Commentary: Jewel-Osco Opening's Great Lessons for Obama's Center

Jewel-Osco's fabulously successful opening-day at 6014 South Cottage Grove has prompted me to compare this completed and active addition to our communities, to the stalled not-yet-in-place Obama Presidential Center.

There are many proverbs and sayings which apply; and there is a huge amount to be learned from the so-far-success of this Jewel-Osco for the development of Woodlawn and the rest of our South Side neighborhoods.

Let me list the lessons of the new Jewel-Osco as guidance for what is best to happen to the Obama project, now.

1. The best way to improve South Shore, Woodlawn, Washington Park, Englewood, and the other South Side communities away from the condition they have been in for the past too-many years ... is to improve the communities, by adding things which most communities have, but which these communities do not have.

2. The best way to create the best possible legacy for President Obama is to use his unparalleled fundraising skills so-far used for his Center ($250,000,000 at last report) for the direct investment in new housing, retail stores, youth centers, school improvements, after-school programs for teens, and gun-use-prevention programs.

3. An extremely less efficient impact for the good of our society would be to build the as-designed Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, and mearly presume that the presence of that center would inevitably lead to the best and maximum possible results for the South Side.

4. I am just me, but here are the first ideas of mine that come to mind, for what can happen if President Obama goes back to 'square one', and completely starts over with his plans:

- Instead of one all-together Obama Center, the 'Center' should be divided into a growing group of teen and children and adult centers throughout South Shore, Washington Park, Englewood, Woodlawn, and any other nearby communities that can be impacted.

- The "academic" research center should be situated on the campus of the University of Chicago and should be a joint project of President Obama and of The University of Chicago. To me it is not essential that the actual physical papers of the Obama administration be housed in that building. However, if experts agree that is best ... then that is what should be done

-The City of Chicago should be a full partner to a "new" set of Obama Neighborhood Renewal Projects. And most importantly, the citizens of each community which receives a new building or project, need to fully take part in the planning of that project. There must be ZERO additional planning by President Obama himself, unless it is on equal footing with the citizens of our communities.

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As a resident of South Shore, Woodlawn, Washington Park, and Englewood: Please write to me at Sid Colton <s220@uchicago.edu> with your personal list of a few things which President Obama and the Citizens and the City can add to your communities to make them more attractive, pleasant, and safe places for you and your family and friends to live in.

Also: President Obama ... Are you listening???