Chicago Neighborhoods 2015: Assets, Plans and Trends – A project of The Community Trust

STOCKYARDS Technical Assistance Panel: Remaking an Historic Corridor June 2006

Community Areas: Bridgeport

Urban Land Institute, Metropolitan Planning Council, Alderman Balcer

A Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) was formed in 2006 to address transportation, retail and marketing issues, pedestrian safety, land-use regulations and the creation of an identity for Archer Avenue. In 1964, the Stevenson Expressway was built, creating a barrier between Archer Avenue in Bridgeport and the rest of Chicago. Recently, the construction of the Stearns Quarry Park and the demolition of the bridge over Ashland Avenue have provided new opportunities for the area. The TAP includes recommendations that can provide further opportunity through infrastructure, development, and understanding the market potential of the Archer Avenue corridor.

General Recommendations: Assess the market potential; Upgrade street infrastructure; Focus on transit-oriented development; Establish gateways and midpoint; Fill in the streetwall; Review zoning and financing.

Specific Recommendations: Improve utilization of the Ashland El stop by improving signage; Add a walking path along Bubbly Creek and a kiss-and-ride feature, as well as more parking; Add service and commuter-focused businesses at the Halsted station; Create bumpouts at Archer Avenue and Loomis Street; Add parking and install an historic marker to make this the center of the neighborhood; Improve access to Jacolik Park (formerly named Eleanor Park) and Quarry Park.

Plan Maps and Data References: Rendering of Orange line station, p. 10.

Highlighted Accomplishments: Opened three small stores next to the Halsted El station; Installed parking stalls under the Stevenson Expressway for local businesses; Installed minor identifier signage at the Ashland Avenue and Halsted Street entry point; Made minor interpretive signage and greening improvements at Bubbly Creek; Announced that the City of Chicago is working with local colleges and universities on the development of a boat launch structure.

Key Unfinished Projects: Improve Ashland El stop signage; Add Bubbly Creek kiss-and-ride and parking; Create bumpouts at Archer Avenue and Loomis Street; Improve access to Jacolik Park and Quarry Park.

Archer Avenue Technical Assistance Panel: Remaking an Historic Corridor

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Plans Synthesis – Stockyards – February 2015 – Page 1 Chicago Neighborhoods 2015: Assets, Plans and Trends – A project of The Chicago Community Trust

Archer Avenue and Halsted Street Pattern Book November 2008

Community Areas: Bridgeport

City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Camiros, Site Design Group, Granacki Historic Consultants

Two corridors, Halsted Street and Archer Avenue, provide the Bridgeport community with much of its retail, service and institutional base. The Pattern Book is a tool for city staff to use when assessing development proposals, engaging in dialogue with the development community and articulating the vision for Bridgeport’s major corridors to ensure that new development is consistent with the character of the community.

General Recommandations: Promote key goals based on district type; Build projects that best fit the vision of each district; Follow design guidelines for each project type; Reinforce a sense of place by using the recommended scale of development for each block of the Archer Avenue and Halsted Street corridors; Focus historic conservation policy on blocks with significant buildings.

Specific Recommendations: Strengthen major activity centers; Reinforce a vibrant pedestrian environment; Build on the character of the neighborhood’s most prominent buildings in neighborhood shopping districts; Maintain a pedestrian-oriented street wall, provide for a variety of uses and create appropriate transitions to surrounding residential areas in neighborhood mixed-use districts; Maintain street wall wherever possible to create a safe relationship between automotive and pedestrian circulation and minimize the visual impacts of parking lots in community shopping districts; Follow detailed site planning principles and scale and bulk principles provided for each project type; Follow detailed recommendations provided for each significant building cluster.

Plan Maps and Data References: District map, p. 5; Multi-story mixed-use allowable project area, p. 10; Multi-story residential allowable project area, p. 12; Residential townhouse development allowable project area, p. 14; Detached residential development, p. 16; Multi-tenant shopping center allowable project area, p. 18; Single-tenant small-box retail allowable project area, p. 20; Scale map, p. 23; Architectural survey map, p. 25.

Highlighted Accomplishments: None.

Key Unfinished Projects: Identify one or more community organizations to adopt and promote pattern book; Strengthen major activity centers; Reinforce a vibrant pedestrian environment.

Archer Avenue and Halsted Street Pattern Book

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Plans Synthesis – Stockyards – February 2015 – Page 2 Chicago Neighborhoods 2015: Assets, Plans and Trends – A project of The Chicago Community Trust

Ashland Bus Rapid Transit Bus Rapid Transit August 2012

Community Areas: North Center, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, West Town, Near West Side, Lower West Side, McKinley Park, New City, West Englewood, Auburn Gresham, Beverly

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Chicago Department of Transportation, Department of Planning and Development, Federal Transit Administration

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is planned for 16 miles of Ashland Avenue from Irving Park Road to with implementation occurring in 3 phases. The first phase is now being designed for central Ashland Avenue from Cortland Avenue to 31st Street. Ashland Avenue was chosen because it has the highest bus ridership of all CTA routes with 10M boardings in 2012, provides access to more than 130,000 jobs, services popular destinations and large employment centers such as the Illinois Medical District, University of Illinois at Chicago, United Center, Malcolm X College and 99 schools. It also provides access to seven CTA stations and 37 bus routes. It is expected to result in an up to 83% increase in bus speeds, save the average commuter nearly 65 hours per year as compared to the local bus and be 50% more reliable than the local bus.

