Bronzeville Qualifications for the Obama Presidential Library

QUALIFICATIONS for the

BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

AddrPhon

bama CampusO44

June 16, 2016

Martin H. NesbittThe Barack Obama Foundation300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030Chicago, Illinois 60601

Dear Mr. Nesbitt:

As a board member of the President Obama Library and Museum Campus Foundation, I am pleased and honored to present to you our response to your request for qualifi cations for hosting the Barack Obama Presidential Library.

Beyond the medium presented here, we Chicagoans in Bronzeville have anticipated the opportunity to host Obama’s legacy since his election in 2008. His story is our story, his journey is refl ected in our history, and his vision of hope and change will be realized by our future. By working with more than twenty different companies, organizations, and community groups we have embodied the grassroots spirit of the Obama campaign to truly refl ect the ideals of the people it represents.

There have been many proposals for the Michael Reese site, but considering its namesake’s character and that of the surrounding community the Obama Presidential Library is undoubtedly the best and highest use of the location. On behalf of our team, thank you sincerely for this unique opportunity to serve the President, the South Side of Chicago, and people around the world.

Paula RobinsonBoard MemberPresident Obama Library and Museum Campus Foundation ObamaCampus.com

T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY

oneexecutive summary

twowhy bronzeville?

threeresponse content

• respondent information

• project site

• transportation & accessibility

• project execution

• community engagement

• indications of support

table of contents

T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY 1

executivesum

mary


OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LEARNING CAMPUS - A NEW URBAN PARADIGM FOR CHICAGO

The Burnham Plan of 1909 was bold and visionary. Born out of necessity to solve immediate problems, the plan ultimately transformed Chicago and provided a grand template that still inspires and guides us today when planning the City’s future growth.

Echoing Daniel Burnham’s admonition to “make no little plans”, our plan for Bronzeville is comprehensive and bold. The Barack Obama Presidential Library represents a seed of transformation that once planted, would have the power to revitalize the site. It has the potential to create new urban spaces that would initiate lasting change and reinvigorate the surrounding community.

executive summary

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executive summary

LEADERSHIP

Barack Obama’s presidency has been built on the idea of change; his library would manifest that theme for Bronzeville and the greater South Side. The project would serve as a catalyst, promoting sustainable growth and targeting investment to deliver clear economic

to the neighborhood’s history.

Presidential libraries have traditionally been

challenges that trend. By fully realizing the potential of the site, the Barack Obama Presidential Library would go beyond simply cataloguing President Obama’s eight years in

past events and ways in which it will impact the future. A living part of its host community, it would drive economic development, create a sense of place, promote inclusivity at the ethnic crossroads of Chicago. Most importantly, it would accomplish all this without displacing the people who call it home.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Chicago is a city known for its strong urban grid, in large part due to the Burnham Plan. Throughout the city, appropriately scaled streets seamlessly connect neighborhoods to parks and Lake Michigan. The existing Michael Reese site in Bronzeville breaks that connection by creating a barrier between Bronzeville and the lakefront. Our proposal

a gap in Chicago’s necklace of public assets that stretches from Evanston to Northwest Indiana. The proposed elevated park would provide park views along 31st, 29th and 26th streets, inviting the community to the site.

By connecting the site to the lake, we would

would play a key role in the area. It would not only contribute to the economic vitality of the neighborhood but would house vertical farms and have dedicated land for ongoing research in environmental and related sciences.

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ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINE

The entire site is a tool for environmental performance that would utilize Biomimicry to be functionally indistinguishable from the region’s natural coastal environment. The site would be designed to meet living building and ecological performance standards, becoming a model of

neutrality, and regenerative design.

Because ours is a coastal site with views of the lake it gives us the opportunity to build upon Burnham’s vision of a “City in a Garden”. It would help achieve objectives of the Millennium Reserve, Obama’s “America’s Great Outdoors” initiative, and the Burnham Wildlife Corridor Bird Sanctuary. Vertical

research would engage visitors in dynamic ways, promoting environmental awareness and stewardship.

NEIGHBORHOOD

The Obama Presidential Library would revitalize the historic Bronzeville community. With a commitment to develop without displacement, we envision a campus with integrated commercial and mixed-income residential development that would result in a stronger Bronzeville, the Obama Presidential Library at its core.

T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RYBronzeville, June 13, 2014; photo by JJ Jetel

why this

site?


vast economic ponexus of connectglobal reach.the perfect comm

bronzeville

otential.tivity.

munity.


millennium park

navy pier & chicago children’s museum

chicago history museum

field museum

the art institute of chicago

museum of science and industry

soldier field

the peggy notebaert nature museum

OBAMA LIBRARY SITE

Recreation

Millennium Park

Entertainment

Navy Pier

Science

Field Museum

Education

Chicago Cultural Center

Family

Chicago Children’s Museum

Art

The Art Institute of Chicago

Industry

Museum of Science and Industry

Sport

Soldier Field

Nature

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

the chicago

necklace

connecting


p

guidingprinciples


coreR E S P O N S E TO T H E G U I D I N G P R I N C I P L E S

anyone, regardless of skin color, creed, or nationality could have access to quality health

care facilities. Not only were his ideals avant-garde, but so was the design of the hospital

psychologically. The remaining Singer Pavilion is one of the last remaining examples of

Gropius architecture and its identity as part of Michael Reese’s campus offers an ideal

location to tell not just the story of the Affordable Care Act, but the history of healthcare and

medicine as well. Given the site’s struggles in recent years and prime location, it truly holds

the most promise for urban renewal. Its size and versatility lends itself to a wide variety

of programmatic spaces including vertical farms, mixed-income living spaces, lakefront

trails, and world-class hotels. And while it has a rich history augmented by the surrounding

community, it has become a blank canvas, malleable and ready to give back to Chicago

once again.

