Chicago Southland's Green TIME Zone

Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone

Green Transit, Intermodal, Manufacturing, Environment Zone A Core Element of the Southland Vision 2020 for Sustainable Development

Table of Contents

America’s First Green TIME Zone 1

The Southland Green TIME Zone Strategy 2 Transit-Oriented Development 3 Intermodal: Cargo-Oriented Development 6 Manufacturing for a Green Economy 8 Environment: A Binding Thread 12

A Greener Return on Investment 14

Making It Happen 15

A Model for Livable and Workable Communities 18

The Southland Green TIME Zone Framework 18 America’s First Green TIME Zone

The southern suburbs of Chicago (the Southland) The Green TIME Zone of Chicago’s Southland grew up in the nineteenth century with a dual capitalizes on these emerging trends with a strategy identity: as residential communities from which through which older communities can translate people rode the train to downtown jobs and as the value of their established rail infrastructure industrial centers that rose around the nexus of and manufacturing capacity into desirable the nation’s freight rail network. Over the last two neighborhoods, good jobs, and environmental generations, many of these communities endured improvement. The strategy is built on three linked economic hardship as residents and businesses mechanisms for sustainable redevelopment: transit- left for sprawling new suburbs and international oriented development (TOD) to establish livable pressures eroded the industrial base. The communities, cargo-oriented development (COD) environment of the Southland and the entire Chicago region suffered as farmland was paved over at ever freight movements, and green manufacturing to accelerating rates, vehicle miles traveled climbed buildto capture a healthy the economic economy benefitswith a bright of intermodal future. These steadily, and thousands of acres of prime industrial mechanisms lead to the acronym TIME: communities and economies are rebuilt around TRANSIT, INTERMODAL facilities and MANUFACTURING, all Todayland decayed new economic into brownfields. forces are driving development founded on a commitment to preserve and improve trends that the Southland is uniquely poised to the natural ENVIRONMENT. foster. Communities are again being built around rail transit stations, where residents can enjoy Although the following report describes a convenient, walkable neighborhoods and realize savings from reduced driving. At the same time, suburbs, the Southland Green TIME Zone is globalization is causing more freight to move aredevelopment national demonstration plan specific of theto Chicago’s potential southfor through strategic hubs and more manufacturing regional, state, and federal partners to bring people, and logistics companies to locate near intermodal businesses, and good jobs back to an economically terminals, where they can combine reduced shipping distressed region. costs with greater reliability.

The south suburbs are redeveloping around existing rail infrastructure, enabling more affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation options.

The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), the Association (SSMMA) formed the Southland Green Delta Institute, and the Metropolitan Planning TIME Zone strategy through its development Council (MPC). This partnership planned and arms—the Chicago Southland Housing and launched the Southland Green TIME Zone as a way Community Development Collaborative (CSHCDC) to redevelop the southern suburbs by capitalizing on and the Chicago Southland Economic Development their principal economic and environmental assets. Corporation (CSEDC)—in partnership with three The plan is a culmination of six years of research and planning among these groups. national leaders in sustainable development: the not-for-profit organizations that are regional and

Southland Green TIME Zone Strategic Overview

Transit Intermodal Manufacturing ➜ ➜ ➜

Cargo-Oriented Development Transit-Oriented Development Green Manufacturing (TOD) & Housing (COD) ➜ ➜ ➜

Housing & Community Logistics Park Calumet & Calumet Development Collaborative Sister Developments Manufacturing Center ➜ ➜ ➜

· Community-Corridor Planning · Railroad Investments · Regional Supplier Program · Inter-Municipal Cooperation · Sustainable Development Fund · R&D Support · Neighborhood Stabilization · Road Improvements · Production Capacity Support · Sustainable Development Fund · Environmental Remediation · Alternative Energy Production · Land Bank · Customs Inspection Station · Workforce Development · Coordinated Zoning · Foreign Trade Zone · International Marketing · Energy & Housing Conservation · Sustainable Development Fund ➜

Sustainable Housing & Business Development Center

CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » 2 The economic and environmental assets leveraged in machine tool manufacturers, together employing the Southland Green TIME Zone are common in the over 10,000 workers, can process new orders for wind turbines, low-emission locomotives, energy- cities, but they are especially rich in SSMMA’s 42 memberneighborhoods municipalities: and first suburbs of America’s older Workforce readiness. More than two-thirds efficientof adult residentscranes and within other three emerging miles technologies. of the CN Exceptional transportation assets. The • Gateway in the heart of the Southland Green TIME Southland connects to regional, national and Zone hold a high school or community college • international markets by two major intermodal diploma, providing a ready industrial workforce.

transit lines with 33 stations (plus nine stations These assets are core elements of the Southland alongfreight Metra’s terminals, planned five freight Southeast rail lines,Service four line), rail an Green TIME Zone’s three central mechanisms: extensive inter-suburban bus network, and four transit-oriented development (TOD), cargo-oriented expressways. development (COD) and green manufacturing. Location efficiency. Transit station areas in traditional downtowns offer households Transit-Oriented Development • opportunities to save hundreds of dollars per Transit-oriented development integrates moderately month on transportation, while excellent access dense housing with a mix of retail and service businesses all within a pleasant walk of a public products in the heart of Chicago reduces fuel use transit station. TOD residents typically reduce forto freight carriers corridors and shippers. and markets for finished their transportation costs and carbon footprints Underutilized land. The 42 transit station areas through their ability to make routine trips without contain over a thousand acres of vacant land driving. Older suburban downtowns built around • for new housing and needed stores, while more rail stations are TODs by design. The south suburbs than 3,000 acres in some 200 clusters of vacant contain dozens of TOD communities connected by or underutilized industrial land in prime COD four commuter rail lines, which also carry freight to locations can support many new manufacturing the CODs. These communities function in symbiosis and distribution businesses. with CODs, providing the nearby workforce and retail International logistics access. The Canadian services needed by COD businesses, while CODs supply good jobs and corporate taxpayers that keep • Yard Center intermodal terminals connect the local communities viable. Yet Southland towns suffer regionNational by (CN) rail toGateway Canada, and Mexico, Union and Pacific deepwater (UP) from disinvestment that has weakened their industrial ports on all three coasts, while 171 third-party districts. They need redevelopment planning, housing, and commercial investments to resume commerce. their traditional role as livable communities in which Greenlogistics supply providers chain. create More jobs than from 450 thismetals flow and of working families and companies can thrive.

