The planned entry hall at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry — the ungainly two-story pavilion proposed for the building's main entrance — has a critical hurdle to clear in order to get built: the Chicago Park District.That's because the park district owns the Greek Revival architectural landmark, which sits in historic Jackson Park at 57th Street and DuSable Lake Shore Drive."The District has not given final construction approval," the parks agency said in a statement Thursday.The park district said it reviewed plans for the hall and "originally asked the museum to consider changes to the design."The district's statement didn't say the nature of the alterations that were proposed. Park officials decided to support advancing the plan to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks Permit Review Committee "after reviewing Landmarks Illinois’ letter of support and the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office’s written determination that the proposed work meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation."The plan, which was given the nod on Sept. 10 by the Permit Review Committee, requires no other city government approvals.The project is being designed by RAMSA, the late New York architect Robert A.M. Stern's successor firm.But the park district must now review final construction drawings — a step that could represent a potential firewall in the museum's path toward constructing the arch-backed, 458-foot wide limestone and glass structure.Planned on the museum's expansive front lawn, the Welcome Hall would sit in front of the Greek Revival institution's main entrance but connect to it by way of a 124-foot glass hallway that digs straight through the center of the building’s limestone exterior stairs.My column earlier this week said the plan should be sent back to the drawing board and called the proposed structure a carbuncle in the park that would obstruct views of the historic entrance like a big old wide-brimmed hat blocking the screen at the movie theater."Griffin MSI must return to us with final construction documents for review and approval and obtain an access permit for its contractor to protect park assets during construction," the park district's statement said.The project requires the district's approval but doesn't have to go before the agency's board for a vote.Perhaps the park district's review will provide a chance to pump the breaks on the proposal and lead to a better design aimed at providing the improved museum accessibility and gathering spaces that Griffin MSI officials are seeking. Related Griffin MSI’s new design must go back to the drawing board: ‘Carbuncle in the park’ ...read more read less