Subcontractors Claim Millions Owed for Work on Obama Presidential Library
Subcontractors involved in the construction of the Obama Presidential Library in Chicago allege they are owed millions, with some facing financial distress as the library prepares to open.
Subcontractors who contributed to the construction of the Barack Obama Presidential Library in Chicago have raised concerns that they are owed substantial amounts of money for their services. Mike Owen, owner of Adamson Plumbing, reported that his company submitted invoices totaling $4 million for their work on the library, which remain unpaid.
Owen expressed the severity of the situation, stating, "That is a hole that no subcontractor, small business can survive." He mentioned that the project extended far beyond its initial timeline, forcing his company to incur millions in labor and overhead costs. Owen conveyed his emotional strain, saying, "I haven’t had eight hours or six hours sleep in over a year. I’m cooked emotionally. I feel like an aluminum can that’s been thrown in front of a steamroller. We’re crushed. And I have to fight for my company and for my people."
The Obama Presidential Center, located on a 19.3-acre site on Chicago’s South Side, is scheduled to open to the public on Juneteenth, Friday, June 19. Subcontractors have been racing to finalize their work ahead of this significant event.
The Obama Presidential Center is set to officially open, and Barack Obama announced via Twitter that he and Michelle Obama would be sharing their thoughts on the occasion, inviting the public to tune in for the event.
While general contractors have received their payments, many black and Hispanic subcontractors are still awaiting compensation. Several subcontractors who spoke with Fox News described a lack of communication regarding the project. Some opted to remain anonymous due to confidentiality agreements they had signed.
These subcontractors have indicated that financial distress looms if they are unable to recover the millions they claim are owed to them. Reports suggest that the overall construction costs for the Obama Center could be between $830 million and $1 billion, raising questions about the project's commitment to supporting local businesses.
A pre-opening celebration for the center took place on Thursday, June 18, featuring performances from well-known artists such as Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, and Bruce Springsteen. Notable attendees included Andrew Young, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, LL Cool J, George Lucas, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Nancy Pelosi, Bill and Hillary Clinton, California Governor Gavin Newsom, among others.
The Obama Foundation has stated that it paid Lakeside Alliance, the construction management firm responsible for hiring subcontractors and ensuring their payments. Lakeside Alliance acknowledged that outstanding issues related to the project are still being resolved.
A Fox News Digital investigation has revealed that subcontractors claim losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, highlighting the severity of the situation as the opening of the Obama Presidential Center approaches.