•

3 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 Making Smart Choices To support the linkage of job creation with In 2009, CNT released Making Smart Choices: Transit- housing and neighborhood development, Oriented Development Selector Analysis of South SSMMA, its partners, and regional agencies and Suburban Corridors. Using its TOD Selector™ tool, CNT civil organizations are striving to build livable assessed the current conditions and TOD potential of 42 communities by establishing TODs with quality existing and proposed Metra stations in the Green TIME housing options for a range of income levels, Zone. This report served as the foundation for the integrated with retail and civic amenities. Chicago Southland Transit Corridor TOD efforts in the Southland Green TIME Zone Development are spearheaded by the Southland Housing Plan, funded by and Community Development Collaborative, an Chicago’s Regional intergovernmental partnership of more than 20 Transportation southern suburbs. The Collaborative’s focus is to Making Smart Choices: Authority, that will Transit-Oriented Development Selector Analysis of preserve and develop the homes that constitute the South Suburban Corridors lay out a regional bedrock of TOD. Its efforts include: vision for TOD. Ongoing research and planning. The Regional

Prepared for: South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Submitted by: Center for Neighborhood Technology • Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) have funded March 2009 and led research, planning, and demonstration projects that advance TOD in the south suburbs. Strong markets for mid-level and workforce housing and convenience retail have been Center image courtesy of the Village of Tinley Park

are working to implement station-area TOD plans, andidentified a regional in transit TOD planstation is underareas; development17 communities for

Municipal cooperation. The mayors of the the TIME Zone’s five passenger rail corridors. incentives that Illinois provides for EAH programs • measures to coordinate TOD efforts across town toAssisted major HousingSouthland (EAH) employers. and the significant boundaries.southern suburbs For example, have taken the ninesignificant municipalities Land assembly and predevelopment. Major along the proposed Southeast Service transit line impediments to the implementation of TOD have formed an intergovernmental partnership • plans in older suburbs are the fragmentation to support the rapid construction of this line and of property ownership and the deterioration of to plan the development of the station areas it buildings and infrastructure on properties that will serve. have been in use for over a century. Land parcels Housing stabilization. The primary concern in these communities must often be assembled of the Collaborative, as in communities across • the country, is to preserve neighborhoods developments. Accordingly, the Green TIME Zone threatened by the mortgage foreclosure crisis. partnersand improved propose to compete to establish with the greenfield Southland The Collaborative has focused its reinvestment Sustainable Development Fund, a revolving fund plans on transit station areas where savings in for the assembly and improvement of land for transportation costs will give families the best redevelopment in TOD and COD locations. opportunities to sustain their mortgages. It has Land banking. The Southland Sustainable coordinated the use of $8.9 million in federal Development Fund is being planned concurrently Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds • with the Southland Housing Collaborative Land to execute this strategy, which includes the Bank (the Land Bank). Central to establishing sharing of best practices among its members, the institution are a U.S. Housing and Urban counseling to avoid foreclosure, and directly Development (HUD) grant to engage expert investing in buildings. Employer-assisted housing. To further stabilize Business and Professional People for the Publicconsultants Interest. and The support Land from Bank the will non-profit hold and • strong ties between workplace and home, the maintain vacant properties so that they keep Collaborativecommunities withpromotes location the efficiencyconcept of and Employer- their value and do not become a problem for the

CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » 4 Freight Zones: neighborhood, and then convey the properties Chicago’s Job Engine under terms that will ensure their continued use Freight transportation generates hundreds of thousands of high paying jobs in the Chicago region. In Bank is primarily designed to preserve homes 2004, Chicago Metropolis 2020 mapped 40 Chicago for moderate-incomethe benefit of the community. households, While it will the also Land “freight centers” with concentrations of warehousing, hold commercial and COD properties during the distribution and manufacturing businesses. Within these development process. freight centers, firms accounted for 553,000 jobs. The Zoning and entitlement coordination. A Green TIME Zone could support such activity. frequent impediment to the realization of TOD Source: The Metropolis Freight Plan: Delivering the Goods, • is the tendency for zoning codes to segregate Chicago Metropolis 2020: 2004. land uses, spreading development over wide areas and frustrating the integrated development and compact land use that are essential to Job Creation in Freight Zones 600,000 TOD. An anticipated element of the Southland’s 553,000 coordinated TOD planning is uniformity in the 500,000 application of form-based zoning for TOD areas, coupled with expedited entitlement for projects 400,000

300,000 Besides advancing individual TOD projects, Jobs that fulfill community development plans. consistent zoning and entitlement policies 200,000 will assure developers and investors that the southern suburbs are eager for TOD proposals 100,000 and encourage investments in multiple station 37,000 50,000 areas. 0 Railroads Trucking Freight Centers Energy and housing conservation. Substantial federal stimulus funds are available to improve • Workforce Readiness area. The Southland Housing and Community Developmentthe energy efficiency Collaborative of buildings and its in partner the Chicago One of the strongest assets of the Green TIME Zone organizations are working to maximize is its workforce. South suburban residents have the the allocation of these funds to the south background that manufacturing and distribution suburban TOD corridors, where their impact companies need with 63 percent possessing a high school diploma, but not a bachelor’s degree. This complementary effort, SSMMA and CNT will serve is a higher percentage than in Cook County, Illinois Southlandwill be enhanced TOD areas by location with the efficiency. I-GO Car InSharing a or the United States as a whole. Green TIME Zone program, through which many households can development will nourish this workforce with stable, high-paying jobs just a short commute away by bike, charged electric vehicles) that can often take the train or car. placeshare ofefficient personal cars vehicles. (including The hybrid combined and impactssolar- Source: 2000 United States Census. of these programs will create neighborhoods where substantial household cost savings from Percentage of Workers with a High School Degree but no Bachelor’s Degree 70% residents ensure the quality of their homes and location efficiency and energy efficiency can help 60%

