South Side Hotels Near Obama Center, XS Tennis Center Get City Council Approval

The Chicago City Council has given the green light to two major hotel developments on the South Side, signaling a push for local economic growth. Aquinnah Investment Trust plans to construct a 250-room hotel at 6402 S. Stony Island Ave. , close to the future Obama Presidential Center, incorporating features like a swimming pool and green roofs. Meanwhile, the XS Tennis and Education Foundation is set to develop a six-story hotel and a five-story apartment building at 5301 S.

State St. , with 50 of the 51 apartments designated as affordable housing. This development comes as part of a broader initiative to revitalize the area, which has seen significant changes since the demolition of the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project. The City Council also approved a redevelopment agreement allowing for additional housing units in the vicinity. However, local activists have raised concerns about the appropriateness of converting former public housing land for private development.

The council's actions reflect ongoing debates about housing policy and community needs in the area. Ultimately, these projects aim to enhance local services and meet the rising demand for housing.