Petition supporters,

I am pleased to announce that the Department of Buildings issued a Demolition Permit for the unsanctioned building erected in the park next to the museum.

Permit 101041972, issued 02/14/2024 reads:

WRECK AND REMOVE A PARTIALLY BUILT BLOCK BUILDING (ERECTED WITHOUT A PERMIT) FOUNDATIONS AND FOOTINGS TO REMAIN

Re-read those final five words. If you imagined someone's fingernails scratching a chalkboard just now, join the club.

This is a terrible decision to allow the foundations and footings to remain, as the landscape and elevations are landmarked and the illegal structure was placed on protected public lands. ALL BUILDING MATERIALS NEED TO BE REMOVED.

Allowing any vestige of this ill-conceived structure to remain sets the stage, literally, for a permanent above-grade performance platform to be built. This would fulfill the museum director's vision, as explained in official documents he submitted to the State of IL, to convert parkland to establish "an outdoor entertainment stage."

Currently, the 4000-square foot interior is covered in gravel. Added to the already poured slab shown above, it would add up to about 5000 square feet of land purloined from the public.

Park District! What are you thinking? This is not allowable behavior by your tenant as stated in the lease. Allowing a huge slab of concrete to be constructed SETS A BAD PRECEDENT. It is, in effect, rewarding the illegal actions of a bad actor. IT ALSO VIOLATES THE PUBLIC TRUST. 

The City of Chicago lawsuit against the Park District and the NMPRAC continues (Civil Dept Case #20231400978).

One way or another I remain hopeful that the resolution to this debacle will be that public lands are fully restored, including the replanting of trees that were removed without permission.

The only just solution is that an earthen landscape and beautiful view is returned to the public.

Only then will a precedent of propriety, preservation, and public trust be upheld.