W S. SECTION 1 Introduction. Introduction WESTERN SPRINGS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

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1 WESTERN SPRINGS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN SECTION 1 Intrductin W S Intrductin Western Springs is lcated in the western suburbs f Chicag, in Ck Cunty, Illinis, apprximately 15 miles frm dwntwn Chicag. The Village ppulatin was 12,975 in 2010, a 3.8% increase since In rder t maintain a stable and ecnmically viable dwntwn business cre, imprvements arund the existing rail statin are necessary t retain existing businesses and attract new business and residents t the dwntwn area. Study Area The Study Area is centrally lcated within the Village f Western Springs, cnsisting f the apprximate 12-blck (1/2-mile in length) dwntwn surrunded by residential neighbrhds. This area is characterized by the Metra passenger rail statin which serves as the centerpint. The Study Area runs alng the BNSF railway right-f-way and frm Prspect Avenue n the west t Gilbert Avenue n the east, as shwn in the illustratin belw. FIGURE 1 BNSF RAILWAy Study Area 1

2 W S WESTERN SPRINGS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN Dwntwn Histry The Village f Western Springs was literally brn at the train statin. Accrding t A.W. (Bill) Jnes, On December 12, 1885, fifty-nine f them (residents) met in the ld railrad statin and vted t incrprate the Village f Western Springs. Called the Queen Suburb f Chicag by early realtrs, Western Springs is knwn as a cmmunity with lvely hmes, great neighbrhds, and strng sense f cmmunity. The fllwing histrical highlights f Western Springs are taken frm Western Springs A Centennial Histry f the Village by the Western Springs Histrical Sciety. Many early settlers were Quakers, with strng religius beliefs. In fact, sme early land sales agreements including a prvisin that n intxicating liqurs shall be sld n said premises. In additin t prximity t Chicag, ne f the early draws t Western Springs was a Mineral Spring, advertised as a mild laxative, active diuretic, and tnic. A curative fr diseases f the kidney, bladder, bright s disease, diabetes, dyspepsia, nervus debility f wmen, weakness, rheumatism, and scrfula. The Spring Huse was lcated in what tday is Spring Rck Park. The Village s first president, Thmas C. Hill, was an active develper f Western Springs. The Village s icnic Water Twer was designed by Benezette Williams, wh als laid ut the Village s streets and designed its water and sewer systems. Mr. Williams water and sewer systems can be fund in cities acrss the cuntry, including St. Luis and Seattle. His hme, at 4380 Central Avenue, was the center f village scial and religius activities fr many years. Cnstructed in 1892, the histric Water Twer is 112 tall, and is 36 ½ feet in diameter at the base, and is cnstructed f brick and Naperville limestne. 2 July Ellmre Pattersn sets a new recrd driving frm Chicag t New Yrk in 39 hurs and 47 minutes Early 1900 s. The Chicag, Burlingtn and Quincy Railrad Statin as it appeared. Independence Day The Clr Guard presents the American flag n the steps f the Water Twer.

3 WESTERN SPRINGS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN W S Early dwntwn businesses included: Henriksn s Grcery (riginally at the crner f Wdland and Elm, but later relcated t 915 Burlingtn) Vive Camera Cmpany (4350 Lawn Avenue) made their wn line f cameras sld thrughut the cuntry Keil s Drugstre (sutheast crner f Grand and Burlingtn) had it s wn brand f Deep-Well Ginger Ale that was sld reginally, and was als the site f the first telephne switchbard in Western Springs Early civic uses in and arund dwntwn Western Springs included: The Village Club, lcated at the nrtheast crner f Chestnut Street and Lawn Avenue, was cnstructed in It was funded by Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Cattel t prmte scial gatherings and sprts events and is still an active scial club tday. The Theatre f Western Springs, funded in 1929, was riginally lcated in the Village Club. The Theatre relcated t a building specifically designed fr their use at the crner f Hillgrve and Hamptn Avenues in Thmas Frd Memrial Library pened in 1932, the land as well as the building fr the library were dnated by Mrs. Thmas A. Frd. Mr. Frd was a frmer village trustee wh was killed in a subway accident in New Yrk City in The Village Church f Western Springs, (nw Western Springs Baptist Church at the nrtheast crner f Wlf Rad and 45th Street), where in 1943 a 24-year ld seminary student frm Wheatn Cllege named William (Billy) Franklin Graham became the pastr fr a brief time. Mr. Graham bradcasted his radi prgram, Sngs in the Night, t a natinal audience frm Western Springs. The Grand Avenue Schl (Chestnut and Grand) is the ldest stne public building still standing in Western Springs. It was cnstructed in Early 1900 s. August Seri with his hrse Daisy peddling fruit. He later funded the Western Springs Fruit Stre, which remains pen tday The State Bank f Western Springs n the crner f Lawn and Burlingtn. Jhn Larsn Atwater, funder f Vive Camera Cmpany started his at-hme business at 4337 Grand. 3

