The Obama Library is an Atrocity
The fact that the recently opened Obama Presidential Center is an aesthetic disaster comes as no surprise. The initial architectural concept drawings and models foretold that grim outcome.
Of course, the fact that the Obama team will hail it as “cutting edge,” “bold,” “futuristic,” “marvelous,” and “a great contribution to the community” does not change the reality that its monumental monolithic style is simply … ugly. Critics have aptly dubbed the 225-foot museum tower the “Obamalisk” — a brooding, blocky boulder dropped unceremoniously into a historic park. It evokes neither inspiration nor elegance, but rather the heavy hand of self-importance.
It is not merely a library. It is an ambitious architectural site sprawling across 19.3 acres in Chicago’s Jackson Park. In fact, the so-called “library” includes a branch of the Chicago Public Library system on the campus.
It is much more than a library or even a museum. The 19.3-acre site of maze-like paths includes a full-size regulation NBA basketball court emblazoned with Obama campaign slogans, a gymnasium, conference facilities, a women’s garden, a vegetable garden with green-roof raised beds, a playground, a sledding hill, wetlands walk, barbecue grills, and extensive green spaces. All of this sits on land carved in the heart Frederick Law Olmsted’s historic design.
While Chicago is an appropriate location for an Obama institution, given his deep ties to the city, the site has been subject to controversy from the overturning of the first shovel of dirt. Plans to place the center in Jackson Park ignited lawsuits from preservationists concerned about the destruction of Olmsted-designed parkland. The project appropriated roughly 19 to 20 acres of valuable public green space, with additional impacts on surrounding roads and areas. Opponents argued it would ironically accelerate White gentrification — displacing longtime Black residents, particularly in the Woodlawn and South Shore neighborhoods. Delays stretched for years amid legal battles, yet the project pushed forward on public parkland leased from the Chicago taxpayers for a nominal $10.
Not all controversies were aesthetic. The construction was undertaken under aggressive DEI policies, with emphasis on minority contractors and diversity quotas — including goals for 35 percent or more of contracts to minority-owned businesses. That approach tended to increase costs to taxpayers, although much of the expense was covered by private donors. The real financial controversy lies in the aftermath. Costs ballooned from initial estimates around $300-500 million to an estimated $850 million. Several subcontractors, including Black-owned firms touted under the DEI banner, now fight for survival as they await millions in unpaid bills. One minority concrete subcontractor filed a $40 million racial discrimination lawsuit, alleging that engineers blamed delays and overruns on minority firms despite the project’s stated commitments to inclusion. Multiple other contractors report seven-figure shortfalls, turning a feel-good narrative into a cautionary tale of good intentions producing poor results.
The Obama Center represents the most recent example of the troubling trend toward presidential libraries becoming public museums and entertainment centers. It is a far cry from the tradition of presidential papers stored in the National Archives or preserved as collections by major universities. Obama has pushed the envelope in terms of size, cost, and garishness.
(Considering the trend, one can only imagine — and fear — what President Trump will produce for his presidential monument. I feel confident that whatever it is, it will be larger, more expensive, and feature a lot of gold leaf. But I digress.)
The deeper issue remains. These vanity projects increasingly blur the line between public history and private legacy-building, often at the expense of fiscal responsibility and community priorities.
In the end, the Obama Presidential Center stands not as a beacon of hope and change, but as a stark reminder of how noble rhetoric can produce concrete results that are anything but inspiring. Chicago taxpayers and park enthusiasts deserved better than this intrusive and overly expensive eyesore. Unfortunately, it is what it is – and will be for a long time.
So, there ‘tis.
It looks like an inner city shithouse.
All I know as I cook over my air fryer smoker temperature controlled grill in half the time, half the gas, and less smoke (unless I add wood pellets) is the future is great. I even showed restraint and skipped the WiFi!
You guys can go back to Mayberry. I’ll take 4 hour ribs!
Sorry, this is long, even for me. Larry has taken his years of experience as a political pundit plus pugnacious prick-ery where he picks the fight and then blames the other guy to demean Obama by tossing every criticism of Trump vanity projects. He actually calls a Presidential Library/Center a vanity project. Like aren’t they all? Actually he just choses that term to defend his Felon King’s actions. Weak tea.
I am betting no one here has ever gone to a Presidential Library, much less two. People will go to and use the Obama Presidential Center. It has function as well as form. Larry subtlety reflects (pun intended) on the pool of all Trump vanity project criticisms back on Obama stretching his credulity with each twisted, exaggerated lament.
