Status Update: Children's Memorial Hospital

Yet another status update on the new Children's Memorial Hospital (225 East Chicago Avenue),  The facade is coming along, and is even completely in place on some sides.  The vertical stripes you see in the picture are repeated at the top of the building where they conceal mechanical equipment.

Slice of Life: When Cranes Snuggle

A pair of cranes working on the new Children's Memorial Hospital (225 East Chicago Avenue) take a snuggle break in the middle of the day.  Awwwwww.

Chicago Children's Museum Move to Grant Park Not Dead Yet

There was an interesting note at a public meeting of the Grant Park Conservancy a couple of days ago.  Bob O'Neill, the head of the organization, said that the plan for moving the Chicago Children's Museum from Navy Pier (600 East Grand Avenue) to Daley Bicentennial Plaza (337 East Randolph Street) is far from dead.

Richard M. Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park

The most recent newspaper articles on the topic have made it sound like the plan was off, or at least on permanent hold.  But O'Neill says the meetings he's been to show that the plan is full stream ahead, that Jean ("Gigi") Pritzker remains committed to raising private money for the project, and that in spite of the recession, the plan is moving forward.

There were a number of opponents of the project in the audience when he made the remarks.  It will be interesting to see if there is an organized response, and what form it will take.

Save Grant Park Update

I received this e-mail today from Save Grant Park.  I'm passing it along for those who are interested.

Dear Supporters,

As many of you know, there are currently two lawsuits in progress that were filed

in response to the Chicago Children's Museum's plans to build their new museum in

protected Grant Park.

The first lawsuit, and Administrative Review calls for a review of the Chicago Plan

Commission's decision and the entire process of the Museum's application to the

Plan Commission.

A hearing for this first lawsuit will be Tuesday, March 31st with Judge Martin Agran.

If Judge Agran rules in our favor, the Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) must go back

to the drawing board and resubmit new plans to the Chicago Plan Commission.  We

anticipate they would appeal this decision.  If the judge does not rule in our favor

we will have 30 days to appeal.

The second lawsuit, a Denovo Review, asks the court to take a fresh look at the

entire process of the Musuem's application including the Plan Commission, Zoning

Committee and the City Council.

A hearing on this second lawsuit will be Thursday, April 9th with Judge Sophia Hall.

If Judge Hall rules in our favor, the CCM will have to repeat the entire process

over again:  Plan Commission, Zoning Committee and City Council.  Any appeal must

be made within 30 days.

We will send out updates after each hearing detailing the decisions.

The Chicago Park District and the Chicago Children's Museum thought the citizens

of Chicago wouldn't notice their plot to takeover public green space for private

interests.  They were wrong.  Indeed, they thought they would have construction

well underway by now.  They did not understand how hard Chicagoans would fight to

preserve it's most important public green space.  We will continue to file appropriate

lawsuits based on the Montgomery Ward decisions that have protected Grant Park for

more than 172 years.  Save Grant Park has led this community effort for more than

three years now, and we are in it for as long as it takes.  Thank you for all your

support.  We know you will stay with us to Save Grant Park.

Please support Save Grant Park by donating online at www.savegrantpark.org

or by mailing your check made out to "Save Grant Park" directly to our bank:

5th/3rd Bank

400 E. South Water Street

Chicago, IL 60601

Attn:  Save Grant Park

Regards,

Peggy Figiel

Save Grant Park

P.S.  Every dollar makes a difference!