Lakeview Roscoe Village Master Plan by MKSK

LAKEVIEW ROSCOE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MASTER PLAN 09.07.2023

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Acknowledgements Thank you to t the communities of Lakeview and Roscoe Village who helped to develop and shape this Master Plan. From completing community surveys to participating in community engagement events, your feedback and contributions served to advance the vision and recommendations of this Master Plan. We also want to thank the following organizations and dedicated individuals for their time and leadership in the creation of the 2023 Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan.

Project Team Firebelly Public Realm

Branding + Identity

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce

Lakeview Roscoe Village Master Plan Task Force

Becca Girsch Executive Director

Ellie Thompson

Nicole McLellan (previous) Robert Morvay (current) Community Development & SSA 27 Director

Stephanie Biederman

Helen Bailey

Heather Way Kitzes

Alyssa Lombardo Events & Marketing Director

Joia Kopelow

Erik Carlson Business Services Manager

Sandy O’Kane

Julie Star Engagement Manager

Aldermanic Offices Scott Waguespack Ward 32 Thomas M. Tunney (previous) Bennett R. Lawson (current) Ward 44 James Cappleman (previous) Angela Clay (current) Ward 46 Matthew J. Martin Ward 47 2

Events + Programming

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Luis Monje

Lisa Santos

2023 Lakeview Roscoe Village Board of Directors Stephanie Biederman Ben Castronovo Sarah Dickerson Doug Dunlay Michael Jorndt Chris Irwin Heather Way Kitzes Joia Kopelow Dave Owens Ana Pineda Michael Salvatore Joe Scroggs Lisa Santos Ellie Thompson Jun-Jun Vichaikul

2023 Friends of Lakeview Board of Directors Stephanie Biederman Angela Garbot Scot Havrilla Heather Way Kitzes Christie Kyhl Chris Porcelli Lisa Santos

2023 Special Service Area (SSA#27) Commissioners Helen Bailey Dave Garfield Kaitlyn Hurley Laura McMahon Luis Monje Mike Schuba Chuck Stewart Ria Tijong

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Table of Contents Introduction.................................................. 06 Welcome Background Master Plan Purpose Master Plan Goals

Community Engagement............................. 18 Approach Pop-up Engagements Resident and Business Survey Community Workshops

Analysis.......................................................... 28 Existing Brand + Identity Existing Public Realm Events + Programming

Recommendations........................................ 46 Distinct + Unique Sub-Neighborhoods Branding + Identity 4 Big Ideas Creating Places for People Recommendations Lakeview Center Greenway Connectors Lincoln Avenue Allery Roscoe Street Hub Getting Around Recommendations Connecting to the River Events + Programming A Vibrant + Livable Community

Implementation............................................ 78 Next Steps Public Realm Events + Programming Branding + Identity

Appendix Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

INTRODUCTION

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Welcome Welcome, We’re Glad You’re Here!

Before we dive in, let us answer a few questions you might be asking.

Q: What is the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce? A: The Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce is a community of entrepreneurs working together and supporting each other to create a stronger neighborhood and business environment through advocacy, promotion, networking, and education. Q: How long has the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce been in operation? A: Originally founded in 1951 as the Lincoln Belmont Ashland Business Association, the organization has evolved over the years with the most recent transformation occurring in 2019 when the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce and the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce merged. Q: What is ‘Special Service Area’ (SSA) 27? A: The Chamber serves as the sole service provider of Special Service Area (SSA) 27, a local taxing district in West Lakeview that supports additional programs and services to supplement city services, including neighborhood promotion and public space enhancements.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Q: What are the SSA 27 boundaries? A: SSA 27 spans sections of Lincoln Avenue, Ashland Avenue, Belmont Avenue and Southport Avenue along the core business districts in West Lakeview. Q: What is the ‘Friends of Lakeview’? A: ‘Friends of Lakeview’ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that the Chamber partners with on community events and capital improvement projects to advance common goals. Q: Why is the Chamber doing a Master Plan? A: The last Chamber Master Plan was completed 12 years ago under prior leadership. Many of the recommendations and projects have since been successfully completed. The recently combined Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce developed this plan to look collectively at improvements in both neighborhoods over the next 7-10 years.

