Michael Jordan's former Chicago home faces pushback over museum plans

The owner of Michael Jordan's former Chicago home wants to make the NBA legend's property open to the public, but not everyone is thrilled about it. 

A buyer paid $9.5 million for the NBA legend's Highland Park, Illinois estate, located about 26 miles outside of Chicago, last December and is now hoping to turn the 37,706 square-foot mansion into a museum, according to Homes.com. 

The estate features seven bedrooms, 17.5 bathrooms and is situated on 7.39 acres. It also boasts a full basketball court, a wine cellar, a putting green, a fully stocked fishing pond and an infinity-edge pool, in addition to a movie theater, cigar lounge, saltwater aquarium and commercial gym. 

If approved, the museum, affectionately known as “Champions Point,” would feature “narrative art and rhythmic soundscapes,” and would also offer empowering stories, virtual reality experiences and “living classroom” community days where guests could use Jordan’s former court as a setting for “high-pressure simulation drills and consistency labs," the outlet reported. 

MORE: We finally know how Michael Jordan really feels about his broken relationship with Scottie Pippen

Council members and residents are concerned about the museum plans

Earlier this week, council members and neighbors expressed their concerns over the owner's proposed museum plans, as they felt it could impact the community negatively. 

“I have equally big concerns, again, that there’s no actual concept for a museum and, as I said, the impact on the Heller Nature Center and the neighbors,” Council member Yumi Ross said during the meeting.

A resident argued that they felt the owner of the property was pressuring them into supporting the project by promising to give them a share of the profits. 

On the other hand, a non-profit organizer praised the museum plans, saying it could have a positive impact on local youth. 

"I had the opportunity to bring some youth out to the property, and it was an experience for them that was just life-changing. ... This project aligns with the mission by sharing a path to greatness," said Claudia Martin, founder of nonprofit ChiCook Officers in Motion, who brought a group of middle and high school students out to Jordan's former home over the summer. 

Despite some of the pushback, the majority voted 4-3 in favor of the proposal moving it forward. 

It's being estimated that the 1995-built property could bring in 300 patrons daily or  about 100,000 visitors annually

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