The Latest: Parks group says Lucas decision ‘unfortunate’

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO – The Latest on filmmaker George Lucas withdrawing his plans to build an art museum in Chicago (all times local):

2 p.m.

The group that sued to block construction of George Lucas’ art museum on Chicago’s lakefront says it’s unfortunate the film director has decided to take the museum to California rather than pick a different site within the city.

The Friends of the Parks says choosing from several alternative sites away from the lakefront would have been a “true win-win.”

The filmmaker announced earlier Friday that he was abandoning plans to locate his Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Chicago.

Friends of the Parks argued that the museum plans violated laws restricting development along Lake Michigan.

The “Star Wars” creator said delays resulting from the group’s federal lawsuit led him to pursue another site in California. He did not name a specific location.

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12:30 p.m.

“Star Wars” filmmaker George Lucas says Chicago won’t be home to his Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

Lucas Museum officials issued a statement Friday saying it will no longer consider Chicago as a potential site for the museum because of an ongoing federal lawsuit from a parks advocacy group. Instead, museum officials say the museum will be located in California.

Friends of the Parks has argued that the museum plans violate laws restricting development along Lake Michigan. The museum was to be built on a parking lot near Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears play. Lucas said in a statement that no one benefits from the park group’s “seemingly unending litigation to protect a parking lot.”

Friends of the Parks didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

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12:15 p.m.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says filmmaker George Lucas has abandoned plans to build his art museum in Chicago after a legal challenge from a parks group.

Emanuel released a statement Friday calling it a “missed opportunity” that will cost the city millions of dollars in economic investment, thousands of jobs and educational opportunities for the city’s youth.

The Associated Press could not immediately reach museum officials or Lucas representatives for comment.

A group called Friends of the Parks sued to stop the museum from being located along Chicago’s lakefront.

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