INTRODUCTION

Irving Park Brown Line Station

Ashland Ave

Ward 32 Ward 44 Ward 46 Ward 47

Ravenswood

ALDERMANIC WARDS

Southport Ave

LEGEND

Irving Park Rd

SPECIAL SERVICE AREA

r Cla

WARD 46

SSA 27

t kS

TIF DISTRICTS Western Avenue South Addison South Diversey/Chicago River RPM Phase One Project Addison Brown Line Station

WARD 47

Addison St

WARD 44 Paulina Brown Line Station

Southport Brown Line Station

Roscoe St

WARD 47 WARD 32 Belmont Ave

N n

ol nc

Li e Av

Wellington Ave

ag o Chic

Diversey Pkwy

ive r

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Background A look at where we’ve been, to guide where we’re going History of the Neighborhoods

As Chicagoans first moved north in the late 19th century, Lakeview developed as a suburb in 1887 but soon after was annexed to Chicago. Lakeview then flourished as a Chicago neighborhood with traces of many original businesses still evident today. Over the last 50 years, Lakeview has grown into a thriving and diverse mixture of neighborhoods. The broader community has been defined into subneighborhoods, many of which developed their own distinct identities over time, including Roscoe Village. This collection of smaller neighborhoods makes Lakeview and Roscoe Village and the vibrant urban community that it is today.

Neighborhood Connectivity through the Years

Chicago’s street network began largely by following the trails that had been carved out by the Native American tribes in and around Chicago. Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago, written in 1909, outlined a connected series of thoroughfares and avenues including the Lincoln, Ashland and Belmont intersection that still exists in Lakeview today. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Brown Line was originally 10

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

developed in 1907 expanding connectivity between downtown Chicago and Lakeview Roscoe Village. The Brown Line expansion project from 2004-2009 further enhanced connectivity by increasing passenger capacity along the line.

History of the Riverfront

The history of Roscoe Village traces back to a land purchase by William Schmidt west of Western Avenue. Schmidt developed the site into a large theme park called Riverview Park. The amusement park was opened in 1904 and shortly after, businesses began to open next to the park along Roscoe, Western, and Belmont. The village experienced its first economic boom in the following years when many greystone, brick, and frame houses were constructed throughout the neighborhood. Riverview Park was open to Chicagoans for 64 years featuring more than 120 rides including ‘The Bobs’ wooden roller coaster, The Comet, The Silver Flash, and The Fireball. Since the park’s closure in 1967 the site has been developed into a shopping center, DePaul College Prep High School, and the Chicago Park District’s Richard Clark Park and Boathouse along the Chicago River. The park also now includes a connected riverfront bike trail and a bicycle dirt jump track within the wooded area next to the river.

INTRODUCTION

Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland, circa 1915 (44thward.org)

Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland, circa 1955 (44thward.org)

Riverview Amusement Park, 1967 (Chicago Tribune Daily Press) Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Background Understanding who makes up the communities of Lakeview Roscoe Village today POPULATION

Today’s Lakeview Roscoe Village community consists primarily of single individuals and married couple families, both with and without children. They live close to their jobs and usually walk, bike or take public transit to get around Chicago.

BY NEIGHBORHOOD

Source: ESRI Business Analyst, 2022

50,000

Roscoe Village

40,000

West Lakeview

35,000 30,000

The population has remained relatively steady and predominantly young over the past several years. However, in both Lakeview and Roscoe Village, there is a noticeable decline in the residential population during the daytime hours when residents leave the neighborhoods to attend to their daytime jobs elsewhere. Likewise, workers from outside the neighborhoods enter the community for their jobs during the day. Though Caucasian has been the long-standing primary ethnicity, this predominance has declined over the past decade as Hispanic, Asian and multiethnic demographics have increased. The increasing diversity within the neighborhoods provides a range of 0% perspectives and cultural representation.

