Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) has introduced an ordinance to designate Wabash Avenue between Kinzie Street and Wacker Drive as ‘Barack Hussain Obama Way’, which includes the portion of Wabash Avenue that houses Trump Tower.

Background

The introduction comes after an online petition calling for the renaming, which has grown from 700 to over 22,000 signatures. Reilly had been considering a tribute to Obama for about three years and the petition served as a reminder to move forward.

Reilly looked into officially renaming Wabash Avenue but the cost would likely run into the millions due to the need to change street signs, GPS systems, maps, and other materials. An honorary designation would be the ‘cheapest, fastest, least disruptive’ way to recognize Obama.

Under the proposal, honorary signs would be placed at Wacker Drive and Wabash Avenue and at Kinzie Street and Wabash Avenue. Although honorary street signs in Chicago are reserved for people who have died, Reilly said the ordinance is written to make an exception for Obama as a former president.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.