Bowing to community pressure, the Obama Foundation has scrapped its plan for an above-ground parking garage and will instead build an underground facility below the presidential center in Jackson Park, officials said late Monday.
The garage will accommodate about 400 to 450 cars beneath the southern portion of the campus, between where the library building and athletic center will be situated. The previous plan was to build the garage west of Stony Island Avenue, and the new design means the entire Obama Presidential Center campus will be within the boundaries of Jackson Park. (Chicago Tribune).
In a living example of what might be labeled Community Engagement Governance (something certainly not being seen in the likes of the National Parks, Oil Drilling etc), the Obama Foundation made a not-so-inexpensive decision reflective of what community members have been saying about the plans for the Obama Presidential Library building. And yes, according to the article, moving the parking garage is not the only concern citizens have about the Library plans but this was, from what I understand, one of the "big ones".
For the Foundation board, more money will need to be raised but it appears that community voice to inform the process matters as much as the final product. Kudos to the community that has lifted and will continue to lift its voice and kudos to the Foundation board for having valued the community voice.
Lessons for all?