ECONOMIC ENGINE

FLEXIBLE & FORWARD THINKING

2 2

FUNCTIONAL

TECHNO- LOGICALLY ADVANCED

Just as the University of Chicago provided a foundation for investment further south, so

would the Obama Presidential Library (OPL) in Bronzeville. Along with the newly completed

harbor at 31st street, recently approved Lake Meadows Master Plan, and new Green Line

station at 24th and Michigan, the OPL would connect South Side development to the nexus

of the city and provide an investment anchor in the area. Instead of becoming an island,

inaccessible to those it serves, it would instead form the heart of the area, paying homage

not only to the service of President Obama but also to Michael Reese and the enduring

spirit of Bronzeville.

the Michael Reese site to weave high-density, multi-use land with the lakefront ecosystem

and nearby public transportation, the library serving as its core. This unique, bounded

not produce waste, generates its own energy, and serves as an model for cutting-edge

sustainable design.

Indeed, sustainability is at the forefront of the vision for the Michael Reese site. This

includes going beyond LEED Platinum standards to create a campus functionally

indistinguishable from the natural ecology that existed before Chicago and a library that is

regenerative, giving back to the environment. A review of the genius of the biome would

establish ecological performance standards (EPS) that the site would then be designed to

in the world and has collaborated closely with The Biomimicry Guild since 2008 on projects

worldwide to create a partnership on the cusp of sustainable design.

ACCOUNTABLE & PERFORMANCE-

DRIVEN

UNIFIED DESIGN VISION


programR E S P O N S E TO T H E G U I D I N G P R I N C I P L E S

AUTHENTIC

The Obama legacy will be one anchored in the themes of inclusion, empowerment, and

respect. The Michael Reese site embodies these ideals, respecting the community by

offering development without displacement, including all Chicagoans through its geographic

accessibility, and empowering Bronzeville to grow both as an economy and as a community.

While institutional involvement would be an integral part of the library, its location on the

Michael Reese site would send a clear message that it is a campus not only for researchers

and tourists, but for everyone. The museum will fully illustrate Obama’s life and presidency,

exploring in detail hallmark achievements such as the Affordable Care Act, the recovery

from the Great Recession, and the ending of the war in Iraq. And it will go beyond the

President’s service in isolation, placing these events within their larger contexts to stimulate

continuum of history.

INSPIRATIONAL

2 4

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

GLOBAL

Situated next door to the McCormick Place and nearby Chicago’s extensive Museum

gap between the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. Locally, the

OPL would illuminate existing, if undervalued, attractions such as the Mies van der Rohe

Campus, Stephen Douglas’ tomb, and the house of Muddy Waters. Its location adjacent to

the data artery of Chicago would enable it to be truly global, from streaming inter-Atlantic

The Michael Reese site is large enough to accommodate extensive trails and green space,

providing a place to improve community well-being and enhance the biodiversity of the area

by connecting lakefront habitats. It has the potential to manifest both the America’s Great

Outdoors and the Let’s Move! initiatives in tangible ways. A state-of-the-art bike valet center

equipped with showers would encourage sustainable, active commuting to one of Chicago’s

most beautiful transit hubs. In addition, more than 400,000 square feet of vertical farming

would improve community health, generate funds, and serve as an interactive learning

experience for students and tourists alike from around the world.

CIVIC

PURPOSEFUL


contextR E S P O N S E TO T H E G U I D I N G P R I N C I P L E S

There was no place for racial discrimination at the Michael Reese Hospital; the OPL would

expand upon that legacy. The location itself invites mixed-income residential development

so that people of all ages, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses could not only visit,

but have the ability to call this site home. By presenting national political issues in an

unbiased way and distilling them down to their local relevance would show those Americans

disenfranchised with Washington how democracy can still work and their importance in the

process. From an academic perspective, its ability to simultaneously partner with multiple

higher education institutions would nurture discourse and improve its quality.

ENGAGEMENT

INQUIRY

2 6

The Douglas neighborhood is at the ethnic crossroads of one of the most diverse cities in

the country. Predominantly black, Asian, Hispanic, and white communities (among others)

surround it on all sides, and the OPL would represent not only their unique traits, but also

what they have in common. Library employees would be multilingual to best address the

needs of all visitors and material would be available in various languages. Chicago also

boasts one of the largest and most vibrant LGBT communities in America. Given Obama’s

personal support for gay rights and the historic progress that has been made both on federal

highlighted by the library. And while it would take many multicultural cues from its host city,

the OPL would also look to the more diverse global population for guidance as well. The

data capabilities of the site introduce the possibility of a robust interactive digital experience

for this global base of virtual visitors in addition to engagement through more typical social

media channels.

When it comes to connectivity, the Michael Reese site is second to none. It hosts an

impressive array of existing multi-modal transportation options, setting it apart from other

areas of the city. Its proximity to I-55, the Metra South Shore Line, the Green line, and

proposed Bus Rapid Transit routes gives it the potential to become a Transit-Oriented

Development. The lakefront trail system would be routed directly into the site, enabling

access not only for pedestrians and cyclists but also for those who would arrive by boat at

the 31st street harbor. Its physical accessibility would be matched by its virtual accessibility,

as it sits four blocks from Lakeside Technology Center at 350 E Cermak road, the world’s

largest data center.

INNOVATIVE

CONNECTED

WELCOMING & TRANSPARENT

Bronzeville, June 13, 2014; photo by JJ Jetel

response

content


The following section addresses the Response Content Document. Images,

diagrams and narratives provide statistical information about the site, nearby community and the impact that the OPL would have.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the Request for , the information provided seeks to tell a story

about the Michael Reese site and the Bronzeville community.

response content

3 1

resinfo

spondentormation


team description

The Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum Campus Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization formed by community leaders in Bronzeville. The group consists of

and has strong representation from the Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission (BMNHAC), a group that is seeking National Heritage Status for Bronzeville.

The organization responding to the RFQ is led by Paula Robinson, President of the BMNHAC.

Main point of contact: Paula [email protected](773) 532-9850

The organization includes experts with a variety of skill sets at a local, regional and national level. The core team members and partners listed on the following page have been working with advisors throughout the Chicago region to compile a well-researched and inspiring package. The experts include local Bronzeville development and engineering practices, as well as nationally-recognized urban design and biomimicry experts.

