Museum proposal for Michael Jordan home fails to excite Highland Park councilmembers

Michael Jordan and long shot are rarely used in the same sentence, but the pairing is appropriate in the wake of a Tuesday meeting in Highland Park.

Highland Park City Council members listened Dec. 15 to about a dozen public comments mostly opposed to plans to turn the basketball legend’s former home into a for-profit museum, making the plan from a third party a long shot to earn the necessary council support to move forward.

When the discussion ended at the Committee of the Whole session, a majority of councilmembers opposed or were not ready to endorse the ambitious plan for Champions Point, the former Jordan property Lincolnshire real estate executive John Cooper purchased a year ago for $9.5 million and now wants to convert into an attraction with charitable elements.

Many neighbors, like Mark Walton of Maver Lane, opposed the plan.

“We’ve already been burdened by the noise and nuisance that has gone on,” Maver said, adding that the project’s proposed pathway to the Heller Nature Center would go past his backyard. “I have a pool less than 300 feet from the path. I have kids and grandkids who play in the pool. The last thing I want is for them to be burdened by gawkers running down the street and infiltrating our yard.” 

Robert Simon called the proposal “a terrible idea. … Just let this one die a quiet death.”

Claudia Martin, though, said the project has a lot of potential. She said she has brought some youth to the property.

“It was an experience for them that was just life changing,” she said. ” … I’m here to express enthusiastic support for John Cooper’s vision to transform this estate into a world-class museum” that would celebrate a Chicago icon and bring economic growth to Highland Park.

Resident Rich Levy also spoke in favor of the plan, comparing the idea Ravinia Festival.

“Mr. Cooper has the vision to build something remarkable,” he said.

After public comments closed, Mayor Nancy Rotering stood firm in her opposition of the project.

She said the commercial endeavor was essentially a for-profit tourist destination that didn’t belong in a quiet residential area, but she also said a majority would rule. 

So far, though, Cooper does not have a majority of the council rooting for his plan that he says will create “a vibrant ecocenter of growth.”

Cooper spoke of the community benefit Champions Point would provide and he estimated about 13% of the project would involve charitable and educational programming.

About 48 days per year reportedly would be set aside for educational programs, including one day per month each for the local park district and school district and about two days per month for other public educational programs. 

He wants to develop a curriculum school districts could use to inspire students. He said he plans to tap documentary filmmaker Darryl Roberts’ talent to create the curriculum. Roberts’ documentary film “America the Beautiful” examined the nation’s obsession with physical appearance. 

The other 87% of Champions Point would involve for-profit initiatives, and this worried some councilmembers.

“It sounds like tens of thousands of people are expected to be coming to and from,” Rotering said, concerned it would become an attraction like Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis, which is situated a short distance from a highway and not in a residential area.

Access to the Champions Point property for visitors would be from the Heller Nature Center, Cooper said. He estimated about 300 people per day — or 9,000 a month — would use a path from Heller to get to the property.

Councilmember Anthony Blumberg echoed Rotering’s concerns.

“I’m troubled by the kind of impact the tens of thousands of people tramping through the Heller Nature Center would have,” he said. 

Councilmember Barisa Bruckman, who said she grew up near the property, asked whether Cooper has the park district’s support to use the Heller Nature Center as a pathway to Champions Point and whether he had an alternative path if they declined his proposal.

Cooper said his proposal includes sharing about 5% of gross ticket sales with the park district. This, he projected, could amount to $500,000 per year.

“It’s got to work in lockstep with the city here. We’ve had good discussions so far,” Cooper said.

While Heller Nature Center has about 50 parking spots, Cooper said his plan is for visitors to park off site and take a shuttle bus to Heller, then walk a quarter mile to the property on a pathway. Employees could take a shuttle from the train directly to the property, he said. 

Cooper also wants to have about six evening events per year to raise funds for nonprofits. 

He also said he has offered to give neighbors a stake in the business, and the offer still stands.

Cooper purchased the nine-bedroom, 19-bath home, including four half baths, about a year ago for $9.5 million after it sat on the market for over 12 years, according to media reports. The 8.4 acre property is in a quiet neighborhood, and many neighbors cited concerns about crime and privacy.

Cooper said he believes the house should be preserved, and that without his investment, “the property might fall into disrepair. We would lose a part of Highland Park.” 

But Rotering repeated her concerns about the impact to other residents’ property and their expectations in a residential area.

“How do we protect people’s residences? It’s their biggest asset,” she said.

Councilmember Annette Lidawer said the council needed more information.

“I think this is a treasure and a unique thing, but I would like to see it explored from the perspective of the community. I would like to see a study,” she said, questioning whether the projections of 300 visitors per day were realistic. 

Councilmember Yumi Ross said she was concerned about the project’s environmental impact, including the trees that would need to be taken down to make way for a path from the Heller Nature Center.

“I’m not optimistic about this. If I had to vote right now, I’d say this is not a good idea.”

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