Chicago to host Obama future presidential library

President Barack Obama selected his hometown of Chicago to host his future presidential library. It's according to a source with direct knowledge of the decision. The decision of President Obama hasn't been announced officially.

The University of Chicago is going to develop the library along with the Barack Obama Foundation. About a dozen proposals have been screened before recommending a winner from the final four that involves the University of Illinois at Chicago. It is expected that Mr. Obama and his foundation will make announcement about the winner within the next few weeks.

The other two schools that are on the short list are the University of Hawaii and Columbia University. It is expected that both will be included in supplementary programming surrounding the president's legacy.

The foundation of the president considered awarding the library to Columbia University but when some local zoning issues got cleared it became all but sure that Chicago would be the choice. At Columbia University, Mr. Obama earned his undergraduate degree and spent his boyhood at Hawaii.

The Obamas have personal ties with Chicago, Michelle Obama was born and raised on the South Side. Michelle Obama frequently talks about her devotion to her hometown. Two sites have been proposed by the University of Chicago near its campus on the South Side.

The one site is in Washington Park that is a 380-acre expanse designed by the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Other one is Jackson Park that is on the South Side lakefront. It is not sure that which of the site would finally be selected. Officials from the University of Chicago have not said anything on this.