MAYOR EMANUEL’S INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR MODERNIZATION North Branch

St. John Cantius Church, 825 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL

COMMUNITY MEETING SUMMARY September 29, 2016 SUMMARY OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 Under Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s direc- organizations, industrial organiza- The corridor goals include: tion, the Department of Planning and tions, real estate professionals, and Development (DPD) initiated a public members of the media. • Maintain the North Branch review process in spring 2016 to Industrial Corridor as an important evaluate and refine land use policies The purpose of this “open house” economic engine and vital job for continued growth and private meeting was to give stakeholders an center in the City of Chicago. investment in the City’s Industrial opportunity to review and discuss • Improve the multi-modal Corridor system. the draft Land Use Framework for transportation network so that it the North Branch Industrial Corridor The purpose of this report is to better supports and encourages modernization initiative with city memorialize the open house meet- trips made by walking, biking, staff and their team of consultants, taking transit, and utilizing ing that occurred on September 29, and other stakeholders. The infor- shared-use mobility options. 2016 by documenting the comments mational presentation slides and and questions that staff received • Build upon the North Branch boards shown at the meeting were from stakeholders during the meet- Industrial Corridor’s unique natural published on DPD’s website, and can ing, and making this information and built environment. be viewed by clicking here. available to all interested parties. Two conceptual land use scenarios PRESENTATION were reviewed which classify areas MEETING HIGHLIGHTS into one of three categories: Dynam- ic, Stable, and Transitional zones, City staff from the City of Chicago Staff and meeting participants depending upon a parcels location, Department of Planning and Devel- reviewed information regarding the land use characteristics, and relation- opment (DPD) and the City of Chicago project time line, core job trends ship to adjacent properties. Department of Transportation (CDOT) within Chicago’s industrial corridor continued their community outreach system, the study-area boundary, and Four Urban Case Studies were efforts by holding a community the purpose of this initiative, which is presented which illustrated exam- meeting from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm to create a planning framework that ples from across the county where on September 29, 2016, at St. John aims to: industrial land uses co-exist with Cantius church, located at 825 N other uses (click project below to Carpernter St, Chicago Illinois. Alder- • Guide future development and; view additional information) : man Smith also participated in the • Inform improvements to the meeting, and DPD’s team of consul- • Boston Seaport, Boston, MA tants were in attendance. transportation network • South Lake Union, Seattle, WA The corridor goals that have been for- Nearly 400 stakeholders were invited mulated using input received from the • South Side District, Pittsburgh, PA to the September 29th meeting via community outreach efforts, including • Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA an Eventbrite email. The meeting social mapping (sMap), meetings with was also posted on DPD’s website community groups, aldermen, LIRI’s, Maximizing the value of the water- and Facebook page. There were 52 business owners and organizations, ways within the corridor was also stakeholders who attended the property owners and residents were discussed, including increasing and September 29th meeting, including also reviewed. maintaining natural habitat areas representatives from neighborhood and utilizing water transportation in resident groups, residents, business appropriate locations. owners and employers, business MEETING SUMMARY

