STATE OF THE VILLAGE MAY 2021 | phase 1 Village of Niles, IL | State of the Village | Phase 1 1 AcknowledgmentS NILES 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSULTANT TEAM Denise McCreery, Trustee (Co-Chair) The Lakota Group Craig Niedermaier, Trustee (Co-Chair) Christopher B. Burke Engineering (CBBEL) Collin Baker, Resident Kenig Lindgren O’Hara & Aboona, Inc. (KLOA, Inc.) Mike DeSantiago, Resident Goodman Williams Group Tom Kanelos, Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board Adam Konopka, Resident All photos provided by The Lakota Group unless otherwise noted. Janet Lee, Resident Joe Macchione, Resident Dennis McEnerney, Resident John Murphy, Resident Mike DeSantiago, Resident Scott O’Brien, Resident Mike Shields, Resident VILLAGE MAYOR George D. Alpogianis BOARD OF TRUSTEES John C. Jekot Joe LoVerde Danette O’Donovan Matyas Denise M. McCreery Craig Niedermaier Dean Strzelecki VILLAGE STAFF Hadley Skeffington-Vos, Acting Village Manager Fred Braun, Public Works Director Charles Ostman, Community Development Director Richard Wlodarski, Assistant Community Development Director Katherine Lockerby, Staff Liaison to Committee/Senior Planner Nathan Bruemmer, Planner I VILLAGE CLERK Marlene J. Victorine, Village Clerk 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW SECTION 6: COMMUNITY SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 5 Infrastructure Systems ....................................................................................................... 83 Project Overview ................................................................................................................... 6 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Network ............................................................. 86 Community Engagement .................................................................................................... 7 SECTION 7: CHARACTER, DESIGN AND THE ARTS SECTION 2: NILES YESTERDAY AND TODAY Village Character and Identity ........................................................................................ 92 Niles History ........................................................................................................................... 13 Urban Design Initiatives .................................................................................................... 95 Regional Context and Setting .......................................................................................... 14 Arts and Culture Assets .................................................................................................... 96 Demographic Profile ............................................................................................................ 15 SECTION 8: COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES SECTION 3: REAL ESTATE MARKET Village Facilities .................................................................................................................. 99 Housing and Residential Assessment ........................................................................... 25 Educational Facilities ........................................................................................................ 100 Commercial and Retail Assessment .............................................................................. 33 Library District ................................................................................................................... 101 Office Assessment .............................................................................................................. 40 Other Facilities and Services ......................................................................................... 102 Industrial Assessment ........................................................................................................ 42 SECTION 9: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS SECTION 4: LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT Key Takeaways .................................................................................................................... 105 Review of Past Plans and Studies .................................................................................. 47 Existing Land Use ................................................................................................................ 50 Zoning Districts ..................................................................................................................... 52 Opportunity Areas .............................................................................................................. 55 SECTION 5: CONNECTIVITY AND MOBILITY Transportation System Assessment .............................................................................. 59 Traffic Circulation ................................................................................................................. 61 Sustainable Vehicles ........................................................................................................... 69 Public Transit .......................................................................................................................... 70 Freight Rail .............................................................................................................................. 72 Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility ..................................................................................... 73 Planned and Programmed Projects ................................................................................ 77 Village of Niles, IL | State of the Village | Phase 1 3 INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT Section 1 OVERVIEW 4 Village of Niles, IL | State of the Village | Phase 1 Introduction This is the first complete update to Niles’ Comprehensive Plan in Today, Niles is a mature suburban community; tomorrow it ten years and comes at a time when the community, the state, can become an even more compelling place to live, work, and and the country are slowly recovering from economic difficulties play that appeals to all people. This 2040 Comprehensive brought on by a world-wide pandemic. However, despite the Plan is an expression of the community’s vision for the future, pandemic and its impacts, Niles’ citizens and stakeholders continue providing a foundation for community action regarding land use, to plan for the future — one with a high quality of life, sustainable transportation, housing and neighborhoods, parks, economic economic development, efficient and cost-effective public services, development, arts and culture, and community design. It is the and ongoing opportunities for community participation and result of community discussion and collaboration. Its planning involvement in local decision-making. As with previous planning goals and strategies meet the challenges for the 21st century efforts, and despite the limitations of a global pandemic, an with new and complex solutions. energetic community engagement process asked key questions and helped determine what Niles’ residents, business owners, and other stakeholders desire for the future. What makes Niles a compelling place to live and do business? What aspects of Niles should the community keep, change, or enhance? How does the community best position itself to capitalize on constant economic shifts and transformations, even in the pandemic’s aftermath? Niles continues to evolve as one of Chicago’s most diverse and stable inner-ring suburbs. Developed mainly after the Second World War, Niles features classic Mid-Century residential neighborhoods, high-quality parks and municipal services, thriving employment centers, and numerous shopping and commercial districts. Niles is also known for its schools, community festivals and special events, and its religious institutions that form a strong social network for existing residents and newcomers alike. However, Niles recognizes it must meet the emerging 21st century challenges: How will Niles remain a competitive place to live and work? How will it respond to the constant flux in the commercial sector as retailers, companies, and employers re-evaluate their operations post-pandemic and in light of growing internet-based sales? How does it maintain the quality and authenticity of neighborhoods while accommodating housing rehabilitation and new housing products that meet emerging housing needs? How does Niles Leaning Tower in the Village of Niles, Illinois continue its efforts in becoming a more walkable, visually appealing destination? Village of Niles, IL | State of the Village | Phase 1 5 PROJECT OVERVIEW The Village of Niles has begun the process to update its 2030 THE PLANNING PROCESS Comprehensive Plan. It is commonplace for municipalities to update their plans prior to the set vision date because of changing The process to create the 2040 Comprehensive Plan started in priorities and dynamics. Two main reasons why the Village the summer of 2020. The process will be completed over three started the planning process include: 1) significant portions of the planning phases: current plan have been implemented and 2) the Niles business environment is rapidly changing setting forth new challenges. • Phase 1 - State of the Village The purpose of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan is to provide a • Phase 2 - Community Visioning long-range policy framework to guide the Village’s land use and • Phase 3 - Final Plan and Implementation Strategy development decisions over the next twenty years. The updated Plan will focus on a range of community issues related