Neighborhood Planning
Neighborhoods are one of the basic building blocks of a city. Neighborhoods can lend distinctive character, create interest and activity, and provide texture and context to the built environment. Neighborhoods also provide an identity or ‘sense of place’ which allows residents –newcomers and long-timers alike- to connect with the city, local organizations and institutions and each other, thus forming a sense of community. Healthy neighborhoods do all of these things and more, well.
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Although the Neighborhood Planning Committee of the Plan Commission provides a citywide leadership core to address the neighborhood revitalization process, the Neighborhood Planner facilitates public participation and collaborates with residents, businesses, property owners, city officials, commission staff, and local institutions to help communities achieve their goals.
Evanston has undertaken several neighborhood planning efforts which resulted in either adopted neighborhood plans or technical advisor reports. These plans are briefly summarized below and may be viewed under Area Planning.
Southeast Evanston Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan
The Southeast Evanston Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan studied community areas adjacent to Howard Street, which forms the City's southern limit and the Evanston-Chicago boundary. The plan identifies and prioritizes concerns of community members.
Chicago Avenue Corridor Recommendations Report
Chicago Avenue is the major north-south arterial serving eastern Evanston's neighborhoods and commercial districts located at Main and Dempster Streets. it also parallels and provides direct commuter access via the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) rapid transit, Metra commuter rail and both Pace and CTA bus routes. The report contains detailed recommendations to guide future redevelopment and to promote compatible economic development.
West Side Neighborhood Planning - Canal-Green Bay Road/Ridge Avenue-Church Street
This report documents the community consultation and planning process guided by the Neighborhood Committee of the Evanston Plan Commission. The final report identifies community concerns and issues, examines the opportunities presented by redevlopment projects and presents action recommendations.
West Evanston Master Plan
The West Evanston Master Plan is a physical master plan which, together with its related form-based code, articulates the community's vision for future infill projects within three TIF sub-areas so that they and their residents become fully integrated with the existing community. In 2008, the plan for Sub-Areas 1 & 2 was awarded the APA-IL Gold Award.
Central Street Corridor Plan
This document presents a master plan and streetscape design for Central Street. Its scope includes evaluation of existing land uses, physical conditions, and current streetscape conditions. Future recommendations for strengthening this mixed-use corridor, enhancing its pedestiran character and guiding future development are also presented in this plan.
Howard Street Full-Circle Study
In 2009, Evanston was selected by the Northwest Municipal Conference to participate in the Full-Circle Program. The Full-Circle program was developed by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) as a means for connecting local community planning projects with cutting-edge planning technologies.
Evanston's Full-Circle Study is focused on the Howard Street commercial district. It analyzes and maps data collected by neighborhood volunteers on business tenants, building conditions and safety perceptions in the corridor, between Ridge Avenue and the Howard CTA Station.
The Neighborhood Planner can be reached at 847-448-8675 or sguderley@cityofevanston.org.