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* UPDATED x1 - Or not * Lucas museum deal could be in the works

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Faced with a revolt on its board and a deal with the city to add hundreds of acres of new park spaces, leaders of Friends of the Parks are offering to drop the civic group’s opposition to locating the proposed Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the lakefront.

The action could keep the $700 million prize here and not in San Francisco or Los Angeles, where museum patron George Lucas has threatened to move it. But the facility still could face obstacles.

Friends is expected to address the situation today, but I’m told there was a contentious meeting two days ago when the group’s attorney, Thomas Geoghegan, warned that the group could lose its case in court, and its board voted 12-4 to seek a negotiated settlement.

According to a source with first-hand knowledge, though group Executive Director Juanita Irizarry and Chair Lauren Moltz felt otherwise, a majority of the board is interested in negotiating a deal in which it drops its court case, which so far has blocked the museum, if the Emanuel administration agrees to provide more park space elsewhere. If the group loses the city’s request for an order of mandamus in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, it would lose its leverage to achieve even that.

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE *** Tribune…

“Contrary to recent reports, our board remains fully united on the preservation of our lakefront and ensuring that the public trust doctrine is not ignored,” Friends of the Parks Board President Lauren Moltz and Executive Director Juanita Irizarry said in a statement. “We do believe that the Lucas Museum has a place in Chicago for all to enjoy, but not at the expense of one of our most precious public resources. We have always said we were open to discussions. Anything else you hear is rumor and speculation. We are not dropping the lawsuit.” […]

“We’re absolutely continuing our lawsuit, and we have no plans to drop it,” said Tom Geoghegan, the group’s lawyer. “We think we have a good case.”

Geoghegan also said the group remains opposed to the city’s alternate plans to build the museum on the site of the McCormick Place East convention center.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:27 am

Comments

Good News! We can use the jobs and tourism money.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:31 am
It’s not impacting a particularly valuable resource, and the prospect of gaining other park land in the city makes it a win-win, if the rest of the obstacles can be overcome.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:35 am
Looks like Darth Rahm got to the Ricky Simon and Oscar D’Angelo types on the board. The goo-goos should have known better than to count on those playas when the meat-was-a-cookin’.

Darth Rahm on the goo-goos: “They are traitors and part of the rebel alliance — take them away.”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:37 am
This strikes me as the easy part.

And it strikes me as the last hope for taxpayers to not be swindled out of billions.

Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:38 am
I was hoping it would go to court to see Rahm lose yet another court case. He doesn’t do a good job winning. Since this may happen, can we ask other billionaires if they’d like something erected on the lakefront?

Comment by Jose Abreu's next homer Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:46 am
I would love to have the Lucas Museum in Chicago. It would be a great addition for tourism and prestige, along with the Obama Library. I hope they work out a deal to bring the museum here.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:48 am
Anyone know if the museum is non-profit or a business?

Chicago doesn’t seem a good match for this. If it’s a really good attraction, I’d think you’d want it near theme parks with a year long tourist demand. If it’s not that good, it won’t become a “destination” attraction and just be an expensive nuisance like Obama’s library on the South Side.

Comment by Illinois Bob Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:52 am
about freakin’ time adults took over something somewhere

Comment by DPGumby Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:52 am
Terrible.

You know who wouldn’t lose in court? FOTP in its action against whatever board member breached his/her fiduciary duty to the organization by sharing legal advice and strategy about a pending action in a way that undermines the organization’s negotiating position.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 9:59 am
Agree with DPGumby.
I get it, a lot of people mad at Rahm. But this is good for Chicago, good for Illinois. And no it doesn’t need to be near theme parks, it’s not a Star Wars museum, it’s the Museum of Narrative Art. There’s everything from movie stuff to Norman Rockwell paintings.

Comment by m Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:05 am
May be too late…

Comment by Ok Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:05 am
== But this is good for Chicago, good for Illinois==

False.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:12 am
Now that we got the Lucas Museum, maybe we can get a lakefront Walmart.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:14 am
Looks like Friends of the Parking Lot can go back to calling themselves Friends of the Parks. This is a win-win — more jobs, more for kids, more park space.

Comment by Pete Giangreco Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:14 am
===There’s everything from movie stuff to Norman Rockwell paintings. ===

So lakefront worthy. Sheesh.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:19 am
boon·dog·gle n. work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:19 am
@Illinois Bob:

It’s a museum. No it doesn’t belong at a theme park. It could be an asset to the existing museums on the lakefront and bring more people to Chicago and/or cause them to extend stays. Chicago draws tourists and conventions year-round. It’s an awesome city no matter how much some conservative Downstaters may hate the Democrats who live there and come to Springfield from there.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:25 am
Thanks Pete, but I don’t think Evanston taxpayers are going to be on the hook for this. Also, please stop using the “more for kids” line. This isn’t about serving kids, it’s hardly an educational “museum” and it will be charging “kids” a hefty admission fee.

This isn’t about “the kids.” It’s about George Lucas’ ego and a heck of a lot of public money.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:28 am
This is very sad news. There’s enough junk on the lakefront (McCormick Place, the UFO that used to be Soldier Field) already.

Comment by JoanP Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:29 am
Not trying to denigrate a $700m gift down to nothing, but the Griffith Observatory this ain’t.