The organization has multiple committees that orchestrate and execute the decision making process. Committees for Real Estate Development, Transportation, Finance, Social Media, Sustainability, Legal, Civic Innovation and Media were established to tell the story of Bronzeville and the Michael Reese site. What follows is a result of their collaboration and hard work together for this inspirational project.

bama CampusO44

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Core Team

Community Advisors

Partners

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA)

A. Philip Randolph, Pullman Porter Museum

Choose Chicago

Enjoy Illinois

Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

OpenLands

Center for Neighborhood Technology

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Chicago Park District

Pervasive Health

Converge Exchange

Dr. Paul Magelli Sr.

Alliance of National Heritage Areas

African American Community Trust

Bold Agenda

National Trust for Historic Preservation

Deborah Strauss and Associates

Derric Price Ltd.

Stratz Group

ARC Law Group

East Lake Management + Development Corp.

Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)

Chicago Community Loan Fund

Chicago Black History Forum

Bronzeville Historical Society

Green Meeting Industry Council

Urban Equities Inc.

FCB

Fiscal Austerity and Urban Innovation Project

Michael Reese Foundation

Chicago Community Trust

International Center for Advanced Internet Research (iCAIR)

Prologue, Inc.

Engage Civil Inc.

Chicago Streetcar Renaissance

Farr & Associates

IllinoisBusinessConsulting

Abraham Lincoln Centre

Blacks in Green

Black Metropolis Convention & Tourism Council

Bronzeville Alliance

Bronzeville Merchants Association

Rehab Construction Systems

South Side Community Federal Credit Union

Center for Neighborhood Technology


community visionccvv

T H E B AB A R A C K OK B A MB A M A PA R E SR E SSSS I D EI D EI D ED EI D E N T INN A L L I BBB R A RRR RR A RYYYY

COMMUNITY HISTORY

The story of how Bronzeville shares the vision of

the Obama Presidential Library begins at the turn

of the twentieth century. Oppressive Jim Crow

laws helped spark the Great Migration, which

brought over half a million former slaves and their

descendants to Chicago in search of opportunity.

But while Chicago proved more progressive than

the places they left behind, discrimination was still

widespread and in many ways forced the black

community to survive on its own. Thus formed

what was known as the Black Metropolis, in 1930

becoming Bronzeville. Born out of struggle, an

embodiment of the American Dream, this was a

place where blacks could come and prosper. The

articles of , the music of Louis

Armstrong, and the pioneering social activism of Ida

B. Wells broke boundaries and demonstrated how

Bronzeville empowered blacks to succeed in ways

they could not elsewhere. Even if it has lost some

of its luster, its importance in black history and the

history of the United States cannot be diminished. It

is here that the Michael Reese site is located.

With the Civil Rights movement and the dismantling

of segregation beginning in the 1950s, many

families left Bronzeville, which had become

overcrowded. As a result, Bronzeville’s population

declined by more than 75 percent between 1950

and 2000 and much of the community’s economic

base was lost.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The location once hosted the Michael Reese

hospital campus, named after a man whose vision

to make healthcare accessible to all regardless

of nationality, creed, or skin color echoes that of

President Obama’s through the Affordable Care

Act. Amid rising costs, it closed its doors in 2008

and was demolished a year later, but soon after

held the possibility of becoming the Olympic Village

for Chicago’s 2016 bid. Such a spotlight would

have introduced its undervalued cultural assets to

the international community. While Chicago’s bid

was unsuccessful, it preserved the site for future

Obama Presidential Library. A place that saw the

role in a new way once again.

3 6 T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY

COMPLEMENTARY VISION

Locating the OPL in a neighborhood that will

celebrate the Great Migration Centennial in 2016

National Heritage site would accurately tell the

story of a people using the cultural and geographic

landscape. The Michael Reese site is the cultural

and geographic anchor that can best celebrate and

interpret the historical continuum of the President

and the nearby community.

The complementary vision of the site, the city, and

the President are rooted in the ideals of rebuilding

at the community level. Just as Chicago was rebuilt

after the Great Fire and the United States was

rebuilt after the Great Depression, Bronzeville and

the Michael Reese site can be rebuilt with greater

vigor and hope than before. The Bronzeville TIF

district is designated to revitalize this area and can

be greatly enhanced if the OPL is located on this

site.

The site would be rebuilt in keeping with the old

adage of “Be your Brother’s Keeper”. Michael

Reese did not discriminate against nor abandon

the community around him. The President’s “My

Brother’s Keeper” legacy embodies the history

of the site and will strengthen the story for future

generations.

These stories will be conveyed through the

Cultural Heritage Tourism vision of the Bronzeville

area. Current cultural heritage tourism efforts

in Bronzeville take place in numerous venues

near the site. The workforce training program for

these tour guides provides job opportunities as

well as education and inspiration for visitors. The

President brought hope and inspiration to millions

of Americans during his campaign and presidency.

That same inspiration and hope will be conveyed to

visitors of the OPL and the nearby Black Metropolis

Heritage Area by Cultural Heritage Tourism guides.

Hope and Change formed the foundation of

spread those ideas again.

Steering Committee:Jerry AdelmanDavid BakerChristina BeattyTimuel Black PhDTerry Nichols Clark PhDSusan CampbellAnna Agbe-Davis PhDSaundra DoughertyMichael Fountain

Ghian ForemanWalter FreemanTeri GrahamKim HuntRhonda HardyCassandra HoustonLyn Hughes PhDLennox JacksonRalph KindredLeroy Kennedy

Barbara KenseyYvette LeGrandHarold L. LucasSonya MalundaTheodore Manley PhDTracye Matthews Mell MonroeCorlis MoodySharon MorganBruce Montgomery

Norman MontgomeryIsobel NealJeri RichardsPaula Robinson Carolyn RushChristopher Reed PhDTim SamuelsonCharles SuttonAlisa StarksArthur Turnbull

Bernard TurnerRon ThomasDon WallaceBill WilliamsIra WilliamsDonna WilliamsonAntoinette Wright

Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission

projectsite

The project site offers 98 acres of potential development. This includes 48 acres for the former Michael Reese hospital site, 28 acres of truck marshalling yard and 22 acres of additional site parcels. The land is mostly vacant and is bounded by 26th and 31st street, Martin Luther King Drive, and Lake Shore Drive.

