CHICAGO — People who live in Chicago know a few things to be true about their city. Winters are brutal. The architecture is first-rate. The Cubs will lose.

In the last few years, they have confidently added another: The Barack Obama Presidential Library will be built here, Mr. Obama’s adopted hometown.

But as the Obamas and their foundation near a decision on the location of the library — after narrowing the options down to Hawaii, Chicago and New York City — someone in their camp recently let it slip that they are not so pleased with Chicago’s bids.

A person close to the Barack Obama Foundation, which is overseeing plans for the library, anonymously told local reporters last month that foundation officials had “major concerns” with proposals from the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Foundation officials were said to be alarmed that the University of Chicago does not yet control the land where the university wants to build the library.