Reilly: Kids museum would grow after OK
GRANT PARK DEBATE | Museum chief insists, 'Those are the plans we intend to build'
The Chicago Children's Museum has presented five revisions of its proposed facility in Grant Park, but opponent Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) doesn't buy that the latest one is the final one.
At a debate Tuesday, Reilly warned that post-vote changes could be made to the plan if it clears the City Council, citing the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.
(Jean Lachat/Sun-Times)
Calling it "common practice,'' Reilly said that, "after the fact, the developer comes back and says we have some additional adjustments we'd like you to approve,'' Reilly told the Union League Club.
The city's planning commissioner, appointed by Mayor Daley, "has the authority to make these changes by his own fiat,'' Reilly said.
As for the Children's Museum, "I'm not suggesting that this would look completely different," Reilly said. "But, when it comes to this notion of submerging certain structures underground, we could see those grow slowly over time. Our experience with the Harris Theater is that the actual built structure is significantly larger than what the City Council approved.''
Museum president Jennifer Farrington answered Reilly that, under ordinance, "The plans cannot be materially changed. We have presented plans to the plan commission because those are the plans we intend to build.''
Reilly likened the current plan to putting "kids in an underground parking lot.
"This plan doesn't appear to be focusing on the best interests of children. It seems more focused on satisfying a museum board that wants its own piece of Grant Park come hell or high water,'' said Reilly.
But Farrington cited the central location of Grant Park, public transportation and covered parking lots.
"Many people have been concerned that we are burying the children," she said. "This proposal actually provides more natural light than our current Navy Pier location."
The Chicago Plan Commission is set to consider the museum's proposal to build a $100 million facility on May 15.