Just as the Michael Reese Hospital provided quality healthcare to individuals regardless of nationality or race, the site has the potential to serve as a welcoming location for people of all backgrounds as it did in years past.

Many medical innovations took place at Michael Reese,

This site has the potential to serve as a future incubator for transportation, tourism, and technology that will create research collaborations and drive economic development for the region.

As the demographics of the neighborhood around the hospital changed by the 1950s, Michael Reese became an agent of urban renewal in lieu of deserting the neighborhood. Locating the OPL on this site will plant the seed in fertile ground and help realize this same dedication to urban renewal and the surrounding community.

the site


view looking north

view looking south

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T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY4 6

Metra rail line. The contours in this area will allow for

easy development west of the Metra line.

The Metra line is 8-10 feet below the grade of

the western portion of the site and would require

decking and/or pedestrian bridges over the rail for

new development.

The Truck Marshalling yards are at a similar grade

level as the Metra line and will require decking and/

or pedestrian bridges to tie the site to the lakefront.

Electric and water lines run through the existing

street network and future Comed and People’s

Gas utility lines are being reserved for placement

along Cottage Grove Avenue and 28th streets.

Future storm water and sewer infrastructure is being

reserved for the existing street network, but future

storm and sewer infrastructure would be needed for

site development.

Roadway improvements would be needed for the

majority of the site to complement development

performance and site accessibility.

site survey

“a blank canvas, a fertile ground”


PD 1169

DS-5 PD 331

C2-5 M1-3

PD 26 PD 986

M1-3

PD 18

C2-3

PD 40 RT-4

PD 802

RM-5

POS-1

B1-3B3-3B1-3

PD 712RS-3

PD 235

POS-1

RM-5 C3-7

PD 1133

PD 1157

POS-1

POS-1planned developmentdowntown coreresidentialpark and open spacecommercialbusinessmanufacturing

existing dedicated r.o.w. to remainexisting r.o.w. to be vacatednew r.o.w. to be dedicated

The Michael Reese site is currently owned by the

City of Chicago and is designated as a “PD 18” and

“PD 1133”, Planned Developments for Residential,

Businesses and Institutional Uses.

The Marshalling Yard is currently owned by

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and is a

“PD-1055”, Planned Development for Residential,

Businesses and Institutional Uses.

The Northwest parcels are owned by Self-Storage,

McDonalds and Advocate Health and are zoned

as “PD18”, Planned Developments and “M1-3”

Manufacturing.

The Prairie Shores development to the west is

zoned as “RM-5”, Residential.

The Lake Michigan Park and Lake Shore Drive

parcel to the east of the site is designated as “POS-

1”, Park and Open Space.

zoningThe zoning for the Michael Reese site is mostly “Planned Development”. This designation allows the site

to embody the principle of being Flexible and Forward Thinking. Planned Developments have the ability to

contain a multitude of future programmatic elements that will meet the intent of the OPL Guiding Principles.


DEMOGR


RAPHICS


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9

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11 1213

1415

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26 27

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1 Shedd Aquarium2 Field Museum3 Planetarium4 Soldier Field5 Burnham Harbor 6 Northerly Island7 R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. Calumet Plant8 Second Presbyterian Church 9 Blue Heaven Foundation / Chess Records10 Motor Row Historic District 11 Chinatown12 McCormick Place13 Quinn Chapel Church14 Singer Pavilion15 Dunbar High School16 Unity Hall17 Illinois Institute of Technology18 31st. Street Harbor19 Burnham Park20 Victory Sculpture21 Douglas Tomb State Memorial22 US Cellular Field23 Lake Meadows Apartments24 Ellis Park25 King Drive Walk of Fame (Public Art)26 South Side Community Art Center27 Bronzeville

neighborhood cultural amenities

290 Chicago landmarks

93 local Black Metropolis

historic landmarks.

10 colleges.

23 elementary schools. SITE

FUTURE HIGH-DENSITY DEVELOPMENT

BLACK METROPOLIS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA


family

culture

community

Bronzeville

5 4

learning

faith

business

is...


METRA


98 acre large development • Although the OPL requires a much smaller parcel of

land, the Michael Reese site is large enough to host

a diverse developmental program that will spur vast

economic development.

Connection to McCormick under Highway 55• Creating a more pedestrian-friendly connection

between the site and McCormick Place will draw

visitors in to explore site assets.

Truck Marshalling yard and Metra Rail Line• Decking over the Metra and Truck Marshalling

yards will allow for vertical development and native

vegetation that has the potential to realize the same

Uranium and radium-contamination• Meeting site ecological performance goals will require

remediation to create a site that is indistinguishable

from nature. Remediation plans have been proposed

and cleanup is necessary for the future vision of the

Chicago Lakefront.

Singer Pavilion Adaptive Reuse• The Singer Pavilion is a building reuse opportunity

that can house multiple uses on site in the future.

Tourism training venues are potential programmatic

uses. A healthcare history museum, a Chicago

Public School and a Chicago Public library are other

potential reuse programs.

•

site conditions & opportunitiesThe Michael Reese site includes elements that may affect development but will ultimately act as key opportunities for

urban renewal:


infrastructure: transportation

red linegreen linemetra linebike routesbus routes

3 freeway access points.

3 rail lines.

5 bus routes.

2 major airports.

lakefront trails, sidewalks and

boat docks.


4

Reese Hospital site as a crucial high speed internet location.