4 W S WESTERN SPRINGS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN Existing Transit in Western Springs Western Springs is frtunate t have a Metra statin alng the BNSF Line. This statin lies in the heart f the Study Area. Additinal public transprtatin ptins include a Pace bus rute that runs thrugh the dwntwn area servicing the Metra stp. In additin, existing bike rutes thrugh Spring Rck park are planned fr expansin t the east thrugh the dwntwn t Field Schl/Park. These bus rutes and bike paths are nted n the Planning Issues Map. Rad cngestin negatively affects tw f ur mst valued resurces, ur time and ur mney. The extra five, ten r thirty minutes that we spend in traffic is time that we mst certainly wuld prefer t spend elsewhere. Even when gasline prices were much lwer than current rates, idling in traffic was a cstly and inefficient use f ur time and ur mney. As a result, alternative means f transprtatin have becme mre desirable and transprtatin issues have increasingly becme majr cncerns fr cmmunities. This planning effrt aims t reduce cngestin by prviding increased pprtunities fr public transprtatin and assciated supprtive develpment that allw peple t mre resurcefully utilize their time and mney as they traverse t, frm and within Western Springs. Existing Metra Statin and tracks in Dwntwn Western Springs Transit Oriented Develpment (TOD) is a prevalent planning cncept that hlds great ptential t shape cmmunities, r at least a prtin f them, in a way that merges the best land use and transprtatin planning principles. With the need t enhance public transit ptins, availability f undevelped r underdevelped buildings, and the existing Western Springs statin alng the BNSF Railway, Western Springs hlds a strng ptential t enhance the Study Area as a vibrant mixeduse dwntwn and TOD. Western Springs was built and develped due t its prximity t the railrad, and already fits the mld f TOD. Features such as lack f cul-de-sacs, inclusin f alleys behind businesses, and small lt sizes are all trademarks f TOD that are prevalent thrughut the Village and dwntwn cre.

5 WESTERN SPRINGS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN W S Opprtunity fr Transit Oriented Develpment Transit Oriented Develpment (TOD) is the functinal integratin f land use and transit via the creatin f cmpact, walkablle, mixed-use cmmunities within walking distance f a transit stp r statin. A TOD brings tgether peple, jbs, and services and is designed in a way that makes it efficient, safe, and cnvenient t travel n ft r by bicycle, public transit r car. TOD Principles: The fllwing principles serve as a guide and prvide an understanding f the essential elements and characteristics f a TOD. They will serve as the fundatin fr planning effrrts in the Study Area. Create a cmpact develpment within an easy walk (typically 1/2- mile) f public transit and with sufficient density t supprt ridership. Make the pedestrian the fcus f the develpment strategy withut excluding the aut. Create active places and livable cmmunities that service daily needs and where peple feel a sense f belnging and wnership. On-site bicycle parking at Metra Statin supprts green ridership and reduces aut-dependence. Include engaging, high quality civic spaces (e.g. small parks r plazas) as rganizing features and gathering places fr the neighbrhd. Encurage a variety f husing types near transit facilities available t a wide range f ages and incmes. Incrprate retail int the develpment s it is a viable use at the lcatin withut the transit cmpnant, ideally drawing custmers bth frm the TOD and a majr street. Ensure cmpatibility and cnnectivity with surrunding neighbrhds. Intrduce creative parking strategies that integrate, rather than divide the site and reduce the sense f aut dminatin. Integrating a mix f uses that includes grund flr retail and restaurant establishments caters t pedestrian activities and attracts shppers. Create TOD plans that are flexible s they can respnd t changing cnditins. Strive t make TODs realistic, yet ecnmically viable and valuable frm a diversity f perspectives (Village, transit agencies, develper, resident, emplyer). Recnize that all TODs are nt the same; each develpment is lcated within its wn unique cntext and serves a specific purpse.se in the larger cntext. (Surce: City f Austin, TX, Transit Oriented Develpment Guidebk, 2006) Organize parks and neighbrhd gathering places within the cmmunity t enhance civic space and balance active spaces. 5

6 W S WESTERN SPRINGS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN Planning Prcess Thrughut the duratin f the planning prcess, a Steering Cmmittee, cmprised f lcal and reginal public fficials, residents, business wners and ther interested parties prvided guidance and feedback during each phase f wrk. These phases include: 1) Participatin; 2) Existing Cnditins; 3) Market Assessment; 4) Cncept Plans; 5) Transprtatin Plan; 6) Design Guidelines; 7) Implementatin Strategies; 8) Funding Summit; 9) Draft Plan; and 10) Review and Apprval. T ensure that the final plan has a brad level f supprt and understanding, the planning prcess included an extensive public participatin cmpnent designed t invlve cmmunity stakehlders and residents in crafting a plan that represents a visin fr the Study Area that is respnsive t the gals and aspiratins f Western Springs residents and businesses. The public participatin prcess includes: Key Stakehlder Interviews: Prvided select cmmunity members with the pprtunity t share insights and ideas relating t the Study Area and visins fr hw they wuld like the area t be designed/develped. Public Wrkshps: Prvided cmmunity members with a series f three (3) dynamic wrkshps designed t btain cmmunity input int the planning prcess via a series f interactive activities, including a Build-the-Visin mapping exercise and image preference survey. Cmmunity Tur: Prvided a tur map and pints f interest in neighbring cmmunities, allwing the public t visit cmparable dwntwn areas and prvide feedback as t what they wuld and wuld nt like t see in Western Springs. Public Open Huses: Prvided an infrmal public review prcess fr cmmunity members t review the Plan and share their preferences relating t the alternatives presented. Prject Website: Prvided an nline resurce and frum t keep the public infrmed and engaged in the planning prcess. Strefrnt Office: Prvided an pprtunity fr the public t infrmally chat with the cnsulting team abut key issues, cncerns, and visin fr the future f dwntwn Western Springs. Develper Review: Prvided an pprtunity t get feedback frm the develpment cmmunity n the prpsed Cncept Plan and verall redevelpment strategy. 6 Public Hearing: The Plan Cmmissin cnducted 3 public hearings n the Plan and recmmended additinal refinements. The abve phts and images frm ur public wrkshps and pen huses, prject website and temprary stre frnt ffice.