Several Chicago sites bid for Obama presidential library

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago is considered a front-runner for the site of the Obama presidential library, and several locations around the city are competing for the honor.

Monday is the deadline set by the Barack Obama Foundation for the library site proposals. While most of the offerings center around a South Side location, some are hoping the Obama's will consider a more central location.

Should it be near a highway, public transportation, a university or an area that needs development? Bidders competing for the Obama presidential library all say they have the perfect site.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is if offering two sites. One is at the corner of Harrison and Halsted, close to the Circle Interchange and the Blue Line, and the other is an area near the Illinois Medical District at Ashland and Taylor Street.

"We think this is the right place for him to make a statement and for him to carry out his work," said Mary Case, UIC librarian.

And for economic development, there is a big push to land the library on the South Side. The University of Chicago is keeping its proposal close to the vest, but, it's being reported that off-campus sites such as 55th and King, Cornell & Stoney Island and the South Shore Cultural Center, the location of the Obama's wedding reception, are all possibilities.

Chicago State University is offering two Far South Side sites and a private developer is hoping the next Obama library will be on the old lakefront U.S. Steel property.

"The one thing about real estate is location, location, location," said Leonard McGee, The Gap Community Organization.

McGee says Bronzeville is the best location. The community activist says 48 acres of vacant, lakefront land at the old Michael Reese Hospital makes perfect sense.

"We see this as being not just one building, but many buildings, but also a garden that represents what Michelle Obama talks about," said McGee.

After the first round of bids, the non-profit Barack Obama Foundation will select a list of finalists. The Obama's will make the final decision next year. They are not required to accept any of the sites- they can chose an alternative. The University of Hawaii and Columbia University in New York are also competing for the library.