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8

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1

9

11

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HIGH SPEED ZONES

1. Michael Reese Hospital Site 2. West Loop Area3. River North4. Bucktown/Wicker Park5. Ravenswood Industrial Corridor6. McCormick Place/Cermak7. Loyola University8. DePaul University

9. Illinois Medical District10. Loop Area11. IIT12. University of Illinois, Chicago13. Columbia College14. Chicago Roosevelt University15. University of Chicago/University of Chicago Medical Center

-

Individuals of all backgrounds around the world will

have access to this library without physically visiting

this site.

The Michael Reese site is adjacent to high-band-

a critical asset to companies that place a premium

on data speed. Even at the speed of light, distance

matters.

Chicago and the site are at the crossroads of the

(the Lakeside Technology Center at 350 E. Cermak)

is just a few blocks away from the Michael Reese

site.

New companies creating information technology

products and services, and seeking to be close to

large-scale server and bandwidth infrastructure,

Reese site has the potential to give them the edge

they need to succeed in the global economy.

Internet2 is an exceptional community of leaders in

research, academia, industry, and government who

create via innovative technologies. Internet2 seeks

through the Bronzeville Optics Network (BON) and

Illinois Century Network (ICN).

Internet2 is comprised of:

• 252 U.S. universities

• 82 leading corporations

• 41 regional and state education networks

• More than 65 national research and education

networking partners

The site’s close proximity to renowned research

universities, federal research labs, Chicago’s central

business district, and major tech companies will

create educational collaboration networks. K-12

schools, libraries and community colleges will be

able to collaborate with higher education partners

and participate in interactive video-conferencing

programs with the National Park Service, National

Archives, and the Library of Congress.

The OPL Terabit Plaza on the Michael Reese site

has the potential to touch everybody with a cell

phone and/or internet connection.

infrastructure: data

“even at the speed of light, distance

matters”


Calumet Core is a 220-square mile opportunity to transform a region in transition into a sustainable land use urban area

project site

The Michael Reese site is situated in the Millennium

Reserve boundary and will be designed to enhance

the ecological performance goals of the Reserve

project and the “America’s Great Outdoors” initiative

launched by President Obama. The Millennium

Reserve project is the largest collaborative of urban

open space in the country and the site will be a

great connector to the natural habitat on Northerly

The project team has partnered with the Biomimicry

Guild to help establish a “Genius of the Place”

for the Michael Reese site that will determine the

ecological performance indicators for the site.

This site size allows for a linkage of ecological

preservation to cultural preservation and will retain

Chicago’s “City in a Garden” reputation by bringing

natural coastal habitat into the site to act as a living

machine.

infrastructure: ecological


“Biomimicry is taking a design challenge and then emulating

an ecosystem that has already solved that challenge.”

nitrog

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cling

wat

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olle

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soil building

carbon sequestration

biodiversity

sola

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n an

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evap

o-tran

spira

tion

BRONZEVILLE

- Janine Benyus, Co-founder and President of the Biomimicry Guild

Project Partner

transp& acce

portationessibility


5min walk

Metra Station

Metra Electric District Line

Bus Route

Attraction

5min Walking Distance

In addition to the multiple means of

transportation that are available, the

urban renewal of the Michael Reese

site would also allow for ease of

accessibility within the development.

The site can use existing assets to

operate as a national example of a

Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

Highway 55, Highway 90, the Metra

routes, the McCormick bus-way and

lakefront bike trails currently serve

the site. Future considerations for a

centralized trolley system, Bus rapid

transit systems, a central bike valet and

shower station, and disability transport

assistance would further enhance

accessibility.

The site is not only close to downtown

Chicago assets, but it is also on the way

for tens of thousands of local travelers

going to South Suburbs. Existing transit

systems can deliver potential visitors

with minimal capital expenditures. This

connection would bolster neighborhood

identity and improve connections

between the neighborhood shopping

districts, future Cermak Green Line ‘L’

station, and McCormick Place.

on-site accessibility


Street Sidewalk

Park Paths

Pedestrian Plaza

T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RYT H ET H ET H EH EH EH ET H EH EH BBBB AB AB AB AB ABB AB AB AB AB AB R AR AR AR ARR AR AR A CR A CR AAR A CRR A K OKK OKK OOO B A MB A MB A MB A MB A MB A MB A MBB AB A A PAAA PA PAA PAA R E SR EE SE SE SE SSE SSSSSSSS I D EI D EI D EI D EI D EI DI DD EI DI DI DI D ED ED EEEEEE N T IN TN TN TN TN TN TN TTTTN A LL L I BL I BL I BI BBBL R AR AR AR A RR A RR A RR A RR A RA RR AR A RA RYYYYY6 8 T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY

40,000,000 annual visitors

to chicago.

over 400 theaters and art

galleries.

7,300 restaurants.

tourism statistics

projectxecution


project execution

Placing the Obama Presidential Library on the

Michael Reese site would catalyze development

in Bronzeville and the surrounding South Side

neighborhoods, acting as an anchor for public and

private investment. Estimated economic impact of

the OPL on the Michael Reese site would exceed

previous projections.

Current development trends for the area are positive

over the long-term, but the OPL would accelerate

growth and substantially improve its quality.

Summarized below are development projections

for the Bronzeville area if the OPL is built on the

Michael Reese site.

Michael Reese Site Projected Economic DevelopmentAnnually 20-year period

Residential 400 units 8,000 unitsRetail 37,500 SF 750,000 SF

25,000 SF 500,000 SFHotel Rooms 125 rooms 2,500 roomsOPL Factor 25%

economic impact

If the Michael Reese site is selected to host the

OPL, the President Obama Library and Museum

Campus Foundation would work with its existing

partners and core team members to formally

of the project. To purchase the site from the City

of Chicago we have launched an international

crowdfunding campaign to raise the necessary

capital. As a 501 (c)(3) organization, we have asked

the Chicago Community Trust to serve as our

with any university, we are open to exploring

to best serve the surrounding community and the

vision of the Barack Obama Foundation.

7 2

Further analysis shows that the OPL would draw

1.2 million tourists to the area due to its proximity

to nearby Chicago and Bronzeville cultural assets.

Nearly 15 million tourists visit McCormick Place,

Motor Row, China Town, IIT, and US Cellular Field

every year. Placing the OPL as close to these sites

as possible will draw visitors from these locations.

