Housing In The Shadow Of The Obama Presidential Center

Housing advocates have warned that the Obama Presidential Center could price out longtime residents. So far, the cost of single and multi-family homes in Woodlawn closest to the Obama Center have doubled since 2019, and less than a third of housing stock in the area was considered affordable. Also, the number of short-term rentals, like Airbnb, are increasing in the neighborhoods around the Presidential Center, which takes potential rental housing out of the market. In the Loop digs into how the city has fallen short of delivering on promises aimed at protecting residents from displacement, and how the growth of Airbnbs in the area is impacting affordability. GUESTS: Sidnee King Pineda, journalist, Illinois Answers ProjectInfiniti Gant, housing organizer, Southside TogetherKristy Ramsey, Airbnb host, Woodlawn residentCam Rodriguez, WBEZ data reporterAlexandra Salomon, WBEZ senior editorFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.