FACT CHECK #LI4MKESM

EXHIBIT A

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The Obama Presidential Center is situated in Jackson Park under a 99-year use agreement approved by the Chicago City Council in 2018. Under the terms of the Master Use and Occupancy Agreement, the Obama Foundation paid a nominal one-time fee of 10 dollars to lease the 19.3-acre site from the city (City of Chicago 2018). Unlike many other museums in Chicago parks that operate under perpetual agreements, this deal is specifically limited to 99 years. Any extension beyond this term requires subsequent City Council approval (Chicago Maroon 2018). While the foundation is responsible for all construction and operating costs, the city maintains ownership of the land and assumes ownership of the buildings upon their completion (Britannica 2026). This lease structure was a central component of legal challenges regarding the use of public parkland, but federal courts have consistently upheld the validity of the 2018 ordinance.

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