Former First Lady Laid To Rest While Northerly Island Languishes

The city of Chicago at a Monday memorial service said their goodbyes to former First Lady Maggie Daley, and while she's being remembered for her charitable achievements and courage in the face of breast cancer, there is at least one of her projects which has yet to be completed - the redevelopment of Northerly Island, the former home of Meigs Field. The job was given her by her husband, former Mayor Richard Daley.

In contrast to the Mayor's rush to destroy the airport, the planned makeover of the island is still dragging, as political and economic circumstances make finding the necessary funding unlikely. Blogger Greg Hinz said Monday that Chicago Park District CEO and Superintendent Michael Kelly told him in a recent budget briefing that redevelopment of the island will cost an estimated $100 million, and won't happen during the first term of current Mayor Rahm Emanuel. That means at least until the year 2015.

Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, which envisioned sports venues on the island, lost out to Rio de Janeiro. So, for now, the island sits largely unused, except for a temporary concert stage, which does generate some revenue for the city. Some are questioning why there was such a rush to bulldoze Meigs Field back in March of 2003.

Maggie Daley passed away Thanksgiving night after a nine-year battle with breast cancer. She was 68.

FMI: www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-1-157x.html