By Canadian Press

US judge: Construction on Obama centre should proceed

Jun 11, 2019 | 11:37 AM

CHICAGO — A federal judge in Chicago says he’ll dismiss a lawsuit brought by a parks advocacy group that is trying to stop former President Barack Obama’s presidential centre from being built in a lakefront park.

U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey said there should be no delay in building the $500 million centre after hearing arguments in court Tuesday. He said a written ruling will follow later Tuesday.

Protect Our Parks argued the city illegally transferred land for a park to The Obama Foundation, a private entity overseeing construction of the centre. City lawyers accuse the group of exaggerating potential environmental problems, misreading the law and misrepresenting how the approval works.

The centre was supposed to open in 2021, but the lawsuit and a federal review has delayed construction at Jackson Park.

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An attorney for the parks organization says they plan to appeal.

The Associated Press