Local News

City Plan Commission Holds Hearing On Museum Plans

Hundreds Arrive To Voice Opinions On Plan To Move Children's Museum To Grant Park

CHICAGO (CBS) ― An overflow crowd joined the debate over a controversial plan to move the Chicago Children's Museum to Grant Park.

CBS 2's Mike Parker reports the Chicago Plan Commission is considering the idea at an emotional meeting at City Hall that could go on well into Thursday night.

Mayor Richard M. Daley and his supporters want to turn an area on the north end of Grant Park into a new children's museum. If it's approved, the museum will be built mostly beneath the surface, with only the entrance protruding into the park area. But the area is one protected by law as being one forever open, clear and free.

Hundreds of supporters and opponents queued up outside the city Plan Commission meeting that will decide the issue.

"I actually think we're actually enhancing Grant Park, activating the park and opening it up to the public," said plan supporter Jenna Beletic.

But plan opponent Mark Heller said, "I feel that the public process in this issue has been poorly managed… by the city representatives and the museum involved in it. I'm not an elected official or a politician; I am simply a resident of Chicago and I believe that the city and the museum have an opportunity to do better."

During what promises to be a long hearing, the alderman who represents the area was not optimistic of his chances of stopping the plan. He agrees with those who say the Commission is a Daley rubber stamp.

"With the Plan Commission I think probably that's a safe bet, given that the Plan Commission was appointed by the administration, I think that's probably something we can expect," Ald. Brendan Reilly said. "I'm hoping these commissioners can bring objectivity to the hearing today."

If Ald. Reilly loses, and he thinks that's possible, he still has options, he says. The full City Council has to approve the deal, and he may have a shot there. Failing that, there's always the possibility of a lawsuit – or, perhaps, several lawsuits.

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