Housing development. The Collaborative 50% seekstheir financial to combine security. its community planning, • neighborhood stabilization, employer incentive, 40% land acquisition, land banking, zoning reform, 30% and conservation initiatives into an integrated 20% program to develop and preserve a south suburban housing pattern that serves both 10%

household budgets and the environment. 0% Green Green Zone Zone Cook Cook County, County, IL IL United United States States

5 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 Intermodal: Cargo-Oriented Development Railroad intermodal investments. Following Cargo-oriented developments bring industrial its acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern rail and logistics businesses together with excellent • corridor, the Canadian National Railroad (CN) access to multiple modes of freight transportation, expects to increase the number of containers it complementary businesses, and a ready workforce. handles at its Gateway Intermodal Terminal from CODs are home to freight transport companies, 350,000 to over 2 million. From the Gateway warehouse operators, distributors, and wholesalers Terminal, shippers can directly reach America’s largest trading partners, Mexico, Canada, and the intermodal terminals of the south suburbs. By China. This unrivaled access to foreign markets that add value to the shipments flowing through will make redeveloped sites even more valuable millions of unneeded truck miles from freight routes, to end users. Less than three miles from the CN realizingoperating fuel in a savings Green TIME that reduce Zone COD, the cost firms of could goods cut Gateway Terminal on a major arterial highway is for consumers all over the country, “greening” the nation’s complex supply chain while creating local toward the south and serving as a rail gateway jobs. Years of disinvestment in the south suburbs, tothe the Union Ford Pacific automotive Intermodal assembly site, plantproviding and other access however, have resulted in deteriorated roads and supply chain companies. Logistics Park Calumet. CN’s massive investment limit the productivity of the area’s industrial areas. in metropolitan Chicago and the Gateway Terminal thousands of acres of vacant brownfields that severely • set the stage for the Logistics Park Calumet (LPC) Redevelopment of the Southland’s extensive acreage initiative, the primary COD focus of the Green of vacant industrial land, especially those located TIME Zone. The core of LPC holds the Southland’s near major freight transportation assets, is central densest concentration of COD opportunities to the Green TIME Zone strategy of creating jobs for containing over 1,400 acres of underutilized or TOD residents and a natural complement to the green vacant land within four miles of the CN and UP manufacturing initiative. The COD initiatives in the intermodal terminals. These terminals provide Southland Green TIME Zone include: vital connections to America’s freight rail system

At the epicenter of the Southland Green TIME Zone sits the Canadian National (CN) Gateway Intermodal Terminal, which connects the region by rail to Mexico, Canada, and deep water ports on the Atlantic and Pacific. Shippers can efficiently transport containers from China to Prince Rupert, British Columbia by sea, then to the Gateway Terminal by train. CN is increasing the capacity of the yard from 350,000 to 2 million container lifts each year – giving the Green TIME Zone the best access to international markets in the region.

and serve as anchors for COD opportunities within described above, has been proposed to assemble COD and TOD properties and prepare them for efforts required to develop similar COD sites in redevelopment. LPC’sthe core. inner The and work outer in therings core and exemplifies elsewhere the in the Intermodal connector road improvements. south suburbs. The Chicago Southland Economic Some of the truck routes that link LPC’s intermodal Development Corporation (CSEDC) is prioritizing • facilities to expressway ramps are under-built its projects in land assembly, road improvements, for the cargoes they carry. CSEDC is working with regional and state agencies to rationalize Land assembly and predevelopment. Land thatand brownfieldshas been in industrialreclamation use to for make a century LPC a reality. is improvements to upgrade LPC’s intermodal • often fragmented into numerous small parcels connectors.road classifications Additionally, and secure full funding funds andfor needed with different owners. The value of these implementation of projects planned under the properties is also frequently eroded by the CREATE (Chicago Region Environmental and presence of obsolete, deteriorated buildings and infrastructure. Reassembly and improvement rail and road upgrades that improve regional cargo of the land for redevelopment is an expensive movement,Transportation reduce Efficiency) congestion Program and emissions, will provide and process—especially with cheap farmland readily available at the periphery of the region. Environmental remediation. The presence The Southland Sustainable Development Fund, ofmaximize dozens theof environmentally profitability of LPC contaminated businesses. • Logistics Park Calumet

Downers Grove Hinsdale Countryside Summit Intermodal Terminal Hodgkins Westmont Bedford Park Industrial Development Opportunity Indian Head Park Core Darien Justice Burr Ridge Burbank Inner Ring Willow Springs Bridgeview Hometown Outer Ring Bolingbrook Hickory Hills Chicago Oak LawnEvergreen Park 01 2 4 6 Palos HillsChicago Ridge ¨¦§I57 Woodridge Miles Worth Merrionette Park Lemont Alsip ¨¦§I94 Whiting Palos Park Blue Island Palos Heights Calumet Park Crestwood Riverdale Burnham East Chicago Posen Dolton Midlothian Calumet City Goodings Grove Orland Park UP Terminal Oak Forest Harvey Phoenix ¨¦§I90 Hammond Orland Hills Markham South Holland Gary Lockport Tinley Park Hazel Crest CN TerminalThornton Lake Station Lansing Country Club Hills New Chicago HomewoodGlenwood Munster Highland New Lenox ¨¦§I80 Arbury Hills SR 394 Flossmoor Lynwood Hobart Joliet Mokena ¨¦§I65 Olympia Fields Griffith Frankfort Square Ford Heights Matteson Chicago Heights Dyer Frankfort Park Forest Sauk Village village Schererville Richton Park South Chicago Heights Merrillville Steger Willowbrook Crete St. John University Park I Crown Point Manhattan Monee

Logistics Park Calumet Logistics Park Calumet (LPC) will demonstrate how cargo-oriented development creates jobs and cleans the air. LPC’s core contains over 1,300 acres of vacant or underutilized land located near CN and UP intermodal yards. New logistics and light manufacturing facilities would unload and unpack containers from these terminals, add a final step to the production process, then distribute them all over the country. This would create jobs and remove tens of thousands of truck trips from the Interstate Highway System.