These visitors would spend $40 per capita (a

conservative estimate) mainly at local existing and

new businesses. This spending would encourage

prosperity without displacement and provide an

estimated 13,234 jobs for the nearby community.

The library would be directly responsible for 25% of

real estate development in the immediate area.

A number of other factors make the Michael Reese

site an ideal driver for Economic Impact:

• Locating OPL near National Heritage Tourism

sites. 78% of adult travelers are heritage

travelers that stay longer and spend more

money per visit.

• The size of the site allows for well-designed

natural green space like Millennium Park which

attracts 5 million visitors generates $78 million

in tax revenue, and supports $1.4 billion worth

of nearby residential developments.

outlined below.

Michael Reese Site Projected Economic DevelopmentEstimated Impact from Spending at New Development ($000’s)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 10 Year 20Spendingat New Retail $15,000 $15,375 $15,759 $16,153 $16,557 $18,733 $23,980at New Hotels 4,585 9,469 14,665 20,188 26,054 61,114 167,899OPL Oper. Budget 10,000 11,314 14,4831.2 M. Tourist @ $40 ea 33,600 36,000 38,400 43,200 48,000 54,308 69,518 Total Spending $53,185 $60,844 $68,825 $79,542 $100,612 $145,468 $275,880OPL Factor 25%Direct Spending $53,185 $60,844 $68,825 $79,542 $100,612 $145,468 $275,880Indirect Spending 17,551 20,079 22,712 26,249 33,202 48,005 91,040Induced Spending 22,870 26,163 29,595 34,203 43,263 62,551 118,628 Total Spend $93,606 $107,086 $121,131 $139,994 $177,076 $256,024 $485,548 Jobs 1,615 2,232 2,848 3,756 4,440 7,340 13,234 Tax Revenue $13,105 $14,992 $16,958 $19,599 $24,791 $35,843 $67,97725% Attr. to OPL Total Spend $23,402 $26,771 $30,283 $34,998 $44,269 $64,006 $121,387 Jobs 404 558 712 939 1,110 1,835 3,308 Tax Revenue $3,276 $3,748 $4,240 $4,900 $6,198 $8,961 $16,994


3 miles from downtown+$291M additional tourism dollars+5000 additional full-time jobs93 nearby designated landmarks in bronzeville

21% unemployment23% living in poverty$34K median income207 foreclosures per square mile

...harness south side potential , draw from downtown...

economic development

7 4

1.2M additional tourists$14M increase in tax revenue3,132 permanent jobs & 3,280 temporary jobs6,000 residential units2,500 hotel rooms750,000 square feet of retail

...&


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caat caldwell calmeca academy camelot safe academy cameron canter canty cardenas carnegie chicago ag chicago chtr collegiate chicago excel contr acad chicago high school for the arts chicago military academy chicago talent chicago vocational chopin chistopher avalon basil bucktown quest ellison irving park larry hawkins lloyd bond academy

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cleveland clinton clissold cmsa coleman coles collinsg p p yg p p y

academy columbia explorers columbus community links cook coonly cooper corkery corliss courtney crane crown csw career academy cuffe cullen curie curtis cvcs daley darwin davis daws de diego decatur deneen depriest dett dever devry dewey dirksen disney disney ii dixon dodge doolittle east dore douglass drake drummond dubois dulles dunbar dunne durkin park dusable dvorak dyett earhart earle eberhart ebinger edgebrook edison edison park edwardseecs ellington epic eric solorio ericson esmond

everett evergreen evers excel fairfield falconer faraday farnsworth farragut fenger fernwood field finkl fiske foreman fort dearborn foster park franklin frazier fuller fulton funston gage park galapagos gale galileo gallistel garvey garvy gary gillespie goethe goode goudy graham gray greeley green greene gregory greshem grimes/fleming grissom gunsaulus haines hale haley hamilton hamline hammond hampton hancock

hanson park harlan harper harte harvard haugan hawthorne hay hayt healy hearst hedges hefferan henderson hendricks henry hendry ford hearst hedges hefferan henderson hendricks henry hendry ford hernandez herzi hibbard higgins hinton hirsh hitch holden holmes hope hope institute howe hoyne hubbard hughes hurley hyde park infinity instituto acad instituto justice - rudy lozano inter-american intrinsic irving jackson jahn jamieson jefferson jenner jensen johnson jones joplin jordan juarez julian jungman kanoon keller kellman kellogg kelly kelvyn park kennedy kenwood kershaw kilmer king kinzie kipling kipp kipp-ascend kipp-bloom kozminski kwame nkrumah academy lake view lane tech langford lara lasalle lasalle ii lavizzo lawndale excel romano butler south chicago campbell

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noble street-crimson noble street-orange north river north-grand northside college prep northsidelearning center northwest middle norwood park ogden oglesby o’keeffe ombudsman onahan oriole park orozco orr academy ortiz de dominguez otis o’toole owen owens palmer parkmanor parker parkside pasteur pathways pathways-avondale payton college prep peace &education peck pecs peirce penn perez pershing east perspectives charter perspectives josliperspectives/iit peterson phillips phoenix military academy piccolo pickard pilsen pirie plamondon plato poe classical polaris portage park powell academy prescott prieto pritzker

prologue prologue-johnston prosser prussing pulaski pullman raby ravenswood ray reavis reilly reinberg revere richard t crane richardacademy rickover naval academy robeson robinson rogers roosevelt rudolph ruggles ruiz ryder sabin salazar sandoval saucedo sausawyer sayre scammon schmid school of leadership schubert schurseward shabazz sheridan sherman sherwood shields shoesmith ssimeon simpson sizemore skinner smith smyser smyth social justsolomon south loop south shore fine arts south shore international southsidspry stagg steinmetz stem magnet stevenson stock stone stowe sullivan sumner sutherland swift taft talcott talman tanner tarkin

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The central location and size of the Michael Reese

site allows for a development plan that creates a Local

Education Collaboration Zone. This zone would be an urban

laboratory and research institution for not just one, but

many higher education institutions, K-12 schools, and local

technology companies.

