Chicago City Wire

Tony Lane, a former power forward for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), expressed concerns on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the impact of the Barack Obama Presidential Center on Chicago neighborhoods. He said that what began as a promise to uplift these areas is now being criticized by residents for increasing housing costs and displacing families.

"Obama's $850M Presidential Center in Chicago — once promised to revitalize neighborhoods — is now being blasted by residents for gentrification, higher rents, and forcing families out," said Lane. "What was pitched as “hope & change” is now accused of displacing the very community it claimed to serve."

The Barack Obama Presidential Center is currently under construction on a 19.3-acre site in Chicago’s Jackson Park, located on the city’s South Side. The complex will feature a museum, library, athletic facilities, and community spaces with an estimated cost of $850 million. After experiencing several delays, it is now expected to open in spring 2026, according to WTTW.

Longtime residents argue that the Center is accelerating gentrification in surrounding neighborhoods. A report from In These Times indicates that rents near the South Side site have increased by up to 60%, while eviction rates remain high in nearby communities. The Chicago Tribune reports that home prices in South Shore have risen by more than 130%, leading to fears that working-class Black families are being displaced.

The Chicago City Council has debated implementing anti-gentrification protections around the Obama Center, such as affordable housing quotas and tax freezes. A measure proposed in September 2025 aimed to extend these protections beyond Woodlawn to South Shore and other vulnerable neighborhoods. Critics argue that without a binding Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), residents remain at risk of displacement due to rising costs associated with the project.

According to WirePoints, Steve Cortes highlighted these issues in his 2025 documentary 'You Don’t Know Barack: Exposing Obama.' Cortes argues that the Obama Center exemplifies what he calls former President Obama's "betrayal of everyday Chicagoans." He claims the project exacerbates inequality and erodes cultural identity within the community it was meant to support. Cortes frames the Center as a symbol of broken promises and displacement, echoing frustrations voiced by South Side residents.

Lane is not only a former UNLV power forward but also a prominent conservative commentator active on social media. He has amassed an online following of over 85,000 followers on X, where he frequently shares breaking news, political commentary, and grassroots advocacy.