Overview

• Community groups have pressed city officials to reject a proposed 250-room luxury hotel linked to the project, with approval still under review and demonstrations continuing.
• The Obama Foundation says the privately funded campus in Jackson Park remains on track to open in April 2026.
• Costs have surged far beyond early estimates, with reporting placing the price between roughly $830 million and close to $1 billion.
• Activists note that a binding Community Benefits Agreement was never adopted, though a 2020 deal requires 30% of new units on city-owned land to be affordable.
• A $40.75 million lawsuit by a minority contractor against the project’s structural engineer has spotlighted procurement disputes, as political criticism of the project persists.