A Chicago Public School collaboration lab would be

located on-site. This urban learning lab can play host to

the groups mentioned above and give local K-12 students

an opportunity to pursue a career in Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Math (STEM).

educational impact

7 6

in n-

randolph ds career rowe

uganash rz senn shoop ice high de spencer

suder ngton taylor tilton tonti

ghue uofc-nko man uno-casas

-northside uno-zizumbo no-immaculate

urban prep-west acker wadsworth

shington high school ntworth west park young whittier

on world language a yccs-association a academy yccs-s-community service atino youth yccs-livan yccs-truman ide historic yccs-leadership young

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chicago metro5 major research institutions

12 colleges

65,000 Loop college students

649 K-12 Chicago Public Schools

400,545 CPS students P-12

regional7 big ten schools

bronzeville 121,793 people

4,682 high school students

7,616 elementary students

23 elementary schools

10 high schools


notebaert nature museum 277,410

chicago history museum 224,536

museum of contemporary art 232,637

art institute 232,637

shedd aquarium 2,169,333

adler planetarium 479,463

1,247,708

3,308 jobs for nearby residents

1,000,000 visitors/year+200,000 w/ downtown proximity

$1 billion annual revenue+$485 million w/ downtown proximity

museum of science and industry 1,456,985

dusable museum 102,603

27th St

McCormick

18th St

12th St/roos.

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL

LIBRARY 3-mile stretch of lakefront access

natural coastal habitat with 137 species of birds

103-acre burnham wildlife corridor

26-mile public lakeshore park system

26-mile boulevard network, started in 1869

18-mile lakefront trail

continuation of millennium reserve and

CULT

URAL

NECK

LACE

EXISTING M

ETRA

STATIO

NS

ECOLOGICAL

NECKLACE

tourismLocating the OPL near existing Chicago cultural sites,

Bronzeville Heritage attractions, and multiple alternative

transportation options will drive high levels of attendance to

not only the OPL, but to other undervalued assets nearby.

1,200,000 visitors“Where are we going to draw

tourists? That’s going to be a key factor that might favor,

for example... the Michael Reese site.”

- Tom Corfman, Political Editor, Crain’s Chicago Business


1

2

3

4

6

5

8

7

9

enhancements to the physical environment

1. Metra/Multi-modal Station

4. Obama Library

3. Vertical Farms & Market

9. Coastal Habitat & Bird Sanctuary

2. Bike Storage/Shower Facility

5. Urban Sustainability Center

7. Living Machine Promenade

6. Education Collaboration Zone

8. Tech Center

The Michael Reese site is currently a 98-acre blank canvas.

A site of this size and condition has the greatest opportunity

enhance the current environment. The proposed design

for the OPL includes everything from natural habitat to

vertical farms to technology and education collaboration

zones. Some of the proposed enhancements to the physical

environment can be seen below.

coenga

mmunityagement

T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RYT H ET H ET HT H ET H EHT HH EH B AB AB AAB AB AA R A CR A CR A CA CR A CR AR A CR A K OK OK OK O OK OK O B A MB A MB A MB A MA MB A MB A MA M A PA PA PA PA PA PPP R E SR E SR E SR E SR E SRR E S I D EI D EI D EI D ED ED E N T IN T IN T IN T IN T IN TNNNN A LA LA LA LA LA LA LAA LLAA L I BL I BL I BL I BL I BL I BL I BLL I BL IL I BB R A RR A RR A RR A RR A RR A RR A RR A RR A RR A RR AAAAA YYYYYYYYYY

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – RESPECT, TRUST, PURPOSE, SUCCESS

The most empowering community engagement

brings together numerous interests – civic and

business leaders, citizens and communities – in one

respect and trust. All work together with a common

purpose and vision for long-lasting success.

CORE PRINCIPLES Core principles shape and guide community

engagement:

• Inform

• Consult

• Involve

• Collaborate

• Empower

PILLARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – CRITERIA

Seven pillars anchor an effective community

engagement strategy:

Involvement – invite all stakeholders: people, groups

and organizations

• Support – develop approaches to overcome

barriers to involvement

• Planning – identify needs and available

resources for the scope of engagement

actionable steps and milestones

• Communication – create effective methods for

sharing, accessing, and listening in meaningful

ways

• Improvement – continue to improve

engagement through dialogue and process

evaluation; build upon best practices

• Feedback – provide meaningful ways to listen

to community ideas and concerns to continually

take the pulse of engagement

• Evaluation – establish criteria and methods

to continuously evaluate the engagement

program in both quantitative and qualitative

measurements

community engagement


OUTREACH TOOLKIT

Numerous tools for effective outreach at the local,

national and international level exist to build and

sustain engagement.

• Audit existing communication resources within

communities and among groups and business

organizations

• Jump-start best practices

•

• Establish quarterly public forums throughout

the community to update, engage, and capture

feedback

• Utilize Arts & Culture to engage community

• Participants express creativity

• Helps develop common vision

• Spurs more dialogue

• Live stream events for national and

international connectivity

• Workshops and Focus Groups

• Allows for small to medium-sized groups

to participate in one-day events to provide

direct input

• Technology

• Utilize an “open space” technology

approach where applicable to connect the

local community to the global community.

