Streeterville Neighborhood Plan 2014 update II August 18, 2014 Dear Friends, The Streeterville Neighborhood Plan (“SNP”) was originally written in 2005 as a community plan written by a Chicago community group, SOAR, the Streeterville Organization of Active Resi- dents. SOAR was incorporated on May 28, 1975. Throughout our history, the organization has been a strong voice for conserving the historic character of the area and for development that enables divergent interests to live in harmony. SOAR’s mission is “To work on behalf of the residents of Streeterville by preserving, promoting and enhancing the quality of life and community.” SOAR’s vision is to see Streeterville as a unique, vibrant, beautiful neighborhood. In the past decade, since the initial SNP, there has been significant development throughout the neighborhood. Streeterville’s population has grown by 50% along with new hotels, restaurants, entertainment and institutional buildings creating a mix of uses no other neighborhood enjoys. The balance of all these uses is key to keeping the quality of life the highest possible. Each com- ponent is important and none should dominate the others. The impetus to revising the SNP is the City of Chicago’s many new initiatives, ideas and plans that SOAR wanted to incorporate into our planning document. From “The Pedestrian Plan for the City”, to “Chicago Forward”, to “Make Way for People” to “The Redevelopment of Lake Shore Drive” along with others, the City has changed its thinking of the downtown urban envi- ronment. If we support and include many of these plans into our SNP we feel that there is great- er potential for accomplishing them together. It has been stated that “The future of Streeterville is the future of Chicago”. SOAR would like to work with all stakeholders and challenge them to embrace that statement and insist on only the finest for Streeterville! If everyone raises the bar higher, together we will ensure not only the greatest neighborhood, Streeterville, but create the greatest city, Chicago! Sincerely, Gail Spreen Board of Directors Streeterville Neighborhood Plan Committee Officers Board Members SOAR Members Gail Spreen, President Mary Baim Gail Spreen Ray Wise Mario Hollemans, VP Karen Burnett Randy Derifield Bob Levin Irene Newman, Treasurer Bruce Corson Don Mickel Jay Lubinsky Craig Kaiser, Secretary Maury Fantus Betty Mickel Manny Martinez Staff Phyllis Mitzen Planning Staff Karen Maisa Howard Melton Malek Abdulsamad, Lead Planner Buffy Sergent David Lewin Ros Meerdink Robert Levin Matt Wilson Brian Hopkins Jackson Morsey Larry Brown 1 Executive Summary After ten years, SOAR have revisited the Streeter- The final elements are: ville Neighborhood Plan, building on the original plan to bring a new version of SNP that takes into Land Use promotes a balance of uses and account the growth and changes of the recent de- encourages place sensitive development for cade as well as greater shifts towards sustainability. the future concerning style, scale, and inte- gration and interactions within the This Neighborhood Plan is a document which ex- neighborhood. amines conditions and trends to provide guidance for the future. Transportation responds to the impact of recent developments, prioritizes non- Rather than being an action or implementation plan, motorized and mass transit modes over this document seeks to reaffirm community values other transportation means, and places em- and priorities that will endure not only through the phasis on safety concerns. next update but also for many years into the future. Environment advocate for accessible open Plan Process spaces and incorporates higher standards In an effort to update the Streeterville Neighbor- for sustainable building materials and hood Plan, the planning staff along with the plan- energy use as well as air quality and tem- ning committee members decided to update not perature. only the content but also the process and structure of the plan to complement other initiatives of vari- Placemaking introduces a strategy centered ous City of Chicago organizations. around improvement of the places that make Streeterville a great place to live and visit. The updated plan started with the development of a community profile built on the 2005 plan that Conclusion helped identify neighborhood needs and trends for The planning team worked on making the updat- the implementation of goals and recommendations. ed plan current, community driven, more inclusive, Following this, the planning team identified the reader-friendly and visually oriented while still build- four essential elements of the plan: Land Use and ing on the plan of 2005. Development, Transportation, Environment, and Placemaking. An updated vision, revised goals and Finally, the Streeterville Neighborhood Plan is de- recommended policies of each element towards a signed to be a powerful tool that will inform and unifying vision complete the updates to this version. guide future growth and illustrate our vision to city officials, developers, residents and visitors. Elements and Goals The SNP has four plan elements. Under each el- ement the planning team has identified a guid- ing vision along with a set of high-level goals and measurable policies. One significant change was breaking the Parks and Open Space element from Streeterville Neighborhood Plan of 2005 the 2005 plan into two elements, Environment and Source: SOAR Archive Placemaking. 