Comment by CD Sorensen Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:33 am
I love the “threat” of moving it to San Francisco, which was his first choice all along and didn’t want it.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:34 am
There was an article on Crain’s website discussing the falloff in membership and donors to FOTP. Think some of the heavies thought best not to rile Rahm on this one.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:34 am
I still hate it for two reasons: 1, we are giving our shared lakefront space to a rich person for a vanity project, setting precedent for rich people to continue claiming lakefront space; and 2, like so many other similar deals, this will soak the city for hundreds of millions beyond any revenue it might generate. The city never has money for anything until it finds tens or hundreds of millions for things like this, the DePaul arena, etc. Rahm can put together a billion dollar deal to finance this “museum” but he can’t figure out how to pay teachers or fix up a few schools?

Comment by waste Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:36 am
I am also sad to see this. It should be located elsewhere.

Comment by Emily Booth Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:41 am
Locate the R2D2 trinket store on the old Michael Reese campus.

It will be easy for folks to get to the minimum wage jobs, with no bene’s there, and free up the Lakefront.

Comment by John Reynolds Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:47 am
Very excited to see it. Along with the coming Obama library even more cultural options for Chicagos booming tourism industry.

Comment by Very fed up Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:54 am
The heck with it. Chicago’s got a big pension and debt crisis. The schools are on the verge of closing.
Let’s just sell off all the lakefront land! Development bonanza!!!! We can sell off Grant and Lincoln Parks, too!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Comment by jerry 101 Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 10:58 am
Would the city of chicago have to pay any money towards this? Because that would be the ultimate slap in the face when schools are crumbling and closing and we’re borrowing $ to pay for basic services yet can find the money for a lakeside eyesore.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 11:00 am
If it is hard space replacing hard space (and not grass or greenspace) I’m all for it. It is a cool cultural museum idea. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame isn’t for everyone, but it sure is popular to a lot of people. It’s another museum with a very large following.

Comment by A guy Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 11:13 am
I hate to break it to everyone, just about every cultural institution is a vanity project for rich people. Go take at the look at the founders and board members of every museum, opera house, and library. You could say the exact same about most hospitals. Let’s start tearing down everything built by the wealthy and see what’s left.

Comment by m Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 11:16 am
I’m sad to see this too. But it’s hardly surprising in an era of galloping income inequality. Mega private wealth has huge influence in decisions made at all levels of US government. And despite our pretensions as an egalitarian democracy, we live in a plutocracy in so many ways. Kudos to FOP for at least trying to go against the tide.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 11:35 am
Friends of the Parks now denying reports that their position on the Lucas Museum has changed:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-lucas-museum-lakefront-developments-met-20160610-story.html

Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 12:03 pm
- m - @11:16

Okay, it’s not about tearing down something the “wealthy” built, its that in this case, this is a hospital/opera house/stadium/library that’s only half-funded by the “giver” and yet the way they have sold this is as if this should be a no brainer.

If the Lucas-Hobson family wanted to give something away, they should really only be giving from what they own.

Comment by CD Sorensen Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 12:11 pm
I’m actually excited about this! Darth Vader’s new TRONC Tower will be soooo cool!

Comment by Now What? Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 12:12 pm
Anyone ever try driving 55 eastbound within a few miles of Lake Shore Drive when there’s a Bears game? Ever try exiting onto the Drive to get someplace else when there’s a Bears game? And these people want to plop yet another museum down right in the Soldier Field parking lot? Has anyone - anyone? - analyzed what would happen to traffic with another museum there? Now add a big trade show at McCormick Place and throw in a lakefront fundraising 5K. Whatever the merits of this particular museum, it does not belong there.

Comment by MasterPiece Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 12:20 pm
Does the Sun Times print whatever the Emanuel administration tells it to? I would be embarrassed to be the reporter used so badly.

Comment by Longsummer Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 12:23 pm
To the update: It did seem surprising to me that FOTP would give in now; they’re not losing the cause and have Lucas looking elsewhere.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 12:31 pm
** not at the expense of one of our most precious public resources. **

Yea - those lakefront parking lots sure are precious.

Comment by AlabamaShake Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 12:47 pm
“You could say the exact same about most hospitals.”

Yes, of course — a millionaire’s prop collection is like a hospital.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 1:16 pm
“Yea - those lakefront parking lots sure are precious.”

Why do the people who use the “it’s only about a parking lot” argument fail to realize that the museum that would go there, would itself, most likely require a parking lot. Which would take up park land…

Comment by steward Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 1:37 pm
foolish/shortsighted Friends of the Park/Enemies of the area economy.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 1:55 pm
==Let’s just sell off all the lakefront land! Development bonanza!!!! We can sell off Grant and Lincoln Parks, too!!!===

I know this is snark but our lakefront should be “free and clear” no development. Other sections of the city definitely need a relaxed zoning code.

Also residents should not loose the lakefront due to political incompetence over pensions. + there is so much waste and mismanagement in chicago to cut be the lakefront should be used for revenue generation.

Comment by atsuishin Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 2:43 pm
“Does the Sun Times print whatever the Emanuel administration tells it to?”

Sometimes, it seems so. Too many Sun-Times articles and op-eds refer to the FTOP as an “elitist” and “unaccountable” organization. Could the same be said of Montgomery Ward who funded litigation to clear the lakefront for public parks and won?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 10, 16 @ 2:53 pm