooses Chicago for New Museum Site
Equal parts a stunning victory for Chicago and a breathtaking failure for San Francisco, "Star Wars" director George Lucas has selected Chicago as the site of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
Lucas Museum Finally Finds a Home—in Los Angeles
This story has had more twists than the end of Empire Strikes Back, but it seems like it finally might end in Los Angeles.
2020 Population Growth Rates for the 50 Biggest U.S. Cities
The Census Bureau released new data on May 27 that includes the first four months of the pandemic. Seattle tops the growth rate at 2.2% from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, while Baltimore and San Francisco land at the bottom with -1.4%.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research