2 Contents Introduction 04 History of Streeterville Streeterville Today Community Profile 08 Vision 12 Vision Plan Objectives Plan Structure Plan Elements 14 Land Use & Development Streeterville Streeterville Transportation Environment Placemaking Future Developments 40 Summary 44 3 Streeterville’s Beginning Streeterville’s rich history can be traced back to the Superior Streets. “Cap” Streeter filled in the area between settlement of Chicago itself by Jean Baptiste DuSable. his stranded vessel and shore using debris cleared after the Streeterville is named for “Captain” or “Cap“ George Wel- Great Chicago Fire. Ultimately, he created an area of 186 lington Streeter, who in 1886, ran his ship aground on a acres which he claimed as his own and declared it the Dis- sand bar located off shore near what is now Fairbanks and trict of Lake Michigan. 2014 1770’s 1834 1869 1886 1912 1973 The skyline of Chicago was Construction of ten new Streeterville Shoreline of Lake Historic Water Tower Cap Streeter ran North Central Association changed forever with the buildings in the southern first settled Michigan was and pumping his ship aground formed, later renamed construction of the section will again reshape along today’s St. Clair station completed on a sand bar just Magnificent Mile Association John Hancock Tower Streeterville’s skyline (one of few structures east of the existing to survive 1871 fire) shoreline 1700s 1800s 1900s Today 1776-8 1857 1871 1921 1937 2009 DuSable built a Chicago Dock Great Chicago Completion of Michigan Lake Shore Trump Tower cabin, mill and & Canal Trust Fire destroys most of Avenue bridge connects Drive bridge completed other buildings founded downtown and Streeterville to the Loop completed requires massive and spurs new residential reconstruction effort * Chicago Historical Society and commercial Cap Streeter, May 14, 1915 development * Chicago Dock & Canal Trust * Chicago Dock & Canal Trust Industrial Roots South Streeterville was formerly occupied by heavy in- dustry. With the Chicago Dock and Canal Trust (CDCT) Preserving the Past through “Adaptive Reuse” owning a substantial amount of the land. In 1889, the Chicago Harbor became the busiest harbor in the world. Following this, the 1890’s marked a period of extensive construction on the company’s land. Typi- Lake Shore Place cally, the buildings buit during this period were facto- Currently: condos, office ries or warehouses. The area attracted a wide variety and retail of businesses but most common were railroad, lum- Formerly: American Furni- ber, and candy businesses. The most notable project ture Mart of the era was the construction of Pugh Warehouse subsequently known as the North Pier Terminal build- ing. Prominent Streeterville Buildings River East Arts Center In addition to structures located in the landmarked Currently: Luxury lofts and residential district on East Lake Shore Drive, notewor- retail thy buildings in the area include: Formerly: North Pier Termi- - Wrigley Building ( constructed from 1919-24) nal warehouse - Drake Hotel (1920) - Tribune Tower (1922) - 850 North Lake Shore Drive (1949) - 860-880 N Lake Shore Drive (1957) 540 Lake Shore Dr. - John Hancock Center (1965) Currently: condo building - Watertower Place (1976) Formerly: warehouse Several important buildings, American Furniture Mart (1924-26), renamed Lake Shore Place, the Palmolive 4 Streeterville continues to play an increasingly important Today, Streeterville is a mixed-use neighborhood con- role in Chicago’s economic, cultural and social life due to sisting of residential, commercial, cultural, historical, edu- its unique location- on Lake Michigan near the core of the cational, medical, and entertainment. Chicago Loop- and the uniquely intense and intricate social and economic activity. 2014 1770’s 1834 1869 1886 1912 1973 The skyline of Chicago was Construction of ten new Streeterville Shoreline of Lake Historic Water Tower Cap Streeter ran North Central Association changed forever with the buildings in the southern first settled Michigan was and pumping his ship aground formed, later renamed construction