The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners hosted an open meeting at the Conaway Center of the 1104 S. Wabash Ave. Building, on Sept. 29 to discuss ongoing developments in the site selection for the George Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. 

Friends of the Parks, a non-profit organization that promotes  the use of Chicago’s parks, is suing the Chicago Park District and City of Chicago for violating the Chicago Lake Front Protection Ordinance, which states the Lake Michigan shoreline needs to be protected and preserved, according to Lauren Moltz, chair of the board of  FOTP. The George Lucas Museum has been slated for construction  on the Museum Campus in the South Loop, where it would neighbor The Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler. Planetarium. 

“It’s a great museum to have in Chicago—it just doesn’t belong on the lakefront,” Moltz said. During the meeting, the Chicago Park District reviewed the revamped design  of the museum layout and opened the floor to public comment. Don Bacigalupi, founding president of the Lucas Museum, said the museum would include an education center, multiple theaters and a restaurant on the top floor with a 360-degree view. 

Bryan Traubert, president of the Chicago Park District Board of  the Commissioners, said there would be a two-hour discussion for the public to voice its concerns. However, each resident was given two minutes to speak and the conversation lasted 30 minutes. 

“I don’t think the public got as much time to speak as the presenters,” Moltz said.“It was a bit skewed that every single head of Museum Campus was there to support the Lucas Museum and indirectly support themselves.”

During public comments, residents praised and speculated on the museum’s pending location.

“I spoke on behalf of the Chinatown community because we’re primarily a tourist-based neighborhood, so the proposed location would be beneficial because of its proximity,” said Darryl Tom, a municipal  finance  attorney. Other residents said the meeting did not fully address the issue of building the museum at the proposed location and the agenda favored proponents of the lawsuit. 

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners held an additional meeting on Sept. 30 at McCormick Place. 

“They hosted a public presentation by the team from the Lucas Museum and offered an opportunity for the public to provide input,” said Jessica Faulkner, spokeswoman for the Chicago Park District. People are  welcome to provide feedback through a web form on the Chicago Park District website, she noted.

Melanie Moore, director of policy for FOTP, said the next court date for the lawsuit is Nov. 10 at the Dirksen Federal Building. 

The feedback form will be available  through Oct.14 and can be found at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/about-us/lucas-museum.