Obama's Presidential Library Will Be In Chicago: Reports

CHICAGO -- The Obama presidential library will be located on the South Side of Chicago, according to reports from CBS Chicago and NBC News. The official announcement will reportedly be made during the week of May 11.

According to CBS Chicago, President Barack Obama implied that he would choose the South Side of Chicago during a phone call to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) last Friday. The call also included other state Democratic officials, whom Obama thanked for passing legislation that would allow for the library to built on Chicago park land without any legal consequences.

A spokesman at the University of Chicago, which has heavily championed the bid, could not confirm the news to The Huffington Post.

The university's efforts were led by Susan Sher, an adviser to the U of C's president Robert Zimmer and a former chief of staff for first lady Michelle Obama. The Obamas have deep roots on the South Side: Michelle Obama grew up there, and the president began his political career as a community organizer there before serving as an Illinois state senator representing the area. He also taught at UChicago's law school for 12 years.

The University of Chicago's bid was reportedly chosen over bids from Columbia University (Obama's alma mater), the University of Hawaii and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The decision of where to build the library was delayed because the Obama Foundation, which oversees the logistics and fundraising for the library, had reservations about the U of C's bid, which proposed two sites located on park land owned by neither the U of C nor the city of Chicago. Both sites were controlled by the Chicago Park District, but in March, Emanuel and the Chicago City Council worked out a deal to transfer control of the land to the city.

The Obama Foundation again delayed the decision when Emanuel faced a runoff challenge because it did not want the library to factor into the race. Emanuel has been very active in advocating for the library to be located in Chicago.

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