The Ashland BRT will feature:

 A dedicated center running bus lane in each direction to keep buses out of general traffic during boardings  Limited stops, every 12 mile and at CTA El stations  Transit Signal Priority intersections and longer green lights to keep traffic moving  Potential pre-payment for faster boarding, similar to L stations  Wide doors on left side of new, high-capacity vehicles  Improved lighting, ADA ramps and real-time travel info  Maintenance of existing medians and the addition of more than 75 blocks of new streetscaping, including medians and sidewalks

To build the Ashland BRT, the following accommodations will need to be made:

 Eliminate one vehicle travel lane in each direction, typically leaving one travel lane in each direction  Reduce parking by 8% and loading zones by 4%  Remove left turn lanes

Highlighted Accomplishments: Five open public meetings; 31 meetings with community organizations; 14 direct ridership outreach events.

Key Unfinished projects: Proposed route and features have not been finalized.

Ashland BRT

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Plans Synthesis – Stockyards – February 2015 – Page 3 Chicago Neighborhoods 2015: Assets, Plans and Trends – A project of The Chicago Community Trust

Back of the Yards Quality of Life Plan March 2014

Community Areas: Brighton Park, McKinley Park and New City

Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, LISC, Teska, Axia Development

Back of the Yards struggled during the decline of the meatpacking industry and experienced related problems, such as unemployment, affordable housing and safety. The Quality of Life plan process began in 2011 and addresses issues in four areas: Youth and Education, Economic Development, Housing and Civic Engagement. The plan includes recommendations to stabilize the neighborhood’s economy, provide quality housing options, and support its youth population through educational experiences and a safe environment.

General Recommendations: Expand opportunities for youth through recreational, educational and vocational experiences; Provide quality affordable housing opportunities for homeowners and renters; Target rehab, new construction, and a block-by-block strategy to stabilize the neighborhood; Enhance public safety for all residents, shoppers and visitors to the Back of the Yards; Improve economic development, jobs and new retail opportunities in the neighborhood; Develop and improve access to high quality education for all children in the neighborhood to become college and career ready; Promote a strong identity for Back of the Yards and market the community.

Specific Recommendations: Improve the quality and options for recreational facilities in the neighborhood’s park system; Create safe spaces for youth that nurture constructive activities, social interaction and job training opportunities; Create safe passages to and from Back of the Yards High School and build up the school as the flagship of the neighborhood; Improve the quality of educational opportunities for children and families; Advance the local education system to tailor a curriculum that adequately prepares students for the workforce; Identify available jobs and the required skills, particularly for local industrial businesses in the Stockyards and nearby industrial parks; Identify how local businesses can be more integrated in the advancement of community improvement goals; Improve the retail identity of the neighborhood as a catalyst for changing the way people perceive Back of the Yards; Promote redevelopment of vacant lots and buildings to bring new opportunities and jobs to the community; Cultivate the neighborhood as a unique destination by strengthening its cultural institutions, restaurants and entertainment options; Improve the physical appearance of the neighborhood through streetscape design and reuse of historic properties; Address vacant properties through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program; Address foreclosure problems through coordination and education between homeowners and lenders; Provide residents with the resources needed to become knowledgeable and responsible homeowners and renters; Ensure quality housing is available to renters, seniors and veterans; Build community support to demand an appropriate level of police personnel to address the safety needs of the neighborhood; Maintain an open line of communication with local law enforcement, fire department officials and aldermen; Improve the street and alley infrastructure throughout the neighborhood to provide for a safe and accessible street network for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists; Speak as “one community;” Strengthen the image of Back of the Yards as a neighborhood through the new Back of the Yards branding campaign; Develop a social media campaign to connect and inform members of the community, and positively influence the perception of the neighborhood.

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Plans Synthesis – Stockyards – February 2015 – Page 4 Chicago Neighborhoods 2015: Assets, Plans and Trends – A project of The Chicago Community Trust

Plan Maps and Data References: Population change, 1990-2009, p. 7; Retail categories float for the Back of the Yards convenience trade area, p. 7; Table with information about local schools, p. 8; Neighborhood assets map, p. 9; Neighborhood improvement strategies map, p. 16.

Highlighted Accomplishments: Established a freshmen and sophomore class at Back of the Yards High School as a result of new relationships between local elementary schools and parents; Initiated conversation between local colleges and the community around vocational training opportunities; Held a job/career fair; Formed a partnership between the Stockyard business and Back of the Yards Neighborhood Corporation (BYNC) for job matching; Provided informational resources for tax incentives for hiring unemployed workers by BYNC; Used Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds for housing renovations; Increased visible and pro-active police presence; Increased use of social media platforms, especially Facebook, for marketing and communication purposes.

Key Unfinished Projects: Expand neighborhood mural program; Build a new Inclusion Center; Obtain funding for youth peer mentoring and tutoring programs; Expand utilization of the Back of the Yards branding campaign; Repair and upgrade 47th Street streetlights; Redevelop the Aronson Site currently in foreclosure; Work with the Swap-O-Rama to fill vacant vendor units; Maintain the momentum of the Stakeholder Task Force; Create a Foursquare page.

Back of the Yards Quality of Life Plan

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Plans Synthesis – Stockyards – February 2015 – Page 5