Public infrastructure spending tied to the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has risen significantly beyond initial projections, and no single government agency has provided a comprehensive accounting of total taxpayer costs.
Records requests and press inquiries were submitted to multiple Illinois and Chicago agencies, according to a Fox News investigation.
The responses included delayed replies, claims of no responsive records, or no response at all.
State Costs Increase to $229 Million
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) now estimates its share of infrastructure spending related to the project at approximately $229 million.
That figure represents an increase from a preliminary 2017 estimate of roughly $174 million.
IDOT provided a breakdown of its current estimate:
- $19 million for preliminary engineering
- $24 million for construction engineering
- $186 million for construction activities
An IDOT spokesperson characterized the earlier figure as a preliminary estimate.
The increase represents roughly $55 million above the original projection.
City Spending Remains Unclear
When the project was approved in 2018, public discussions suggested approximately $175 million in city infrastructure spending, which, combined with state contributions, placed early projections around $350 million.
Chicago’s 2024–2028 Capital Improvement Plan lists more than $206 million allocated for roadway and utility work near the project site.
However, it remains unclear whether that figure overlaps with state expenditures, exceeds prior estimates, or represents the full extent of the city’s contribution.
The Chicago Department of Transportation acknowledged receiving a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated October 7, 2025, took a statutory extension, and has not issued a final determination or produced records.
The Chicago Office of Budget and Management responded that it “does not have responsive records.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office did not provide totals in response to requests.
Governor J.B. Pritzker’s administration provided no records reflecting a unified statewide total.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor is reviewing whether agencies complied with state transparency laws.
Construction Costs Also Rise
Separate from public infrastructure costs, the construction cost of the Obama Presidential Center itself has also increased.
Initial estimates placed the cost of the facility at approximately $330 million.
According to the Obama Foundation’s 2024 tax filings, the total construction cost has reached at least $850 million.
Former President Barack Obama originally pledged that the 19.3-acre campus in Jackson Park would be privately funded.
Land Transfer and Reserve Fund
The center occupies 19 acres of historic public parkland transferred under a $10 agreement with a 99-year lease.
Cornell Drive, a four-lane roadway, was permanently removed as part of the site plan.
A $470 million reserve fund associated with the project has reportedly received only $1 million in deposits.
Obama Foundation Statement
In a statement, Obama Foundation spokeswoman Emily Bittner said:
“The Obama Foundation is investing $850 million in private funding to build the Obama Presidential Center and give back to the community that made the Obamas’ story possible.”
“After decades of underinvestment on the South Side of Chicago, the OPC is catalyzing investment, from both public and private sources, to build economic opportunity for residents through jobs, housing, and public spaces and amenities.”
The Foundation characterizes the project as a catalyst for broader investment in the surrounding area.
Political Response
Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi criticized the rising infrastructure costs, telling Fox News:
“Illinois Republicans saw this coming a mile away.
“Now, right on cue, Illinois Democrats are leaving taxpayers high and dry and putting them on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to support the ugliest building in Chicago.
“Illinois’ culture of corruption is humming along with pay-to-play deals to their allies and friends while lying to Illinois voters.”
Democrats have defended the project as an investment in economic development on Chicago’s South Side.
However, local residents say they are now being pushed out of the area as housing costs surge.
Ongoing Questions
Fox News reported that no government office provided a consolidated, up-to-date total of all taxpayer-funded infrastructure expenditures tied to the project.
The former president’s official records will ultimately be maintained by the National Archives at a federal site in Maryland, rather than at the Chicago facility.
Questions regarding the full public cost of infrastructure improvements connected to the Obama Presidential Center remain unresolved.
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