He misses the irony of Obama coming to Jackson Park, a park named for the racist head of the modern Democratic Party. He starts instead with: “a brooding, blocky boulder dropped unceremoniously into a historic park. It evokes neither inspiration nor elegance, but rather the heavy hand of self-importance.”
Self-importance? They made a functional edifice and park that will be used by thousands where Obama, the name, is downplayed throughout. They retained the park’s multifunctional design and purpose. They were ecologically friendly. Self-importance? Surely you jest, or more likely, just like to poke fingers in other people’s eyes.
Chicago is home to many an ugly building as the home of Frank Lloyd Wright, the father of urban suburbia who favored minimalist straight lines but dabbled in curves at times (can you say The Guggenheim). Chicago favors modern glass and steel spires, unadorned, and simple, like the Willis Tower (Sears Tower). It is home to the Batcolumn, arguably the ugliest piece of art ever and the iconic Calder which some like, others say it’s unfinished construction. These modern pieces compete with older Chicago structures, ornate and timeless like the Tribune Tower, the Rookery, and the Wrigley Building. The Rookery is so cool.
I love downtown Chicago. My teams could be across the US. I was a stickler for face-to-face. We often met in Chicago, flying in taking out an airport meeting room and then flying out. I often spent the night in Chicago. I favored the Sofitel on the Magnificent Mile where my special room was on the point of the triangle and surrounded by like 40 feet of glass. One side faced the lake, the other the Chicago River. Within walking distance to the wharf, nothing better the opening the shades for a nighttime lake thunder bumper. I have been to the art museum at the edge of Jackson Park, it’s still there. It was nice, nothing special, had some Rodin’s, I am a fan; he was one of the first to use mass production techniques so the pieces don’t stand out against Philie’s Rodin splendors. It was nice though. Rodin is a good example of how art changes due to time and technology. Modern Art was born out of the perfection of the camera that made realism quaint. Many considered Picasso’s as ugly lumps. They just didn’t get it. Myself, I prefer the simplistic Shaker style, straight line functionality. I have very little ornate in my home. As I age however, color and curves have crept in as this girl just wants to have some fun before I move on. I call my house a “painted lady” sporting numerous colors, some pretty striking. Hey, I tried 30 some years of simplistic, time for a change. And Jackson Park was ripe for change too. Many areas were downright rundown.
The park originally designed for the 1893 World’s Fair was over 1,000 acres. Olmstead said: “Olmstead said Jackson Park should be water oriented, with a yacht harbor, winding walkways around the lagoons, small bridges, bathing pavilions, and plenty of space for boating.” Sure sounds multi-function to me. They didn’t get there and most of the 1893 buildings, not designed to last, burned or were burned. The Japanese garden was destroyed after Pearl. It’s named after Andrew Jackson who is basically Donald Trump except, AJ likes to fight as in really fight. No one ever said JACO. The hero of New Orleans, it was a battle where we lost 70 some and the Brits over 2,000, credited with ending the unknown war of 1812, even though the battle was a few weeks after the end of the war, but the news hit DC before the war’s end news came in from Europe so everyone thought Jackson ended the war. He is a racist father of the modern Democratic Party even as it morphed woke, dei, later.
They built a multi-use park, they burned down the buildings, tore up the Japanese garden, struggled to keep a private marina afloat, went historic in 1972, and in 2012, in decline, a nonprofit attempted to restore the park to its original intent by 2040. Coulda used Larry to get the job done. A replica of the Santa Maria rotting was dredged out in 1952.
One building that remained is The Art Institute. As noted, been there, it’s nice, but I did not notice any park. There’s also a gym with multipurpose rooms, 18-hole golf course in disrepair (the people’s sport), walking trails and two basketball courts.
The Obama Center takes out 20 acres from the now 540+ acre park. It seems to meet the original intent, blends with what remains today, and improved the green spaces while adding elements many different folks from Chicago can actually use and enjoy. I think Larry’s criticism is mean, untrue, and political. Sure, it’s his right to say ugly, but the rest seems unfounded based on the facts.
His points on the Obama Presidential Center (OPC):
Expensive and Over budget. Come on man, its private donations, not taxpayer dollars like your Felon King’s vanity projects.
“It is much more than a library or even a museum.” And you have a problem with that? Seems to be the original Olmstead intent.
“All of this sits on land carved in the heart Frederick Law Olmsted’s historic design.” That design was never achieved and suffered much over the years. I think the OPC adds to the original intent more than detracts.