7 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 sites is a liability that comes with the region’s manufacturers in the Southland Green TIME Zone are industrial heritage, but these properties can be already building windmill components, low-emission transformed from health hazards into nodes of railroad locomotives, and electric-powered heavy economic activity. Since 2007, CSEDC, CNT, and lifting equipment. These and similar companies seek local communities have leveraged over $2.24 to innovate further, increase production, expand in million in EPA grants to remediate environmental place, and attract like-minded businesses to join them contamination in COD sites within LPC. In 2009, in sustainable industry clusters. the EPA awarded an additional $1 million to assess COD sites in six south suburban towns. Calumet Renewable Energy, Customs inspection. A new U.S. Customs station Rail, and Auto Manufacturing Center proposed for operation within LPC will create The Calumet Renewable Energy, Rail, and Auto • additional jobs for local residents and reduce Manufacturing Center has been formed to promote travel-related emissions. The facility will speed the area to green manufacturers and address freight transfers and eliminate a 72-mile round the needs of existing companies. The center is trip that thousands of trucks a month must coordinating efforts by regional civic and educational now make, in which containers are drayed to institutions to help more Chicago-area companies Bensenville, IL, for inspection, then returned to join the green manufacturing ranks and marketing the south suburbs for unpacking. Chicago’s south suburbs as the premier location for Foreign Trade Zone. A plan to designate the LPC green manufacturers. Initiatives connected with the area as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) will create center include: • attractive to logistics operators, wholesalers, and Regional supplier program. Building on manufacturersfederal tax benefits that thatprocess will importedmake this parts park ormore research by the Delta Institute, CSEDC and its • partners are fostering relationships between or delaying import taxes. major manufacturers and regional suppliers of rawI-80 materialsEast logistics. into finished Beyond itsproducts inner ring, by reducing LPC component parts and services. For example, a contains industrial and logistics space and ready- South Side Chicago Ford plant recently enlarged • to-build COD sites along I-80 in the towns of Crete, Sauk Village, Tinley Park, and University Park with being connected with a widening network of fast access to the CN and UP intermodal terminals, competitivefor the production local parts of fuel-efficient suppliers. vehicles is LPC’s proposed U.S. Customs station and FTZ, and Research and development assistance. Many terminals in Joliet. green manufacturers need additional resources • to fuel ongoing innovation. Manufacturing Manufacturing for a Green Economy Center partners are assisting the National Green manufacturing converts established plants Railway Equipment Co., producer of the world’s and their skilled workers from producing traditional goods to manufacturing the products needed public-sector support to expand its product line. by a more sustainable economy. Existing green Similarly,most energy-efficient engineering locomotives,faculty from theas it Illinois seeks

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn discusses NREC’s state-of-the-art facility in Dixmoor with (from left) Reggie Greenwood, SSMMA; David Chandler, CNT; and Ed Paesel, SSMMA.

Institute of Technology are gearing up to help For example, with CSEDC support, the Robbins Community Power plant was recently licensed to challenges. produce electricity by burning clean wood waste. Productiongreen manufacturers capacity meet enhancement. design and Someefficiency Investors are now considering a COD in the south green manufacturers also need advice in securing suburbs as the site for a major biodiesel plant. In • direct public sector support and tax credits for addition, the Delta Institute is developing a new building production capacity. For example, CSEDC program that sites wind turbines on vacant or and CNT are aiding Funk Linko, a supplier of underutilized industrial land. Local workforce development and green wind turbines, as the company studies options jobs. CSEDC is interviewing Southland tocomponents relocate to for a larger energy-efficient plant with expandedlocomotives and • industrial companies with an interest in green production capacity in a Southland COD. The manufacturing to fully understand their needs, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic including their labor requirements. In partnership Opportunity recently awarded a $4.5 million grant with four south suburban educational institutions to help companies assisted by CSEDC advance their product development and manufacturing Chicago, CSEDC is working to galvanize a program capacity improvements. and the Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Alternative energy generation. Companies that generate power from renewable sources are manufacturingthat will specifically and service-industry match manufacturers’ skills. • valued industrial producers in the Southland. Internationalneeds with local marketing workers certified and corporate in green recruitment. In addition to building regional • supplier networks, CSEDC and its partners are pooling the resources of burgeoning green manufacturers to attend conventions and trade

thatshows works and seekto attract out international business investment markets. to World theBusiness Chicago Chicago, area, is a particularlynot-for-profit courting organization green manufacturers to locate in Southland COD sites.

Sustainable Housing and Business Development Center SSMMA will provide information, advice and introductions for the growing number of sustainable development projects moving toward implementation in the Southland. CSEDC will carry out this function, with support from CNT, through the Sustainable Housing and Business Development Center (SHBDC), which will

• Maintain a database of COD and TOD sites available for redevelopment; • Track the progress of green manufacturing, COD, and TOD projects; • Maintain a current record of public programs available to support sustainable development; The National Railroad Equipment Company in Dixmoor unveiled • Maintainservices in a rareasegistry such and as performance sustainable landrecords for its low emissions locomotive, which will revolutionize the professional firms that provide environmental carbon footprint of transportation. NREC’s N-ViroMotive Genset, with its massive reductions in noise, fuel consumption, development design, LEED-certified building and particulate and carbon emissions, will greatly amplify the design, ISO certification, and brownfield energy savings rail already provides. Residents of the Southland investorsremediation for andproprietary prevention; information, make will work to assemble these state-of-the-art machines. • Cinformationonsistent with on sustainable the needs of development businesses and

11 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 The Green TIME Zone vision is the product of an ongoing community planning process that taps a diverse set of stakeholders for their input. In October 2004, residents and business owners of Blue Island met to identify the transportation assets and economic development opportunities in their community. In 2005, the Blue Island Plan for Economic Development recommended a coordinated strategy of TOD and COD that has become a model across the Zone.

resources and projects available to the public, their customers to minimize their environmental and particularly to member municipalities and impact. For example, Mi-Jack Products in Hazel businesses working to achieve sustainable Crest is developing a freight yard management

transfer, reduces truck idling, eliminates emissions matchdevelopment; investors and with development opportunities, fromsystem gantry that greatlycranes, improvesand allows the for efficiency more compact of goods • Emploand projectsy its information seeking assistance resources with to creativelypublic freight yards. resources and service providers.

