Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago with star-studded ceremony amid gentrification debate

Chicago’s Obama Presidential Center held its grand opening today ahead of public access tomorrow, with former presidents Clinton, Bush and Biden in attendance and a lineup of performers including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Christina Aguilera. The $850 million campus includes a museum, a new Chicago Public Library branch, an NBA‑size basketball court and gardens. The opening comes after more than a decade of planning and controversy, including lawsuits and debates over its impact on the South Side and Jackson Park, as well as pandemic and supply‑chain delays. The center is billed as a community‑oriented, inclusive cultural and democratic space featuring site‑specific art and architecture, though critics cite concerns about gentrification.