White Gentrification: this will turn out to be probably true, but I think it’s a “good problem to work.” You can expect further development surrounding the OPC. Wouldn’t you want to live there? The folks living there now will have some great years too and hopefully can remain if they desire, or zoning policies can be put in place to retain housing prices as new places go up. Or programmatic abilities to move to comparable city locations.
“That approach tended to increase costs to taxpayers, although much of the expense was covered by private donors.” This is bullshit spin. It’s private donations and the only taxpayer dollars is for surrounding infrastructure, roads and such, and therefore, city policies, not OPC policies are the letter of the law. There are no facts presented that the city bill was too high, or not appropriate. The existing roads bisected the park creating islands not easily transversed and deadly to wildlife. Much of that’s fixed now with the OPC I think.
“Several subcontractors, including Black-owned firms touted under the DEI banner, now fight for survival as they await millions in unpaid bills.” There are over 475 contractors on this development. Snopes says Larry’s comments are missing context: *https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/06/19/obama-library-contractors-not-paid*
“Obama has pushed the envelope in terms of size, cost, and garishness.” The Trump Library is currently estimated at $1B; think he will hit his budget? Garishness — come on man, your Felon King sets the mark for bad taste starting with his gold embellishments in the White House, his Marie Antoinette let-them-eat-cake ballroom, his fake Arc de Triomphe clone with three, count em, three gold statues. This arch will be 100 feet higher than any DC building, illegally. And his blue pool hell where he spent enough money to rino-coat 17,333 trucks which would have filled the entire pool, and then some.
Larry’s summary: “In the end, the Obama Presidential Center stands not as a beacon of hope and change, but as a stark reminder of how noble rhetoric can produce concrete results that are anything but inspiring. Chicago taxpayers and park enthusiasts deserved better than this intrusive and overly expensive eyesore. Unfortunately, it is what it is – and will be for a long time.” One man’s honey is another’s poison.
I think the OPC environmental report pretty much answers that and gives a nice p.o.v. overview of the development: *chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://downloads.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/110EWvDr3hNLE739BysV6x/1a9e18700082bbe3515a7379a48e2810/2020.04.30-OPC-Reinforcing-Landscape-Ecology_sm.pdf
I have no issue with Larry saying the OPC is ugly. But his other points seem to be petty political punditry. i think he knows Obama changed the Presidential Library game and his guy is not up to the task. The OPC adds function and value to Chicago as it confirms and continues Olmstead’s vision for the park. IMO.
Dunger if I visited a presidential library it damned sure wouldn’t be bathhouse Barry’s library.
Sethsucksdung: and the world is a better place for your choice. One less redneck piece of white trash for the basketball courts, blocking the beautiful view from the Topobamalisk, playgrounds, picnic areas, gardens, and walking paths. More for others to enjoy, thanks. As for you hating Barry, yeah, he’s not a Felon, he did not want to be King or even Dicktater for a day. I understand where you are coming from. I mean you in a library; oh, the horror of it all. It’s all smartly digitized so you don’t even have to visit. To me, this is just a smart endeavor. Why just a library when a center is better. And such thoughtfulness in form and functionality I just love the Obama’s statue, waving, beckoning folks in, but in full long coats. I’m like: coats? Then you notice they are a flapping in the breeze — it’s Chicago, after all. That’s class.
Frankly, I am shocked that Larry does not feel this as an improvement to the Southside, an homage to Olmstead’s vision, tastefully done, and offering much variety to many folks from the Southside and beyond. What was it before? Mostly rundown, in disrepair, and certainly only a shell of Olmstead’s vision. Just weird that Larry did not notice that.
The building, the Obamalisk — eh, whatever. The lettering is cool, but faddish, and just saw another example at the French Open at Roland Garros. Would have liked more originality, but under the lights it’s really cool. As to a lump of cement dropped in; might be right, but I reserve judgement until I see it. And if I go to Chicago, I will see it. Might not stop, but will see it, for sure.
Dunger you don’t know what a rdneck is. Did you know that the original use of the term related to striking coal miners during the early days of forming a union? No. Of course you don’t know that. But getting back to Barry, he was an illegitimate president , having been born in Kenya. And the only reason we have a felon king is because of lying cocksuckers in the commie democrat party. And yes, the so called presidential library looks shitty, just like the democrats.
