A major milestone in the construction of one of Chicago’s most anticipated new developments is officially set, according to a late afternoon announcement from the Obama Foundation. 

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that an official groundbreaking ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center will be taking place on Tuesday.

The announcement comes on the heels of an August supreme court ruling that cleared the final hurdle to groundbreaking following a last-minute emergency motion to halt construction based on potential damages to the neighboring park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. 

We've got big news!

Our virtual groundbreaking festivities for the Obama Presidential Center will take place on Monday, Sept. 27 and Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Watch a special message from @BarackObama and @MichelleObama now. pic.twitter.com/yJ6M4DLL2A
— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) September 24, 2021

The Billie Tsien and Tod Williams-designed center completed a comprehensive federal review process earlier in the year that should have been the last step before the $700 million complex begins construction. A slate of local opposition groups had been steadfast in their opposition to the placement of the library since it was announced in June of 2016. 

“Hard things are hard,” former White House staffer Valerie Jarrett told the Tribune’s Alice Yin. “The challenges presented were challenges that we were prepared to overcome, and we have. And so, no, I never heard a single time where President Obama wavered in his commitment to deliver this world-class center on this site and in this location.”

The event will be live-streamed on Tuesday at 1:30 pm Central Time. A link to the ceremonies can be found here.