Big Plans for Northtown/CBD
Just a year after its inception, the Northtown/Central Business District (CBD)/ Parking Task Force has issued a final report that is making its way out of committee in preparation for presentation to the Board of Trustees. Convened in the spring of 2007, the Northtown/CBD/Parking Task Force is made up of 13 residents, two trustees, (Jean Follett, and Vic Orler, head of the Strategic Planning Committee) and one village staff liaison, (Tim Scott, Community Development Strategist.) As defined by the Trustees, the goal of the Task Force is to ensure that the CBD and Northtown continue to contribute to Hinsdaleʼs position as a desirable place to live by promoting dynamic and vital shopping, a diverse, yet integrated architecture, and a variety of uses, including retail, dining, recreational facilities, and residential options.
Initially charged with integrating the area north of the Burlington tracks with the CBD, the Task Force gradually expanded its assignment, turning its attention toward leading development for the area and grand, village-driven projects. The Task Force increased its boundaries to encompass an area bordered by Maple Street to the north, Third Street to the south, Madison Street to the west, and the western boundary of the Hinsdale Hospital to the east.
The Task Force members also grew the scope of the project and defined key characteristics required for achieving the Board of Trustee's goals. Under the banner of land use, Task Force members established a variety of functions that might attract foot traffic to CBD/Northtown during day and evening hours. Members recommended constructing additional, suitable empty nester housing convenient to the CBD/Northtown. Design guidelines were encouraged, but not formulated. To meet a perceived parking shortage, members advocated establishing dedicated shopper parking with longer-term meters. They also urged creating additional commuter parking to reduce the waiting list for spaces, and employee-only parking locations to free up spaces for shoppers.
Task Force conclusions
The Task Force concluded that over the next 20 years, it is likely that many of the properties in CBD/Northtown will be fully or partially redeveloped, in most cases one at a time. In order to achieve uniformity with the overall development objectives of the BOT, Task Force members developed guidelines for the optimal uses of the individual parcels, outlined below. Because the Village controls or influences the development of several important properties in CBD/Northtown, the Task Force felt that the Village should lead the redevelopment of some or all of these properties, to create “appropriate” destinations and amenities in the village.
Six long-term recommendations proposed
1. The establishment of a cultural/educational anchor to provide a destination and create additional foot traffic. This is proposed as a 400-600 seat theater with
alternative performance and education spaces. There would be room for food service, and display and office space. Sufficient parking spaces would be required for all of these uses.
2. Village-led development of a mixed-use project on the municipal parking lot (north of the tracks between Washington St. and Lincoln St.) Alternative uses include first floor retail and offices with residential condominiums above. The adjacent properties on the block would potentially be included in any redevelopment plans.
3. Development of duplexes and towhouses near the CBD to provide alternatives for empty nesters and creation of additional foot traffic in the CBD.
4. Integration of Northtown and CBD. In the short term, this would include connecting the Memorial Building to the CBD, landscaping & signage improvements to the aforementioned village municipal lot, and paving upgrades at crossings and ornamental fencing along the railroad tracks. In the long term, the Task Force recommended installing a terraced sidewalk down the center of the Memorial Building lawn, continuing CBD lighting and signage along Garfield/ York, and along Chicago to Grant Square, creating a railroad underpass in the CBD suitable for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and creating a covered train platform on the south side of the tracks between Washington and Lincoln to enable trains to stop without blocking Garfield Avenue.
5. Adoption of a land use plan for Northtown/CBD to guide future development, including: office, retail, detached single-family, and attached single-family duplexes, townhouses and condos. Community needs include: athletic fields, facilities, childrenʼs parks, green space, and an arts/educational center. Public services include: police, fire, road and park departments, village offices and library. Parking includes: at-grade, underground and parking decks. Land use guidelines--to be part of the current zoning code rewrite—include: buffer areas between commercial and residential development, and single-family borders, i.e., substantial landscaping; open space where economically feasible, and “green building” incentives; construction of a scale model of Northtown to complement the existing CBD model located in village offices.
6. Adoption visual design guidelines for Northtown/CBD to guide future development specifying appropriate scale and density, varied streetscape, high-quality detailing and consistent character.
The Task Force report was based upon several planning assumptions and considerations, including the fact that the existing water treatment plant must remain in its current location because large water storage tanks are buried under the grassy area to the west of the plant. The library was recently renovated and is not expected to relocate from its current location in the next 20 years. In addition, an 8-foot diameter water pipe traverses the municipal parking lot from Lincoln Street across to Washington Street. Relocating this pipe would be difficult.