>>> WHEN JACKSON PARK WAS ELECTED TO HOUSE THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IN 2016, LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND THE NEIGHBORING SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY FEARED IT WOULD GET PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THOSE RESIDENTS IS BACK IN THE CITY HALL SPOTLIGHT WITH A NEW PROPOSAL FROM TWO OLDER PEOPLE THAT WOULD EXPAND PROTECTIONS FOR NEIGHBORS.

OUR WTTW NEWS REPORTER JOINS US WITH MORE.

TELL US ABOUT THE PROPOSAL FROM THE OLDER PEOPLE.

>> IT IS A TWO PRONGED APPROACH TO A RED HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET AROUND THE SOON TO BE OPEN PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

IT IS DESIGNED TO HELP LONGTIME RESIDENTS WHO OWN HOMES OR CONDOS STAY IN THEIR HOMES WITH GRANTS FOR RENOVATION PROJECTS AND HELP PAYING DOWN PROPERTY TAX DEBT AND IS DESIGNED TO VASTLY EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEAR THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AND ESPECIALLY ON THE BIGGEST CITY-OWNED VACANT LOT IN WOODLAWN AT 63rd NEAR THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

THAT WOULD COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND WHETHER IT CAN MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF COURSE IS THE OPEN QUESTION.

>> WE KNOW THIS FIGHT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK WHEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA CHOSE JACKSON PARK FOR HIS PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AND LIBRARY.

HOW DID THIS GET STARTED?

>> THAT ANNOUNCEMENT TRIGGERED THE COALITION DESIGNED TO PRESSURE THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S FOUNDATION TO ENTER WHAT IS CALLED A COMMUNITY FEED BENEFITS AGREEMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE FOUNDATION TO PUT THIS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE LONGTIME RESIDENTS WERE NOT PUSHED OUT.

THE FOUNDATION RESISTED THAT SAYING ALTHOUGH PROVISIONS ARE CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE PARK DISTRICT.

THAT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO WORRY THAT THE CENTER, WHILE PERHAPS CATALYTIC FOR THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO, COULD COME AT THE EXPENSE OF LONGTIME BLACK RESIDENTS.

>> AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS IN CONSTRUCTION ON THE CENTER, IT HAS PASSED THE HALFWAY MARK AS OF THE SUMMER AND WILL OPEN IN 2025.

ARE WE ALREADY SEEN CHANGES IN WOODLAWN?

>> WE ARE.

AN AGREEMENT UNDER FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT PUT SOME OF THESE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR WOODLAWN AND RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE WORKING AND THE JUDGE A VACATION HAS SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE AGREEMENT AND NOW THE TWO ALTAR PEOPLE WANT THE SAME PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR THE SOUTH SHORE.

THE QUESTION IS, IF SOUTH SHORE IS ALREADY A GROUND ZERO FOR THE CHICAGO HOUSING CRISIS IN THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, IS IT TOO LATE AND WILL THAT BE ENOUGH?

>> ORIGINAL PLANS FOR THE CENTER INCLUDED PLANS TO COMBINE THE 18 HOLE JACKSON PARK AND NINE HOLE SOUTH SHORE GOLF COURSE INTO A PGA TOUR CALIBER HORSE.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

>> IT FELL OFF THE RADAR AMID DELAYS CAUSED BY FEDERAL REVIEW AND THEN THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH MOVEMENT ON THE PLANS FOR THE GOLF COURSE AND A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OBAMA FOUNDATION TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY ARE JUST FOCUSED ON GETTING THE CENTER