2 INPUT HIGHLIGHTS NEXT STEPS COMMENTS & QUESTIONS Meeting participants offered numer- DPD and their team of consultants will continue to refine conceptual ous insightful comments during the Received during presentation: open house via the Q&A session, dis- land use scenarios,urban design, and transportation concepts. DPD will • What does the 2FM move mean - cussions with subject matter experts, what is planned for this big space? and comment cards. In general, most also continue to meet with groups and individuals if they have questions 2FM site has potential for park/ attendees were in favor of the main open space. goals that have been established to or wish to discuss their views. modernize the city’s industrial corri- • Is a park along the river in the plan? dors. Many comments centered on STAY INFORMED A nice park with facilities is needed. future land uses within the NBIC and • Generally positive reactions DPD will continue to hold public the importance of continued plan- received to DPD’s goals for the NBIC meetings and will post upcoming ning to understand and address the modernization. impact of these changes. meeting dates on our website. • Is this project consistent with the Input summary highlights include: All previous staff presentations have North Branch vision statement? been posted online: • Does the planning approach take • Allow the area to continue as an into account that “we may run out economic engine and job center • DPD’s website: https://www. cityofchicago.org/dpd of ‘Googles’ someday”? • Further explore the mix of land • Medium.com: https://medium. • What is the rationale for including uses needed to ensure area is com/@ChicagoDPD residential units? Is residential sustainable, while being mindful critical to creating a vibrant and of the operational needs of • Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/chicagodpd successful innovation district? businesses and their impact on Do any of the scenarios show it adjacent areas • Twitter: @ChicagoDPD acceptable for no residents in the • Ensuring the multi-modal area? transportation network can • A residential component is needed adequately accommodate the for the area to keep is active 24/7 future uses Please email DPD at DPD@cityofchi- and keep viable amenities for a cago.org with any questions, or if you • Maximizing the value of the river to corporate campus. would like to be added to our contact continue to provide transportation • Residential units will force and recreational opportunities database. “polluters” to leave. MEETING SUMMARY • Creating new public open spaces in • What is the appropriate amount of appropriate areas residential, office, and manufac- • Utilizing several important turing land uses for the area? character elements found within • How have other cities handled the the area conflicts between residential and industrial operations/businesses? Case studies are available online. • Would manufacturers be permitted in the mixed-use areas? • Put north side post office sorting in NBIC, combining functions now at Dearborn and Clark St stations. Dearborn can be redeveloped; Building to the north of Clark St. Station will be on market soon and this can be combined for development site. • Will the fees that are being discussed be so onerous as to curtail development?

3 • The traffic jams are already horrible downtown zones. More parks and • Create amenities such as snack trying to get on the Kennedy pedestrian friendly aspects. kiosks, boat rental, fishing piers, Expressway from Lincoln Park and water taxi. • I’d like to see the river opened to the to connect from Lincoln Park to public. A bike and walking trail along • Oz Park is the most used small park Bucktown. Without better connec- the river. Non-motorized transit in the city. tions and mass transit, how can the in the river, rowing, kayaking, with area support more commercial and • Performance space and concert some tour boats. A model would possibly residential development? venue at previous Morton Salt site. be the river walk downtown with • Sewers may need replacing; they restaurants and shops along the • Build a new large park with passive may have been damaged by river park. and active open space areas, industrial uses. including baseball fields. Topic Tables & Information Boards Comment Cards • Build a new park at General Iron site Open Space / River / Character on west side of Chicago River • There is a concern that the buffers need to be studied with high • Build a continuous Riverwalk with • Build a new park on the 2FM site. scrutiny because using the river bike trails. • Are there plans for a park on the as a buffer may not work well • Route Cortland bike traffic through Finkl site? because the noise and pollution still Wicker Park, Buck Town to would travel between businesses • New park along river at Tribune site Armitage. and residential. Also property tax north of Chicago Ave. revenue could be lost because • Create a bicycle friendly corridor • Retail corridor along Grand Ave commercial properties are taxed at along the river as well as connec- along Tribune site. a higher rate than mixed-use and tions to other open spaces. residential only properties. • Improve access for families to the • Extend bike paths from the 606 to 606 in the corridor. • Traffic is our largest concern. The Lincoln Park along Dickens (east) east-west and north–south access and Belden (west). • Preserve the historic Cortland to the Finkl property is inadequate Bridge. • Extend Southport across the river no matter how you slice it. There to improve transit access. • Preserve the historical character of is no guarantee that employees the former Clybourn Mansion. would be the residents of any new • Build a bridge across the river at development built on this space. Armitage. • Keep the character of the area - call There is no way to make that a out history of river with kiosks and • Build new Pedestrian / Bike bridges reality. Commercial tax revenue far wayfinding – tell the story. across river at Ogden, Evergreen, exceeds any residential tax revenue Blackhawk, Willow, and at Finkl site. • Note historic home that once stood from development. No towers and on/near 2FM site. high density structures on the Finkl • Create more opportunities to space. Low rise tech, restaurants, interact with the river including a • Provide adequate river access for park space and office space is the commuter boat further into the barges to promote a working river. way to go. North Branch, and allowing kayaks. Transportation • The whole area is easily bottle- • Make open space a priority. necked! If more development Increase access to open space, • Better inform residents how brings more business and and include as a selling point for additional development can occur residents, the whole road, bike potential uses as meeting space or with existing traffic issues -traffic sidewalk and street lighting needs entertainment venue. has only gotten worse over the to be rethought to make it more years. • Non-motorized boats should have accessible, safe and functional. priority through regulations. • Improved pedestrian and bike • Celebrate the river by providing easy connections are needed throughout • Improve water quality. access to the public and encourage area. awareness and use. • Offer river tours. • Build a pedestrian/bike bridge

