Star Wars founder George Lucas bids goodbye to Chicago, and will say hello to another state. Mellody Hobson, wife of George Lucas, said that the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, where exclusive collections from Star Wars films will be housed in, is now going to be built in a different state after a Chicago-based nonprofit organization objected against the city's proposed alternative site.
Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art
According to a CN Traveler report, George Lucas made Star Wars fans happy when he announced in 2014 the building of an art museum that will also feature artworks, props and sets used in Star Wars films. Originally, the plan was to build it in Marin, California where the Star Wars former production company, Lucasfilm, used to operate. However, officials from San Francisco, north of Marin, declined the chosen land to be used for museum development so George Lucas had to look for another area. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel came to the rescue and offered his state, which happens to be the hometown of Mellody Hobson. The shore of Lake Michigan was picked to be the location of the envisioned 300,000 square foot museum.
Legal Wars Between Chicago City Officials And Friends Of Park
As narrated by Chicago Tribune late last year, the Chicago City District and Chicago City Council have already approved the lease of 17 acres of lakefront property for the construction of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Friends of Parks, a nonprofit organization that preserves and protects Chicago public lands, then entered the picture and filed a lawsuit against the plan. According to the organization, it would be violating the public trust doctrine, stating that the lakefront area should be for public use.
Because of the lawsuit, construction of the museum is still not underway before its projected opening in 2019. Failing to convince the court to dismiss the motion of Friends of Park, the city officials offered George Lucas an alternative site, the McCormick Place Convention Center, according to a Channel News Asia report. Nonetheless, in spite of the city's efforts, Friends of Park still objected to the second site, saying that it still is within the lakefront area.
So after two years in court, George Lucas decided that Chicago will no longer be the location of his art museum. The search for the new state has now begun. Where do you think should George Lucas build it? Shoot your suggestions on the comment box below!
