just days away from the official opening of the Obama presidential center.

But not everyone is ecstatic about the Jackson Park development.

Some South side residents living near the campus have been concerned about displacement and gentrification ever since the center's location was announced even with ordinances in place meant to prevent current residents from being forced out.

Advocates argue the protections don't go far enough.

Joining us to discuss the issue are Shannon Bennett, executive director of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization here, a heart member of the Obama community Benefits Agreement, coalition Dixon, Romeo executive director of Southside.

Together.

We thank you all for joining So like to get your reaction just, you know, all these years ago when you first learned that the Obama presidential center coming Jackson Park, Shannon Bennett.

>> With a look, a lot of folk long-term residents in the area community surrounding area that center, we were concerned.

About the process about how the actual thing came about.

So when we talk about it, we talk about way that we need to make sure something isn't right.

So we came up with the process of community benefits agreement which is known Muse were alive when major developments or activities impact local communities.

The residents need to have a and things like housing, economic development.

Education.

This right across street from Haifa, High School.

So we rolled our sleeves up for years we've help town hall meetings with hundreds of residents.

We continue to get input on what we want.

It.

>> what is that?

You know, experience been like talking with, you know, folks in the communities around the center.

>> It's been very enlightening other people.

Experience seen, you know, the higher cost of like property taxes, which means is going to be also increasing just like, you know, the challengers, the company development, especially large scale development.

Yeah.

About that takes an army unit that the reaction you heard from folks and your own reaction overall folks are not against the center, but how do we make sure the city of Chicago?

>> The state of Illinois to county are doing things to make sure that the center doesn't turn into like Disneyland, right?

It doesn't replicate what the Clinton the Clinton presidential library did in New York region find a black neighborhood route.

Had all the folks who made the first black president I present it to stay in benefit from the Senate.

>> You know, Shannon, Benny mention rolling up your sleeves.

You know, all these listening sessions, all the work that you when you were putting together that community benefits agreement, calling for that with center.

What were people interested in seeing in such an agreement there to make use of the city Chicago.

you're the University of Chicago and the Obama Foundation.

Put some skin in the game.

My skin in the game we commit to what you heard coming from communities.

Solutions against displacement.

Displacement is always the concern of the folks head of their voices of marginalized.

So they were asking for.

>> What happens to Hyde Park High School?

You know, they were talking about what happens long-term renters.

Core tenants who've been really active in this fight saying we want to stay, but we know it a where we live.

If taxes go up, iris going to court.

So we've large increases rent.

So we really have heard from the people about solutions because we don't just complain thought about.

And we strategize this can fix it.

Frees the taxes.

You know, talk about rent, control, concrete plan, Dixon.

What kind of reaction have you gotten from Obama Foundation officials?

Well, initially a preemie being involved the collision.

We were trying to get that actually listen and mentioned the actual CBA and >> the foundation commit to that have ever.

What we have been able to do is really organized to make sure the city council is now past 2 ordinances for housing protections in the area in the most recent one in Jackson Park 1000 pilot ordinance covers all over the lawn.

nice portion of South Shore and also greater grand crossing and as things in there like we got 84 city-owned vacant.

Lots that have been set up for affordable housing development.

Both ownership and rental.

Some of them like to pass certain Maryland girl stations.

Already prices are even developed right on that.

We need more of those developments happen, particularly we've got a plethora of tenant protections like expand.

If know this amongst an option to purchase to give people the opportunity to to purchase the building is is is going to be so and also the case, fair notice if they're going to know is it doesn't use have rate increases.

Yeah, I mean care heard.

How about those efforts from from the city Council?

What was your reaction to be able to get that kind of support from other people.

>> Yeah, it was here.

But coming there's no way is great to be able to be supported.

But there's still more work to I get there's a that past year that, you know, need to be a like Atlanta registry and things like Yeah.

What rental registry, any other major items that you think need to happen dove major force is a state issue.

And do you feel like there is, you know, with the local representatives, the folks on the council that there is an understanding of why these issues are important.

Yeah, I think their housing across the board, that thing that Chicago is focusing on right now, the affordability is increasing across the city.

>> And I think that all of the otters are experiencing some some level of support didn't happen So data from the DePaul Institute for Housing Studies sideshows investors have been buying up larger shares of property in South Shore, then and surrounding communities report from 2023 says of 141 single family homes.

>> Close to 40% were sold to these business buyers.

Shannon Bennett, is that something that the community should be concerned about?

Very concerned.

Because you take away local control, you take away folks to reside where they desire to resign.

>> And we do know police get cities are.

So that's where government and residents and citizens partner because we see elected officials as possible partners.

But that's what we have to guard against land Bank.

happened when Chicago was announced their bid for the 2016 Olympics and our position coming the communication others.

We fall for CBA.

At that time.

We've gotten more from the standing to protect in case we have got that bit.

But it's the same thing that always happens to our community.

we're not in the room, were on the menu and that's a prop.

>> There was also some reporting from the Illinois answers project that said some of these anti displacement efforts put in place by the City council.

You haven't all lived up to expectations are having all done as much as they could that some people are, you know, in fact, being displaced, you know, care, Hartnett.

Is that something that you've seen?

Have you seen the community change?

Yes, absolutely.

I think significant change would include like the pricing of housing.

>> When I purchased my house, it was very reasonable price and now literally a block away from me.

You have a house that's like $800,000.

Who with the House quick not the people that live there currently.

Yeah, yeah.

About that.

Expressing acceleration of displacement.

yeah, I think the the result is a lot that they want answers piece was about the 2020 with housing Preservation ordinance and a lot.

we did get.

>> Incidence trends.

And in the 2025 or was a Guinness.

We're continuing to do that work.

But ultimately of the Lightfoot administration propose and we took a compromise on some public private partnerships that didn't pan out.

Right.

And so that is why things aren't put this on the city, not putting money into quantum facilities.

Data centers but putting it into.

They started by developing that says Affordable housing folks unable to putting that into make sure all of us can benefit from something that up the energy of the neighborhood.

But the Obama son of center as stated where it's going to we have a debate about how much money we should give that there's we have.

Chicago is getting evicted.

was the number-one eviction neighborhood in the city.

Still.

And that's only accelerating and we're going to fight to stop it.

But we're going to need the city to put some money into that and not it's a football.

with the Obama center about to open, are there, you know, positive benefits that you hope that it can bring to the community, things you're looking forward to.

I think one thing that I've noticed is that a lot of folks who have had concerns about this leaves.

Many folks are complaining about dish on up to our meetings, right?

We a CDA summit.

June 27th at Bryn Mawr Church at 11 o'clock and to to attend.

And we have hundreds of people.

Thousands of people come to events with those folks.

No, they need to step up.

And when the city has had many come in the without housing preservation on is home owners of so number, they have won a city now and all that money and use of so quickly because folks know they need it.

So one thing I'm seeing is that people are coming together and fighting to make sure that you can say and of the next community benefits agreement, It's slated for next week Cure heart and what's on the agenda for that one?

>> Conversations about what's to come when we have achieved a, you know, the good work that must continue.

you know, what are we going to do to keep people in their homes?

just about 30 seconds left the channel.

what are you looking for just about generational.

>> it's also about full cool or indigenous residents being able stay in place yet.

>> So the next generations should be able to enjoy the neighborhood starts and then chose to go to other amenities like the Obama center.

But their presence and their survival in their neighborhoods has to be top priority.

>> Well, it's been a conversation going on for many years.

I know it's not done tonight, but it's all the time we have for right now.

Shannon Bennett here, Harden and Dixon Ramiah.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

Thank thank you.

We're back to wrap things up right after this.