Durand has stated that he wants more open space and smaller buildings near the water. After the original proposal for the 3.3 million-sf Fan Pier Project, which is part of the Harbor Plan, was shot down Chicago developer Nicholas Pritzker had warned that he would pull out of the project if there were any more delays. City Hall put forth a compromise plan, which reduced the size of the controversial Building H, a 23-story office and tower building, and added more civic space. Pritzker accepted that plan.

Durand wants that building eliminated and he wants a two-acre centerpiece park. "The secretary has said that something needs to be done to mitigate the shadow over the cove in front of Fan Pier," Doug Pizzi, press secretary for office of environmental affairs. "Building H needs to be eliminated." Pizzi points out that Building H occupies a footprint of approximately a half an acre. Pritzker would still get enough total space to fill three large office towers.

The influential Conservation Law Foundation that had threatened to sue if the Fan Pier original proposal or compromise was accepted. "We are pleased to see the secretary stand by his draft decision," Bennett Heart, senior attorney at CLF tells GlobeSt.com. "The secretary is a public trustee and he has thus far acquitted himself well in his role."