EVALUATION

Effective community engagement must include a

meaningful process for evaluation to:

• Help set objectives

• Monitor progress

• Measure achievements

• Identify lessons for improved best practices

COLLECTING DATA

Getting baseline ongoing data on the community

engagement process, through:

• Interviews and focus groups

• Questionnaires to groups following key

meetings and events

• Online surveys

Co-Chairs:Illinois State Senator Mattie HunterIllinois State Representative

Members:Carol L. Adams, PhDBarbara AllenTimuel Black, PhD

Michelle T. BooneMelissa Cherry Ronald ChildsMatthew CooperWarren ChapmanAlbert R. Grace Jr. James GrossmanZada Johnson, PhDRa JoyDarlene Clarke Hine, PhD

Lyn Hughes, PhDEileen R. Mackevich Terry Mazany Quintin E. Primo IIIPaula RobinsonJohn Rowe Ernest SawyerWilliam A Von Hoene, Jr.Laura S. WashingtonNikki Zollar

2016 Great Migration Centennial Commission

ations ofsupport


1368 N. Mohawk Chicago, IL 60610-4692

312-751-1693www.campdouglas.org

David L. Keller Managing Director June 13, 2014

H. The Barack Obama F on300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030 Chicago, Illinois 60601 Dear Mr. The Camp Douglas is developing a museum to be located on the site of the Civil War military camp, Camp Douglas. This facility is likely to be a part of a “museum campus” devoted to historic Bronzeville. In the F on is programs in the Bronzeville community and throughout Chicagoland to increase awareness of the history of the area during the Civil War. Over the past three years we have sponsored three archaeological on the Camp Douglas site. Camp Douglas, of 60 acres, located between 31st Street, 33rd Place, Co Grove and Giles Avenues, was the largest military facility in Chicago during the Civil War; training 40,000 Union soldiers and housing a total of 30,000 Confederate prisoners during its existence between 1861 and 1865. The of the Barack Obama Library on the former site of the Michael Reese Hospital would be an important and meaningful to the Bronzeville community adding to the historic of the community. Located is close proximity to the downtown area within easy for Chicagoans and visitors alike, we strongly support this as the museum’s home. Sincerely,

8 8

Center for Neighborhood Technology 2125 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 p: (773) 278-4800 www.cnt.org

June 16, 2014 Martin H. Nesbitt The Barack Obama Foundation 300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030 Chicago, IL 60601 Dear Mr. Nesbitt: The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on creating sustainable and equitable communities, is proud to have worked for many years with parties involved with the revitalization of the South Side of Chicago. Our efforts range from transit and active transportation initiatives, to historic preservation, energy and water conservation, and green infrastructure installations in neighborhoods throughout Chicagoland and across the country. We are pleased to submit this letter of support for the development of the South Lakefront Michael Reese Hospital site as the Global Chicago anchor for an Obama Library and Museum Campus, including the people-intensive Museum venue, designed as an Online Library Platform with other universities/libraries and heritage/conservation places in the City of Chicago and around the world. CNT has pioneered tools for transit-oriented development and provided consumers and planners tools for decision-making. Our Housing and Transportation (H+T ) Affordability Index, for example, demonstrates how the combined costs of housing and transportation impact the true affordability of place. We also recently launched Transit Future (www.transitfuture.org), a campaign to create a new investment stream for improved and expanded public transit in Cook County. Transit Future is supported by community, business and public organizations, and led by Jacky Grimshaw, CNT’s Vice President for Policy, who also serves on the board of directors of President Obama Library and Museum Campus Foundation. All of our work aims to provide the imagination, information, and innovation to create more efficient, equitable, and livable urban communities. In this spirit, we look forward to working with the Presidential Library Foundation to create a destination that represents the best of Chicago for our fellow Americans and for visitors from countries all over the world. Sincerely yours,

Kathryn Tholin CEO Cc: Obama Presidential Library and Museum Campus Foundation


PO BOX 6276 CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60680-6276 10406 SOUTH MARYLAND AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60628 ▪ 773-850-8580

WWW.AprPullmanPorterMuseum.org

June 14, 2014 Martin H. Nesbitt The Barack Obama Foundation 300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030 Chicago, Illinois 60601 Dear Mr. Nesbitt, By way of introduction I am Dr. Lyn Hughes founder of the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, located the Historic Pullman district, and I am also the founder of the Center for Black Labor Research Culture and Education. I write this letter to demonstrate and inform the committee of my support of the RFQ being submitted by the President Obama Library & Museum Campus Foundation for the proposed site to be located at the former Michael Reese Hospital location. While I applaud all of the groups submitting an RFQ for this magnificent project, I am somewhat saddened that there are multiple submittals all being submitted by people who have worked together in the past and in most we cases continue to do so. Just think of what a tremendous submission it could have been if all of them worked on a singular proposal. There are numerous academic institutions that are a part of the various teams, but it is my opinion—this kind of Cultural Economic Development project presents an unprecedented opportunity for a collective of a much more unique opportunity. More important, it could serve as a model for the nation. While the composition of the foundation itself is not officially an academic institution, the participants, partners, board members, advisors etc. include people like me. Many of us hold advanced degrees and have participated in scholarly research projects for decades. Our concept is that the Obama Campus would work with Multiple Universities. My own research has been focused on Black labor History and Cultural Economic Development. In fact, the title of my doctoral dissertation was: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF CULTURAL POLICY ON CULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. CED is a relatively new phenomenon with limitless potential, and in this case could not only become an economic engine based upon both the national and international tourism attraction, the umbrella for CED—but it also has the potential to have a major economic and cultural impact upon segments of the community that are often left out in the disbursement of the meaningful resources.

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PO BOX 6276 CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60680-6276 10406 SOUTH MARYLAND AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60628 ▪ 773-850-8580

WWW.AprPullmanPorterMuseum.org

In addition to our own respective efforts with our own respective organizations and institution, many of us have spent countless volunteer hours, supporting the effort to obtain National Heritage Area designation anchored in the Bronzeville community. That initiative has spawned multiple efforts like the Great Migration Centennial, which includes a collaborative project, between the Bronzeville Convention and Tourism Council and the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. The tour itself has developed into an international tourist attraction. In the past month alone, the tour has brought visitors to the south side of Chicago from England and the Netherlands. This is just example of the kind of activity this initiative, the Obama Presidential Library & Museum Campus could /make for Chicago, but specifically for the urban community in general. It is my sincere hope that you give thorough and favorable consideration to their RFQ. Sincerely,

Lyn Hughes, Founder President Emeritus A Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum CC: Paula Robinson, President Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission

T H E B A R A C K O B A M A P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY9 2

Bronzeville Qualifications for the Obama Presidential Library

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