Environment: A Binding Thread • Imprsuccessovements and will to reduce intermodal congestion connectors and emissions and The south suburbs are home to abundant natural producedredirection by of cars truck and traffic trucks are throughout essential to the COD resources that contribute to a better quality of life Chicago region. for residents, workers, and visitors. A network of waterways, trails, forest preserves, grasslands, and In addition to the environmental protections inherent other ecological amenities provide recreational to the development initiatives of the Southland Green TIME Zone, SSMMA and its partners strongly resources is critical as the region strives to retain support efforts that directly aim to preserve the south and attracteconomic residents benefits, and and businesses. the protection Environmental of these suburban environment and involve more people in its sustainability is woven throughout the Southland active enjoyment, including these notable projects: Green TIME Zone’s three main components of TOD, COD, and green manufacturing: Calumet-Sag multi-use trail. A 26-mile multi- use path following the Calumet River and the • Calumet-Sag Channel is slated for completion by 2012. The Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail, • Deandvelopment limit paved along areas, transit thereby lines decreasing and sprawl, runoff,redevelopment soil erosion, of infill and sites waterway will conserve contamination. land businesses and advocates, raised local funds to matcha coalition approximately of area residents, $2 million municipal in federal officials, grants will allow for better pedestrian and bicycle and begin construction of the trail, which is • Caccessibility,oordinated zoningcontributing and land to a use healthier, ordinances more already underway. The segments in planning will active population with a smaller carbon footprint. provide linkages to Metra rail stations and Pace

River Pattern Book, such as native landscaping, • Implementationpervious pavement, of best green pr acticesroofs, and from alternative the Green bus routes; four major existing trails, including energy sources, will improve air and water quality athe variety 500-mile of historic, Grand Illinoiscultural, Trail; educational thousands and of and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. commercialacres of open destinations. space and recreational Construction areas; of the and trail and other improvements to the regional trail network are guided in part by the South Suburban • Greater funding for research and development and capital improvements will allow COD firms and

CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » 12 Organizations throughout the Southland are supporting measures to preserve and enhance the ecological and recreational resources for residents and visitors, including: ➜ Lake Calumet Ecosystem Partnership ➜ Thorn Creek Restoration Coalition ➜ Long Run Creek Watershed ➜ Thorn Creek Ecosystem Partnership ➜ Butterfield Creek Steering Committee Planning Committee ➜ Grand Calumet Task Force ➜ Lan-Oak Park District ➜ Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail ➜ People for Community Recovery ➜ Hickory Creek Watershed Group ➜ Active Transportation Alliance

Bicycle Plan, which was created in 2001 and a bi-state Calumet-area vision that connects updated in 2008 by SSMMA, with consultation the growing network of trails across state from the Active Transportation Alliance and lines and creates a denser system of facilities Robinson Engineering. to enable residents to more easily reach jobs, Calumet Area Land Use Plan. Adopted by the shopping, parks, schools, and transit stations Chicago Plan Commission in 2002, this plan on foot or by bicycle. The system, once built, • proposed an additional 2,500 acres of protected will enhance the allure of the Calumet area as a natural areas and wetlands, which are populated transit-accessible eco-tourism destination for by more than 200 bird species. residents of both Indiana and Illinois. Fay’s Point. This market-rate development of Lake Riverdale Sustainable Master Plan. 36 townhomes plans further expansion at the Philanthropic funding is allowing SSMMA to • meeting point of the Little Calumet River and • pursue creation of a Lake Riverdale Sustainable the Calumet-Sag Channel. It provides a compact, Master Plan with Hitchcock Design Group, walkable neighborhood near Metra stops, trails, restored wetlands, and downtown Blue Island’s and area partners. The master plan will provide commercial amenities. aWeaver model Boos,for including JFNew, SETsustainable Environmental, storm water CNT, Calumet Connections active transportation management, greenways and recreational trails project. Openlands and the Northwest Indiana in the development of a large industrial property • Regional Planning Commission are developing adjacent to a major freight rail terminal.

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The Southland Green TIME Zone will reshape the could save 1.5 million miles and 11,200 metric tons economy and environmental footprint of the south of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions yearly if containers entered U.S. Customs in the Southland Green TIME jobs, income, and public revenue while taking millions Zone, rather than in Bensenville, assuming 2 percent ofsuburbs. vehicle The miles plan off can area mean roadways, significant eliminating increases in of all containers are selected for inspection. Shippers millions of tons of emissions, and creating real savings in household budgets for area residents. truck miles and 7,200 metric tons of reduced CO2 emissionsand the region yearly would if the benefit Green TIMEfrom 1 Zone million captured fewer In 2008, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) calculated that the redevelopment Intermodal for processing and distribution. These of just one 48-acre site in the Southland Green savingsjust 5 percent add up of to the 2.4 container million truck traffic miles at Gateway and

TIME Zone as a logistics-industrial park would 18,400 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided create 457 new jobs, $76 million in household yearly by full build out. income and $7.9 million in state and local tax TOD communities near COD projects will also realize scenario estimating 10 additional jobs per acre, redevelopmentrevenues by 2015. of the With core a conservative area of Logistics build-out Park CNT’s Housing + Transportation (H+T®) Affordability Calumet (approximately 40 percent of the Green Indexsubstantial estimates financial that andthe averageenvironmental household savings. within a TIME Zone’s vacant industrial land with strong COD half mile of transit annually spends $250 less, drives potential) would reclaim 1,400 underutilized acres 1,600 fewer miles, consumes 80 fewer gallons of and support as many as 13,400 new jobs, $2.3 fuel, and generates one metric ton of CO2 less than billion in additional income and $232 million in the equivalent household beyond that radius. CMAP state and local tax revenue over 10 years. estimates that the Southland Green TIME Zone will grow by 115,000 households by 2030. If half of this By locating a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol station growth is captured in transit-oriented developments in the Green TIME Zone, trucks will eliminate $14.2 unnecessary trips to unpack containers, inspect them million in household transportation savings, 96 at U.S. Customs and bring them to market. Truckers millionby 2030, fewer the annual vehicle net miles benefits traveled, would includeand 46,000

metric tons of CO2 emissions eliminated.

