Chicago's Building Blues: A Look at Two Big Projects

Chicago's South Side is home to a massive, unfinished presidential center. It's dedicated to Barack Obama, but not everyone is happy about it. Some people think it's an eyesore, looming over the neighborhood like a giant from a sci-fi movie. But is it really that bad compared to other presidential architecture? Meanwhile, in Washington D. C. , Donald Trump is making waves with his own building project. He's tearing down part of the White House to build a grand neo-Classical ballroom. Critics say it's tacky and that he's destroying American history. But others argue that the presidency has needed a proper ballroom for a long time. Progressives often talk about preserving old buildings, but they struggle with new ones. They're good at protecting what's already there, but not so much at making sure new buildings are built on time or look good. Trump's ballroom might not be the prettiest, but at least it's getting built. That's more than can be said for many projects in liberal areas, where red tape often leads to delays or abandonment. The Obama tower in Chicago has its own issues. Sure, there are concerns about gentrification and overcrowding. But let's face it, no one wants to live in the shadow of a building that feels more oppressive than progressive. In the end, Trump's ballroom might just be a useful building that looks okay, if not amazing. But the real problem is that progressives need to do better with new architecture. They need to build more and make sure those buildings are worth looking at.