Children's Museum: Planning Council opposes it; Museum releases new drawings, announces support from educators

"Monday is not turning out to be a good day for supporters of the Chicago Children's Museum's controversial move to Grant Park."

1. "Once the museum people had retreated, the opponents, from the Save Grant Park organization, took over the podium, microphone and speakers, and made statements against the museum's plan to build a mostly-underground facility in Grant Park."

2. "This afternoon, the Metropolitan Planning Council, a respected non-profit group based in Chicago , added its voice to the chorus of opposition to the proposal."

Children's Museum: Planning Council opposes it; Museum releases new drawings, announces support from educators

From the Uptown Update --

Uptown Update: No Surprise: "Ald. Shiller Was Unavailable For Comment"

Lynn Becker's comments about yesterday, the day Blair Kamin said was "not turning out to be a good day for supporters of the Chicago Children's Museum's controversial move to Grant Park."

ArchitectureChicago PLUS

"On Monday, the museum trotted out another manufactured committee, this time of educators, in support of their proposals. It appears that Board of Education employees were given paid time off to appear at the press conference."

"In contrast to the ad hoc astroturf groups that will disappear the moment the Children's Museum issue is resolved, the list of the real, standing organizations opposing the Museum - those with ongoing memberships, boards, and long, distinguished histories - grew again on Monday, adding the voice of the Metropolitan Planning Council..."

ArchitectureChicago PLUS

From Ward 42 Weekly Updates --

Recent Press Coverage on the Chicago Children's Museum's Attempt to Move to Grant Park

Museum clears 1st hurdle on move into Grant Park
Chicago Tribune - May 16, 2008
"The [Chicago Plan Commission], handpicked by museum backer Mayor Richard Daley, voted 13-2 to recommend approval of the [Chicago Children's Museum's] plan to the City Council... Opponents said they expected the commission to approve the plan, given the politics of the situation, and vowed to lobby aldermen to defeat it-or in court if necessary."
Click here to read the full article

Commission votes 13-2 for Children's Museum
Chicago Sun-Times - May 16, 2008
"Thursday's hearing laid the groundwork for a threatened court challenge. It gave residents of high-rises surrounding the Daley Bicentennial Plaza site near Millennium Park a chance to make their case that, despite five redesigns, the project still violates 172 years of legal protections and four Supreme Court decisions that have kept Grant Park "forever open, clear and free" as Montgomery Ward sought."
Click here to read the full article

Foregone conclusion
Chicago Sun-Times - May 16, 2008
"Is it not painful to see the careful arguments, the neat little maps, the earnest, overflowing public hearings? The well-written, thoughtful editorials such as the one that ran in the Sun-Times on Tuesday, explaining exactly why putting a Children's Museum in Grant Park is a bad idea."
Click here to read the full article

From the Chicago Reader --

Chicago Reader Blogs: Clout City

Alderman "Allen took a survey, asking his listeners whether they supported putting the Children's Museum in Grant Park.

"The audience erupted with a chorus of nos, firing off a barrage of questions and comments: Why put it there? How much stuff are they going to cram in that park? They should put it somewhere that really needs it.

"This meeting was being held in the basement of a church near Cicero and Addison, mind you. So Mayor Daley can't accuse these people of being high-rise dwellers who want to keep black children out of their neighborhood.

"When Mayor Daley gets mad at me, will you stick up for me?" asked Allen, strongly suggesting that he planned to vote against the museum.

"Will you stick up for us?" one resident responded.

"Ah, Chicago, city of deals."

Chicago Reader Blogs: Clout City

from the Chicago Journal..

http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.a...tionID=155&S=1

http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.a...tionID=168&S=1

__________________
Parkshore Gal
SAVEGRANTPARK.ORG

"Chicago Children's Museum. Waguespack opposes moving the museum to Millennium Park from Navy Pier. He feels that green space needs to be preserved."

http://news.eastvillagechicago.org/2...on-record.html

"The site of the new Chicago Children's Museum has been one of the most heated debates of the year. Joining us to talk about the controversy are 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly and Museum President and CEO Jennifer Farrington."

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