If you look on Google maps, 63rd and Stoney Island (a terrible neighborhood ... I used to live on Blackstone just north of The Midway), the Obozo site is relatively small. You can seen the construction. What is the concern? Jackson Park used to be a wonderful park in the 40s and 50s. But playing golf is Jackson Park was always a risky business (robbery or worse was always in the cards). I despise Obama and used to see him on campus (what a smug creep), but worrying about building on a small spot in Jackson Park causing gentrification is nuts. Just get on Stoney Island and take a drive (even on Google Maps). With a decent mayor you might see gentrification, but with people leaving Chicago in droves, I sincerely doubt it is a problem.
“Brown also said that the University should pay reparations to surrounding South Side communities for its history of gentrification by funding affordable housing.” Hyde Park was a singular mess prior to UofChicago buying land and destroying the tenements and bars. It was a sewer and the university cleaned it up. There was only one bar remaining (Jimmy’s) when I lived there and a few have opened since. But it went from run-down tenement buildings to decent area. Safe? We were robbed several times and my wife got robbed at the local co-op. We eventually fled to the burbs. So, reparations should be made for cleaning up an area? This is getting insane.
Used to take Stoney to the Skyway when the Ryan was backed up - it got too damn dangerous.
Also we would take the Skyway to Stoney Island when we went to the Science and Industry Museum - not no more - it is just too risky.