George Lucas Strikes Back: New Plans Could Kill Lawsuit to Stop Museum

New plans for the proposed George Lucas museum south of Soldier Field could be enough to kneecap a lawsuit looking to stop the project, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.

The revised designs for the museum and its grounds were revealed last week during a federal hearing for the lawsuit filed by the nonprofit conservation group Friends of the Park, which argues that the site of the proposed museum is land entitled to the state and not an out-of-town billionaire, the report stated.

But the museum’s plans now include almost 5 acres of green space, according to the report. That, along with other changes, was enough for U.S. District Judge John Darrah on Thursday, Sept. 10, to tell the Friends of the Park’s lawyers that they need to go back to the drawing board with their suit if they want to proceed with putting the skids on the museum, the report stated. The judge gave the group three weeks to modify the lawsuit, the report added.

Details of the museum’s revised lease agreement and design include the following:

• The seven-story museum will cover 300,000 square feet, a 100,000 square-foot reduction from the original proposal.
• The proposed green space would include a garden, an event prairie, an eco-park and a dune field.
• A $40 million parking garage, paid for by the museum, built west of Lake Shore Drive on a popular tailgating lot for Chicago Bears fans.
• The lease on the land is for 99 years at $10, and the .museum must set up a $400 million endowment.

Museum construction is estimated at $300 million, which would be privately funded, and work would start no sooner than March 1, according to The Associated Press.

via the Chicago Sun-Times

YOUR TURN: Do you think plans should continue going forward for the proposed George Lucas museum? Or do you hope the lawsuit against it will be successful? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.