NET BENEFITS ➜ 13,400 in potential new jobs ➜ $2.3 billion in new income ➜ $232 million in state & local tax revenue over 10 year period ➜ 2.4 million truck miles avoided per year ➜ $14.2 million in household transportation savings ➜ 96 million fewer vehicle miles traveled

➜ 46,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions eliminated

The Southland Green TIME Zone initiative calls for A livable community street program, also the integration of federal investment with state funded by the Federal Highway Administration, is and local resources to attract substantial private • investment. This intergovernmental partnership will demonstrate how collaborative action can needed to install traffic signals and turning lanes implement a local vision and catalyze sustainable measuresthat will smooth and parking the flow structures of traffic that through would COD enableparks. The Southland funds would Green alsoTIME pay Zone for transittraffic calmingstation areas to create the conditions for TOD and become Federaleconomic Inv growthestments on a significant scale. livable communities. The Green TIME Zone partnership seeks federal Federal Railroad investment across seven departments and Administration (FRA) Job Creation agencies and through legislative action. To make • DOPartnership.T should create In 2009, a DOT, the U.S. Dept. of redevelopment of the south suburbs happen, Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. assistance from the following agencies is needed. Environmental Protection Agency formed the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a U.S. Department of Commerce historic collaboration to support sustainable An economic development analysis, made communities through their coordinated efforts. possible through an Economic Development To date, this partnership has focused on transit, • Administration Planning Grant, is needed to housing, and air quality as vital concerns. The FRA can expand and deepen this collaborative by end users. working with EPA and the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Designanalyze andcommodity engineering flows andservices recruit need specialty funding to redevelop industrial lands around freight through Economic Development Administration transportation assets. This effort will make job • creation another critical focus of the federal to equip key roads for 80,000-pound trucks. partnership. The FRA should make the Southland CapitalPublic Works improvement and Economic assistance, Development awarded Grants Green TIME Zone a template for this job creation through Economic Development Administration partnership. • Change Mitigation Grants, is needed to establish U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thePublic Southland Works, EconomicSustainable Development Development and Fund. Climate Brownfield assessment capabilities have already This revolving fund would make it possible to assemble land and make basic predevelopment • Assessment Grant to evaluate the environmental site improvements in COD and TOD projects as conditionsbeen secured of sitesthrough in the a $1 Logistics million ParkBrownfield Calumet well as to support product developments by green area and identify steps for their remediation. manufacturers. Additional assessment grants will be needed to evaluate more properties among the 3,000 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) acres of vacant industrial land with strong An intermodal connector pilot program, made possible through the Federal Highway Southland Green TIME Zone, as well as possible • Administration, is needed to improve the region’s COD potential that have been identified in the “last mile” connections between the CN and UP in transit station areas. Terminals and the Interstate Highway System Brownfieldbrownfield conditions cleanup funding, on potential made housing available sites in the core area of Logistics Park Calumet and comparable COD projects in the Southland. • through Brownfield Cleanup Grants, and the renewal of CSEDC’s Brownfields Revolving

15 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 Loan Fund—now fully subscribed after a recent U.S. Department of Labor recapitalization—are needed to remediate A sustainable workforce development selected sites once the nature of contamination program, run through the Employment & • Training Administration, is needed to match the A COD pilot program administered by EPA is region’s workforce with emerging opportunities in has been identified. green manufacturing and logistics. • assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment process.needed to An systematize EPA pilot program the COD would site identification, create a Federal Legislative Initiatives national model for communities with freight Congress is currently considering a range of transportation assets. proposals to create jobs, improve the environment,

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) communities through the integrated activities of leverage energy efficiency gains by multiplereduce traffic federal congestion departments. and foster A legislative livable proposal to establish Green TIME Zone districts based on the • DOE needs to Southland Green TIME Zone model would appear andconcentrating COD site network energy efficiencyplans of the building Southland retrofits to achieve a number of these national goals with Greenin location-efficient TIME Zone identify properties. such properties.The TOD corridors

compelling synergies and cost efficiencies. U.S. Department of Homeland Security A new centralized examination station created State Investments by U.S. Customs and Border Protection is needed Illinois can match the federal government’s • within Logistics Park Calumet to examine and integrated planning and redevelopment strategy secure foreign containers on site. through existing programs and legislative initiatives. A new Foreign Trade Zone designation conferred by U.S. Customs and Border Protection • and the Port of Chicago is needed to allow IllinoisWe recommend Department the of followTransportation initiatives. (IDOT) tariff-deferred importation and production at capital planning grants development sites. An FTZ designation would available for infrastructure improvements based increase the LPC businesses’ value in the global • IDOT should make economy and create jobs within the Southland. the highest uses and the most likely end users for CODon the sites findings in Logistics of a current Park Calumet. study that will identify capital assistance for rail U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sidings and connections and for vehicle turn lanes, Because the Southland Green TIME Zone epitomizes • stoplightsIDOT should and provide road beds to handle heavy trucks HUD’s commitment to linking housing with job and make the region more freight-friendly. creation and environmental improvement, the Green model enforcement of TIME Zone partners look to this federal agency for existing statutes for Complete Streets, Location several types of support, including: • IDOT should offer an integrated network of walkable streets within productive use of resources allocated under TODEfficiency, neighborhoods. and Safe Routes to School, establishing • traditionalEncouragement HUD programs,for more creative such as planning Community and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) includingDevelopment the NeighborhoodBlock Grants; Stabilization • Program,Programs which stemming is now from funding the Recovery redevelopment Act, partnerships for federal investments for the efforts by Southland Housing Collaborative • SouthlandThe DCEO should Sustainable match Developmentor propose new Fund, which will assemble land and make basic predevelopment site improvements in COD and members; and TOD projects. • initialPrograms experiences directed ofby the HUD’s Sustainable Sustainable Communities Housing Green economic development grants, Initiative,and Communities TIGER II Office opportunities, that will growand other from projects the expanding on assistance already supplied through based on HUD’s partnership with EPA and DOT. • the Green Industry Business Development program, are needed to equip more Southland

CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » 16 manufacturers for the production of wind legislative proposal to establish Green TIME Zone turbines, low-emission transportation equipment, districts based on the Southland Green TIME Zone model would achieve a number of these stated goals. Workforce development through Job Training and Economicother high Development energy-efficiency grants, products. the • Employment Opportunity Grant Program, and Regional and Local Investments the Employer Training Incentive Partnership, is Regional public agencies, including the Chicago needed to match the workforce with emerging Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the green job opportunities. Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), and the government of Cook County, have been major early Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) supporters of Southland Green TIME Zone projects. Brownfield cleanup made possible through If the Green TIME Zone goals are to be realized, these public agencies will need to adopt a more systematic • policy of investing state and federal funds, combined throughIEPA’s Office EPA ofAssessment Brownfields Grants. Assistance is needed with local resources, in projects that optimize to assist the remediation of sites identified Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) for the region. In the Southland Green TIME Zone guidance from Illinois theseeconomic investments development should and include environmental the following: benefits Senate Bill 374, which directs state agencies Integration with CMAP’s long range regional • IHDto considerA should the adhere combined to costs of housing and transportation and land use plan. Recognition transportation in evaluating proposals and • of the integrated Southland Green TIME investment decisions. Zone initiative as a Development of Regional The Linkages Working Group, through which IHDA and other state agencies implement initiatives for other sections of metropolitan • coordinated policies of federal housing, ChicagoSignificance, as a meansand consideration of achieving of the comparable policy goals of transportation, environmental, and economic the GO TO 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan. development, should adopt the Southland Green SouthEast Service line. Construction of this long- TIME Zone as a model initiative. planned Metra line will extend effective public • transportation and opportunities for TOD to nine Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) and more Southland Green TIME Zone communities. Office of the Illinois State Treasurer Southland Sustainable Development Fund. Regional agencies should provide resources to should match or propose new partnerships • match or stimulate federal and state investments • forThe federal IFA and investments Office of the for Illinois the Southland State Treasurer in order to establish this fund, which will Sustainable Development Fund, which will assemble land and make predevelopment assemble land and make basic predevelopment site improvements in COD and TOD projects site improvements in COD and TOD projects. and support product development by green manufacturers. State Legislative Initiatives Intermodal connector funding. Alignment of Intermodal Facilities Promotion Act. This regional and county transportation budgets with 2009 Illinois law allows incremental increases • a pilot Federal Highway Administration program • in state income tax receipts attributable to is needed to ensure optimal development and the new intermodal freight and logistics park maintenance of intermodal connector roads. development in Joliet to be available to fund the Recovery Zone Bonds for green manufacturing. expenses of the developer in creating this project. Allocation of these bonds is needed for the • development of prototypes and expanded production capabilities by green manufacturers in SouthlandParallel legislation Green TIME should Zone be strategy. passed to benefit the Southland Green TIME Zone. Jobinfill creation freight-related initiatives. development The Illinois as partGeneral of the Assembly, like Congress, is currently considering • a range of proposals to create jobs, improve the

livable communities while containing costs. A environment, reduce traffic congestion and foster

The time is right for an integrated redevelopment Public and private sector investments have funded in- strategy that gathers the components of the Southland depth planning and some instructive pilot projects in the Southland, but ongoing public support is needed Focusing on transit-oriented development in the south to assemble land and make the critical infrastructure suburbsGreen TIME will Zonehelp directinto a unifiednew development regional vision. toward improvements that developers and end users expect the creation of livable communities. Implementing the new concept of cargo-oriented development will SSMMA, CNT, and other partners will continue connect industrial and logistics businesses to growing workingand can readily to access secure and leveragein exurban the greenfield federal and sites. state intermodal freight transportation hubs and a ready public resources described in the report to attract workforce. An emphasis on green manufacturing will help transition existing businesses and skilled public and private funding, the Southland Green workers to manufacture the products needed in a TIMEadditional Zone private can become investment. a national With model the appropriate for building sustainable economy. In addition to revitalizing the economically integrated neighborhoods around south suburbs, these three components will help public transit, greening the nation’s supply chain and preserve and improve the natural environment, the industrial renaissance, and creating high paying jobs fourth component of the Southland Green TIME Zone. where they are needed most.

The Southland Green TIME Zone Framework

The Southland Green TIME Zone strategy rests on a foundation of empirical research and community-based planning. Over the last several years, with the generous support and cooperation of private foundations, public agencies, and civic organizations, SSMMA and its partners have : • Supported intensive TOD and COD planning in • Collaborated in research that demonstrated a individual member municipalities (2004–present) strong market demand for middle-market and • Conducted economic development corridor workforce housing in TOD areas of the south planning with seven suburban municipalities suburbs in the Homes for a Changing Region bordering the Calumet River (2007–2008) initiative (Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Chicago • Published the Green River Pattern Book Metropolis 2020, with studies published 2005–2009) of identified best practices for sustainable • Analyzed the market for TOD at 42 existing and development of industrial sites and livable proposed stations in Making Smart Choices and communities, building on the work of the Calumet initiated a TOD Corridor Plan based on this analysis River Coalition (2008) (2009–present) • Coordinated a systematic study of the Southland’s • Developed information systems to track the freight transportation assets and infrastructure redevelopment of key COD and TOD sites needs in the South Suburban Freight Study (2007–8) (2009–present) • Identified 199 potential redevelopment locations in • Launched a study to identify end users of Cargo-Oriented Development Opportunity Sites in redeveloped COD locations (2010–present) the South Chicago Suburbs (2008) • Established a marketing network of industrial brokers, developers and end users (2008–present)