MEETING SUMMARY • Linkage across river especially at • Expand water taxi service. River connection on Erie Street over Goose Island. West resident: ‘If I could take river existing rail lines and river to downtown, it would be great’ • A major concern is keeping the river • Build a pedestrian/bike bridge edge closed to public from Division • Access for local residents to across Ogden Ave. to Halsted. riverfront open space including parking spaces, bike racks, disabled • Would like to see north-south access. 4 connection to the 606 and • Add a pedestrian/bike crossing • Square structure in northeast Land Use Scenarios across the North Branch canal lane of Ogden Ave just before the between Division and North Ave. railroad viaduct is sunken 6 inches • I would like to see mixed use with and needs to be adjusted. residential along the canal. • Build pedestrian bridge from Ogden to Goose Island to connect/provide • Need dedicated parking for visitors • Build more parks, increase river foot and bike access to Blue Line to open space along the river. access and bike paths. and further to Fulton Innovation • Reinstate the Clybourn bus. • Cabrini Green development will District. eventually extend west to the river. • Rename Clybourn Metra state to • Extend the 606 trail to the Finkl Construct segregated bike lanes to • Buffers can act as barriers for Steel site. improve safety for all users. pedestrians – not enjoyable to walk • Widen bridges at Cortland St and through. • Plan for coordinated parking North Ave. facilities. • In the example of the Clybourn • Build a second bridge over river Corridor acting as a buffer, there is • Improve lighting, visibility and south of Division St only so much retail that can move street crossings for pedestrians at into the area and the limited uses • Build a pedestrian bridge over river and around the Ashland/Elston/ don’t allow much else, so it limits at Ogden Ave. Armitage intersection the development that can happen • Goose Island is disconnected and • Add Divvy stations throughout the in the area. needs more bridges to improve area, including at the Metra stop • The three zones “Dynamic, Stable access. and UI Labs. and Transitional” are split east to • Add water taxi stops. • Trucks on Fry Street trying to west, but perhaps they should be bypass Ogden/Chicago to get to split north to south? Along Ashland • Reinstate the Clybourn bus. Elston. and Halsted, etc. • Improve the pedestrian • Could Bigane use a new curb cut by • The development of the Ohio City environment at Ashland/Elston/ Fletcher Jones to alleviate trucks in neighborhood in Cleveland is an Armitage neighborhood? example of a mix of uses. • Relocate the Metra Station. • Truck access below grade of • Need to start discussing possible • Add Divvy stations near generators. Chicago and Halsted intersection density of development in North from Bigane to Kinzie along Branch as it will make the draft • Utilize rail ROW at Tribune site for existing, underutilized freight rail scenarios more realistic for people trucks. line. to understand what the impacts will be. Need to test the tolerance

• Consider taking out parking on MEETING SUMMARY street or making it diagonal parking. Case Studies of stakeholders for height in the area. • Truck traffic will be reduced when • South Lake Union has a nice 2FM moves. waterfront park. • The office market is volatile. • Increase access between Lincoln • Are there residential buildings in • The City may need more manufac- Park and Wicker Park by adding South Lake Union? turing space in the future, and more east – west connections. should hold space for this use • What is the proximity to downtown • There is increased street gridlock Boston? • Mixed use is appropriate on the on and around Clybourn south of Greyhound site. • How does this area compare in size Racine. to the North Branch? • New shuttle bus from Metra stop • There are still large surface parking to Finkl site. lots in the Boston Seaport. • New shuttle from Red/Brown CTA • What was on this site previously in lines to Finkl site. Pittsburgh (South Works)? • Extend the 606 trail to Finkl site • The north side of the river looks and further to Lake Michigan. isolated from the city. • Fill in river on east side of Goose • It’s nice to see Pittsburgh reinvent Island to connect streets. itself. • How does the city plan to accommodate the 15-20,000 new residents? 5