Mediaboss Marketing

Dozens of residents were shut out of a community meeting Tuesday to discuss plans for the Obama Presidential Center, an expanded golf course and the rest of Jackson Park.

The meeting, at La Rabida Childrens Hospital, was combined with a regularly scheduled 5th Ward meeting where residents in the 5th and 7th wards hoped to discuss a controversial rezoning of the 71st Street corridor. It was the third in a series of community conversations about the future of Jackson Park.

Ald. Leslie Hairston, 5th, told a crowd gathered outside, many of whom arrived 15 minutes before the meeting was scheduled to start, that the room had reached its capacity of 75 participants.

"I am impressed with his turnout tonight. Its a Tuesday night, said Jamie Clare Flaherty, director of strategic initiatives for the Obama Foundation. In the early days there is a real opportunity for input. This is our mission in action. People literally beating down the door to get in. Thats awesome.

But Anne Holcomb, who left her job at a homeless shelter early to attend the meeting, did not have a chance to share her views. She and dozens of neighbors blocked the main entrance to La Rabida, even after Hairston assured them that more community meetings would be scheduled.

Referring to the Obama center to the north and the U.S. Steel property to the south, Holcomb said, South Shore is the meat in the redevelopment sandwich. She had hoped to address Hairstons proposal to convert a mile-long corridor of 71st Street from commercial to residential zoning. Instead, she lingered on the sidewalk with other residents.

Im very concerned about our lack of say as community members, Holcomb said.

mbrachear@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @TribSeeker

See the article here:
Community meeting on Obama center, Jackson Park has to turn away residents - Chicago Tribune