State of Wells Street Report

The State of WELLS STREET C o r r i d o r Wells Street Corridor Friday April 16th draft Acknowledgments Wells Street Corridor Plan is a collaborative effort between the Old Town community, Old Town Merchants and Residents Association (OTMRA) and Special Service Area (SSA) #48 Old Town. STEERING COMMITTEE • Caroline Schoenberger • Peter O’Brien • Judy Erwin • Alex Christenson • Paul Purewal SSA #48 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS • Peter O’Brien, Chair • Dino Lubbat, Vice-Chair • Mark Proesel, Treasurer • Don Klugman, Commissioner At-Large • Judy Erwin, Commissioner At-Large • Caroline Shoenberger, Commissioner At-Large • Alex Christenson, Commissioner At-Large 2 DRAFT REPORT Table of contents INTRODUCTION LAND USE & PHYSICAL CONDITIONS TRANSPORTATION Overview...........................................................05 Land Use..............................................................11 Introduction........................................................37 Plan Mission....................................................06 Physical Conditions........................................13 Modes of Transportation............................38 Plan Process...................................................06 Public Realm......................................................17 Key Observations............................................41 Outreach Process........................................07 Key Observations...........................................21 Context..............................................................08 COMMUNITY SPEAKS Survey Results.................................................43 Old Town SSA#48.......................................09 MARKET OVERVIEW Demographics..................................................23 Employment.......................................................27 Housing................................................................28 Business Mix......................................................29 Comparable Communities.........................33 Key Observations............................................35 STATE OF WELLS STREET CORRIDOR 3 Section 1 introduction 4 DRAFT REPORT overview The Old Town neighborhood conjures distinct projected in Old Town’s near future, the Old The Wells Street Corridor Plan effort was imagery for most Chicagoans – the charm Town Merchants and Residents Association initiated in November 2020 by OTMRA and of the historic buildings, thriving culture (OTMRA), along with Special Service Area SSA #48 to envision a thriving, connected, and entertainment, alluring architectural #48 (SSA) are planning the future of the and sustainable future for the District, details, the vibrancy of people roaming Wells Wells Street corridor and and recommend one that caters to old and new residents Street, old taverns and modern bars, a mix future land use in the district. Many factors and businesses. This Plan will focus on the of traditional walk ups and contemporary indicate that the future of the Old Town ongoing influences of the pandemic and high rises, and the warmth of outdoor cafes neighborhood and SSA district is bright. explore strategies to enhance Old Town’s key and twinkling lights. Undoubtedly, it is one However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic commercial street and improve quality of life of the city’s most recognizable and unique has heavily impacted local restaurants, for residents and visitors. neighborhoods. entertainment venues, and businesses throughout the District, This report summarizes existing conditions Despite its name, there is plenty of “new” in and identifies a series of key takeaways that Old Town, as the Wells Street corridor has will be built upon in the following phases of seen an increased number of new buildings UNDOUBTEDLY, OLD TOWN this planning effort. and new residents over the past couple of IS ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST decades. Living up to its history of vibrancy RECOGNIZABLE AND UNIQUE and livability, Old Town has continued to attract residents with new development. NEIGHBORHOODS. With an estimate of over 2000 new units STATE OF WELLS STREET CORRIDOR 5 PLAN MISSION Going forward, the Wells Street Corridor Plan will establish a compelling vision and revitalization priorities to guide local actions and partnerships. For OTMRA and SSA #48, the Plan will serve to guide decision-making on allocating resources for initiatives aimed at managing a vital District now and into the future. For the broader community — local businesses, property owners, residents, and local stakeholders — the Plan will serve as a resource for stimulating new ideas and ways of thinking on collaborations that can achieve a stronger community and an active and vibrant street, that makes Wells Street unique. The commitment is