[sentinel]

Well, I think I have a better understanding now as to why the Obama Foundation never had any interest in the large, vacant square lot on 55th street just east of the Green Line stop, that many of our forum armchair experts thought 'would be a perfect', 'logical' or 'idiotic not to build there' location for the Obama Center. Met with an influential researcher today regarding a new space for them, and they not-so-subtly stated that UC has long-term plans to expand the University westward, in the general vacinity of Garfield Blvd/55th St, MLK Drive, all the way to Wabash. They have been purchasing many vacant lots over the past decade, with plans to build a variety of new University research and teaching facilities, housing and community outreach centers, etc. No timelines were mentioned, but the implication was that UC doesn't really have room to expand north of the current Quad/center, nor is there even a lot of space that they can expand south of the Midway, considering the already explosive growth that the south campus has experienced in the past 10 years alone. West of Washington Park is perceived as the next logical step in their continued expansion in the 21st century, in order to maintain the same level of quality as other top-tier US universities. And YES, there is something very specific and large planned for the big lot on the NW corner of Garfield Blvd/55th St and MLK Drive.