CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lightfoot says she wants to work with Alderwoman Sophia King, but she is clearly not supporting King’s move to restrict historic homes from being converted into museums.
The ordinance proposed by 4th Ward Alderwoman Sophia King would force people who wanted to turn a neighborhood home into a cultural institution, to get a zoning change, the alderman’s backing, and a special use permit from the city.
King said these museums and such could affect traffic and parking for the surrounding neighbors, and they should have input. But cultural organizations said the ordinance would kill plans for things like the Emmett Till Museum and another honoring activist and journalist Lu Palmer.
Mayor Lightfoot seems to side with them.
"I think the outcry that you have seen from people all across the city, different neighborhoods, I think really kind of speaks for itself. I think it is highly problematic," Lightfoot said.
She said King's ordinance may be overkill for the concerns she is raising, and they should talk about that.
"We are more than willing to try and work with her to address the concerns, but I think by completely banning these kind of residential museums, it's an overreach for what the narrow issue is that she is identifying," Lightfoot said.
There are currently plans for such “home museums” honoring Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, as well as Phyllis Wheatley.
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