Former President Barack Obama is facing a new kind of politics while working to support the development plan for the Barack Obama Presidential Center.
The Obama Administration often failed to live up to the hopes of those who hoped a president from Chicago would prioritize the needs of cities at an unprecedented level, and since he left office, former President Barack Obama hasn't exactly had smooth sailing while seeking approval for the Barack Obama Presidential Center.
The Barack Obama Presidential Center is planned for a location in Jackson Park on the South Side of Chicago, where it's run into doubts and opposition concerning displacement, traffic circulation, an adjacent Tiger Woods-designed golf course, and the preservation of Jefferson Park, originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
With that context in mind former President Barack Obama recently appeared at a community forum in Chicago to answer public questions about the proposed Presidential Center, according to an article by Joe Cortright. Obama ended up devoting a lot of words to the subject of displacement, which you can watch in the video below. Cortright has also posted a transcription of Obama's remarks.
FULL STORY: Barack Obama on Gentrification
Obama Library Displacement Concerns: City Council Falls Short of Local Demands
The Chicago City Council has approved an ordinance intended to protect residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the planned Barack Obama Presidential Center.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Community-Led Efforts to Combat Gentrification in Philadelphia’s University City
How residents came together to fight for housing equity.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service