evident, and the possibilities are numerous. The Plan will provide the spark for imagination and creativity to make Wells Street a compelling destination for locals and visitors. The Final Corridor Plan will identify priority investments and outline the steps necessary to achieve Plan initiatives, investments, and implementation action steps. plan process PHASE 1: PHASE 2: PHASE 3: ENGAGE & DISCOVER ENVISION & EMPOWER IMPLEMENT The first phase establishes a dynamic During the second phase, the vision In the third and final phase of the planning community engagement process to create and goals of the Plan are outlined, and process, the Corridor Plan will be developed a comprehensive information base for the concepts and recommendations for physical to communicate the vision for the future Wells Street Corridor existing conditions. enhancements, placemaking, and business of Wells Street. The focus of this phase is development will be crafted and ultimately to develop implementation strategies and formalized into a draft Corridor Plan. prioritize improvements to the SSA District. 20 – 1 – ju 1 – se 20 Apr 02 ne 202 pt er il 2 20 y 20 b 2 ay 2 l 2 m 0 1 u 1 e 2 m j v 1 o N 6 DRAFT REPORT outreach process The public visioning and outreach program KEY TOPICS COVERED: of the Wells Street Corridor Plan included significant engagement of community BUILT ENVIRONMENT residents, business owners, property owners, OTMRA and SSA #48 Board members, Enhancing physical conditions and the curb condominium associations, and more. appeal of the streets, sidewalks, buildings, facades, storefronts, streetscapes, and open From the beginning, stakeholders were spaces within the SSA District. The built engaged in a dialogue about the Old Town environment also focuses on the types of neighborhood and the District — its key uses and their location along the corridor. assets, areas for improvement, and what its future could be. In early February of 2021, the planning team engaged a wide variety of Old Town PLACEMAKING stakeholders, including residents, local Connecting and unifying Wells Street into a business owners, property owners, Board of cohesive street, as well as creating vibrant Commissioners, representatives from local social spaces. Placemaking needs include organizations such as the Franklin Fine Arts pedestrian amenities; temporary gathering Center, and local civic institutions such as spaces; improved crosswalks, wayfinding and The Moody Church. Through these meetings, signage; public art; and special features that a number of key issues emerged regarding contribute to Wells Street’s sense of place the history of Old Town, the changing and identity. demographics, planning initiatives, key challenges, and opportunities. ECONOMIC VITALITY Stakeholder input will be noted throughout Growing and nurturing local businesses, the State of Wells Street Report. generating local wealth, jobs, and long-term vitality and resilience, and continuing to retain new businesses to cater to its community. STATE OF WELLS STREET CORRIDOR 7 LINCOLN PARK context Old Town is a neighborhood located in the Near North Side community area. The neighborhood is bound by Lincoln Park to the north and west, Gold Coast to the east, and the River North area to the south. OLD TOWN This active and eclectic neighborhood has a diverse history, first settled in the 1850s. Old Town’s history is exhibited in its unique landmarks, including the St. Michael’s STUDY AREA Church – one of the few buildings to survive the Chicago Fire. Previously known as Old Town Triangle and North Town, Old Town continued to expand its boundaries over the GOLD COAST years. Being a cultural and entertainment destination for decades, Old Town is one of Chicago’s core neighborhoods, catering to locals and domestic and international visitors. STREETERVILLE RIVER NORTH RUSH & DIVISION Figure 1: Neighborhood Map 8 DRAFT REPORT EXHIBIT NAME 1 inch = 800 feet PROJECT NAME 0165 330 660 CITY, STATE MARCH 2021 © 2016 THE LAKOTA GROUP LINCOLN PARK NORTH AVE old town ssa #48 Established in 2009, and reconstituted in 2018, Old Town SSA #48 is a locally- WIELAND ST controlled and locally-funded taxing district focused on community development. The NORTH PARK AVE Sedgwick ST District’s boundaries expanded in 2019, ORLEANS ST offering services and programs to more areas in the Old Town neighborhood, including north of North Avenue, the north SCHILLER ST Clark St side of Division Street, and Burton Place on WELLS ST LaSALLE ST Wells Street. Governed by a seven-member Commission, the Old Town SSA #48 offers landscaping, beautification, and security EVERGREEN AVE services, as well as programs and events. The Old Town SSA #48 includes the stretch of Wells Street from North Avenue to W. GOETHE ST Hill Street, including the Old Town Park development

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