CNT | SSMMA | © 2010 « Chicago Southland’s Green TIME Zone » 18 The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) is an award- SSMMA provides technical assistance and joint services winning innovations laboratory for urban sustainability. Since to its member municipalities, which represent a 1978, CNT has been working to show urban communities in population over 650,000 in Cook and Will Counties. Chicago and across the country how to develop more sustainably. SSMMA members work cooperatively on transportation, CNT promotes the better and more efficient use of the legislation, land use, economic development, recycling, undervalued resources and inherent advantages of the built and purchasing, stormwater and open space planning, natural systems that comprise the urban environment. infrastructure, human resources, public safety and housing issues. As a creative think-and-do tank, we research, promote, and implement solutions to improve the economy and the SSMMA conducts its economic development work environment; make good use of existing resources and primarily through two affiliated organizations whose community assets; restore the health of natural systems and members include most south suburban municipalities as increase the wealth and well-being of people—now and in the well as organizational, business, and individual members. future. CNT’s unique approach combines cutting edge research The Chicago Southland Economic Development and analysis, public policy advocacy, the creation of web-based Corporation (CSEDC) facilitates business development information tools for transparency and accountability, and the and job creation in harmony with the natural advancement of economic development social ventures to environment. The Southland Housing and Community address those problems in innovative ways. Development Collaborative (the Collaborative) focuses on the preservation and development of housing within CNT works in four areas: transportation and community sustainable communities. development, natural resources, energy and climate; and through two affiliates, I-GOTM Car Sharing and CNT Energy. More information about SSMMA is available at www.ssmma.org CNT is a recipient of the 2009 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

More information about CNT is available at www.cnt.org

South Suburban Mayors and Managers Member Communities

City of Blue Island Village of Hazel Crest City of Palos Heights Village of Burnham Village of Homewood Village of Park Forest City of Calumet City Village of Lansing Village of Phoenix Village of Calumet Park Village of Lynwood Village of Posen City of Chicago Heights City of Markham Village of Richton Park City of Country Club Hills Village of Matteson Village of Riverdale Village of Crete Village of Midlothian Village of Robbins Village of Dixmoor Village of Mokena Village of Sauk Village Village of Dolton Village of Monee Village of South Chicago Heights Village of East Hazel Crest Village of New Lenox Village of South Holland Village of Flossmoor City of Oak Forest Village of Steger Village of Ford Heights Village of Olympia Fields Village of Thornton Village of Glenwood Village of Orland Hills Village of Tinley Park City of Harvey Village of Orland Park Village of University Park

The Southland Green TIME Zone is an integrated strategy through which the southern suburbs of Chicago seek to achieve sustainable economic development throughout their region. This strategy has been developed and implemented by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), an intergovernmental agency representing 42 municipalities, which has made environmental sustainability a fundamental focus of its economic urban sustainability. The principal authors of this report are David Chandler, Maria Choca Urban, Steve Perkins and Kyledevelopment Smith and strategy, Taylor McKinleyand the Center of CNT, for with Neighborhood key input from Technology Edward (CNT),Paesel, aReggie nonprofit Greenwood, organization and Janicededicated Morrissy to of SSMMA. Nicole Gotthelf, Colin Murphy, Emily Robinson and Annette Stahelin edited the report, with design by Kathrine Nichols.

The Southland Green TIME Zone strategy is the culmination of years of work that is rooted in making better use of the region’s infrastructure assets, and has included countless hours of public engagement and an unprecedented level of municipal cooperation and regional leadership. This initiative would not have been possible without the efforts of a large number of institutions and organizations whose contributions have helped to launch it and whose continued support will help bring it to fruition. The Metropolitan Planning Council has played a key role in the development of several components of the Green TIME Zone. In addition, we want to acknowledge:

Business and Professional People for the Public Interest; Calumet Area Industrial Council; Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Center; Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning; Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce; Cook County Department of Planning and Development; Delta Institute; Diversity, Inc.; Environmental Law & Policy Center; Governors State University; Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Illinois Department of Transportation; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; Illinois Institute of Technology; Member municipalities of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association; Metropolitan Mayors Caucus; Moraine Valley Community College; NCB Capital Impact; Prairie State College; Regional Home Ownership Preservation Initiative; Regional Transportation Authority; South Suburban College; United States Environmental Protection Agency; and World Business Chicago. and has continued throughout this initiative. The Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust, the Gaylord and We would like to especially thank the Grand Victoria Foundation, whose support began this work six years ago

Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the Union Pacific Foundation also generously supported this project.

Photo Credits: Page 1 Flickr/CC License: Tom Gill (lapstrake) Cover Flickr/CC License: Christopher & AmyCate Flickr/CC License: billjacobus1 Flickr/CC License: greenforall.org Flickr/CC License: tomfs Flickr/CC License: geocam20000 CNT Village of South Holland Page 2 CNT Flickr/CC License: eflon CNT Flickr/CC License: Christopher & AmyCate Flickr/CC License: greenforall.org Flickr/CC License: Spatial Mongrel Page 3 Village of South Holland Flickr/CC License: SFAntti CNT Flickr/CC License: jamesjyu Page 6 David Wilson Village of South Holland Page 8 CNT Flickr/CC License: Tom Gill (lapstrake) Page 11 CNT Flickr/CC License: AMANITO Page 12 CNT CNT Page 14 Flickr/CC License: AMANITO Flickr/CC License: Desfolio Flickr/CC License: tearbear Flickr/CC License: lumierefl Flickr/CC License: Spatial Mongrel Flickr/CC License: greenforall.org Page 15 Flickr/CC License: jeremywilburn Flickr/CC License: thomas.merton Flickr/CC License: mnrgz Inside Cover (back and front) Flickr/CC License: Phil Romans Google Earth - Blue Island, IL Page 18 Flickr/CC License: geocam20000 Flickr/CC License: brutal Flickr/CC License: eflon Flickr/CC License: Roger Smith December 2010