Sethsucksdung: actually redneck goes back at least to 1600–1700 Scotland elites/fieldworkers and sunburn. There’s a couple bandana versions too. Your 1900’s version is correct and my Slavic ancestry started in the PA Kingston mines so we were there. But the modern version harkens from the sun for southern rural folk and while meant as demeaning, many take pride, as do I to my redneck side. Myself, lived for a good while near WV in Frederick Md where we were known as Frednecks. My first new car was a plain Jane camero with the now legendary 305 v8. I immediately started cutting on it; still wondering how I convinced my self to cut and drill into a new car, but in the end had a Z28 without the t-top. Spoilers front and back, hood scoop, side air ports, then I added simple pin stripes end to end, acid etched windows. Later did the engine to boost the hps. One night, my wife to be and I went to town. On the way out, I noticed people driving slow and staring, happened a lot with the windows, but this was different. I turned to my girl and said, OMG it’s 1984 and they are cruising the circuit. Yup, every weekend, they came in from the hills of WV and cruised. We then did the circuit together before lot parking to smoke a joint with my peeps, Frednecks all. I loved that car but my Japanese turbos were faster off the line.
As to Obama’s birthplace and your beliefs on that. It’s funny seeing you prove how stupid you are willing to go. The shit you believe but can’t prove that’s been debunked seven ways to Sunday is amazing. Only topped by your racism you use to feel superior in a fake way. Obama is a nice guy, a smart guy, with family values. And you honor a Felon King. Can you believe this guy sends JD to make peace and then tells the Iranians he’s gonna murder them before they get home if they don’t submit? I hear to decide the 2028 endorsement, JD and Marco will have a cage match on the whitehouse lawn.
Hey, you can hate the Obamalisk. You can push back on potential gentrification, but would be stupid to hate the OPC concept of walking trails, playgrounds, basketball courts, picnic areas and such. Only a Larry would hate a picnic.
Dunger I didn’t make any racial slurs about bathhouse Barry. I didn’t mention his color. By the way, I wouldn’t visit the Clinton library either. And the best definition of modern rednecks are good old boys in the back woods. I know plenty of them are have heard nothing about color of people
Sethsucksdungandhelikesit: You are right, you said nothing racist on this thread. My mistake, sorry. Hopefully given all the racists round here, you can understand. Funny about “the good old boys” since, guess what, I am one of them. Just a liberal version. Still drove American muscle back then, spent weekends by the campfire at the field party, used to shoot my buddy’s 357 right outside my back door. More at home in Stumptown WV than downtown DC. Always lived in conservative country, no issues. Started this life in landscaping and construction with a pretty red neck, literally. Only came “inside” after a second brutal winter; we went 365 in Maryland even in the cold. That sucked and i was glad for the AC and Heat. I am pretty sure if I put my redneck on, you wouldn’t see me as different. Don’t broach politics in public often. Don’t respond either. Used to be the same for all; not so sure anymore.
Used to be a weird band: Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change band with a song, country love:
“Under the bleachers at the tractor pull
On a hayride when the moon is full
In a hayloft in the barn
I like to love you here on the farm
They say we got shit between our toes
We do some lovin, goodness knows
I take my baby to the lower forty
When I feel my oats when I’m feelin sporty”
I do love a good tractor pull. Especially when they bring out the turbo helicopter engine version.
I realize that you are a capitalist, support the 2nd amendment, and are pro law and order. And I’m sure that you have voted for a republican before. Just like I’ve voted for democrats before. But there’s no common ground with the new candidates today. It would take all day for me to bitch about the issues that are so wrong for the country. Such as fucking with the SCOTUS. It’s like the extreme left wants them to legislate from the bench. And don’t get me started on open borders. Just to name a few. Oh less we forget, there’s the issue of revolving door justice. And the radical left can’t stand the thought of America being armed while the record shows that the people who shoot people without justification is a very small minority. Or perhaps we could go with stabbing and hacking. And why the hell did that motherfucker in Maine get the nomination? Yes. I’m afraid for the future of our country. Just a question. Would you ever consider supporting a Republican for president? Me voting for a democrat isn’t impossible but they would have to make me believe that they aren’t socialist.
Seth, wow, Larry’s wrong. Again. You did read!
Yes, I voted for a Republican for President by choice and many times local due to no choice. Wish I had voted for Bush Sr. My blindness took hold. Then again, got us Clinton and the greatest economy in our lifetime. We did not fuck with SCOTUS, you did. Stop it. There are no open borders, never was, but Biden’s policies just don’t make sense. Never will, he blew it.
You really can’t speak to revolving door justice as you hold the record there now.
I know what you mean re guns but you said it wrong. No way 30k gun deaths are mostly justified. PERIOD. If you vanished guns magically, no way you get 30k dead by stabbing-hacking.
The Maine guy, if elected, won’t matter. He does not know the rules, chances are totally ineffective. Collins has no spine.
No matter who you vote for, there will always be socialist programs. Does not make us a socialist country. That’s not happening.