West Lakeview & Roscoe Village (combined)

45,000

25,000 20,000

45,128

15,000

2022 Total Population

10,000

32.8

5,000

Median Age

2010

2020

2022

2027 (PROJECTED)

RACE + ETHNICITY NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE

Source: ESRI Business Analyst, 2022

87%

79%

78%

76% White Hispanic Origin Two or More Races Asian Some Other Race Black American Indian

10%

*Note: See appendix for full demographics analysis 2010

2020

2022

2027 (PROJECTED)

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

INTRODUCTION

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Master Plan Purpose

A GR

T S each E N Outr

E V t Is Ou

a Wh

LAKEVIEW ROSCOE VILLAGE

MASTER PLAN

DI re

oW eA

Develop a warm, peaceful, and playful home to live, work, and play.

Strengthen cohesion and unity.

Celebrate unique community identity.

Where We Come Together

Master Plan Purpose Statement:

P U B L I C RE A L M

The planning process for the Lakeview Roscoe Village Master Plan occurred over a 10-month period in 2022-2023. During this time there was an extensive community engagement process throughout the Chamber of Commerce service area. This included two pop-up engagement events, two community workshops, several stakeholder group interview sessions and a robust online community survey. These activities all collected engagement input and feedback to help drive the purpose of the Master Plan. The input from the community and stakeholders was examined through three lenses: The Public Realm, Events & Programming, and Branding & Identity. Combining these perspectives throughout the planning process led to the development of a Master Plan purpose statement to guide the recommendations and implementation strategy of the Lakeview Roscoe Village Master Plan: Celebrate unique community identity. Strengthen cohesion and unity. Develop a warm, peaceful, and playful home to live, work, and play. 14

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Project Schedule PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

Inventory + Analysis

Community Engagement

Synthesize + Develop

SEP ‘22

Project Start

OCT ‘22

NOV ‘22

DEC ‘22

JAN ‘23

FEB ‘23

MAR ‘23

APR ‘23

Community Pop Up:

Community Workshop:

Trick or Treat on Southport

Roscoe Tree Lighting

Bitter Pops

Theater Wit

ONLINE PUBLIC SURVEY DEC-JAN

MAY ‘23

JUN ‘23

Final Master Plan

STAKEHOLDER GROUP OUTREACH JAN-APR

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Master Plan Goals

The Master Plan seeks to solidify individual neighborhood branding and identity while enhancing connectivity between each neighborhood. Creating a vibrant and equitable community requires proactive strategic planning to develop streets, public spaces, and programming crafted first and foremost for people, rooted in the places they love and call home. The Lakeview Roscoe Village Master Plan lays out a strategy for future investment in order to foster livability, celebrate uniqueness, and strengthen unity within these communities. The key themes and overarching goals of this Master Plan are:

BRA N D IN G + I D E N T IT Y

Develop a fresh, cohesive and versatile visual identity system Solidify a family of graphics, color palettes and typography that visually tell the Chamber of Commerce story Identify preliminary design direction for individual neighborhoods of Lakeview and Roscoe Village as subsets of the Chamber of Commerce

EV EN T S + P RO G R A M M IN G

Establish goals and initiate a process for measuring sustainable Chamber event and programming success Strengthen a variety of events to encompass an equitable spread across neighborhoods while also encouraging cross-district movement Generate interest, attraction, and tourism from those outside the direct community

P U B L IC REA L M

Develop a vibrant sense of place capturing the unique essence of individual neighborhoods while developing a common language between them Strengthen safe, efficient, and meaningful multi-modal and pedestrian connectivity Enrich neighborhood vibrancy by utilizing the public realm in innovative and creative ways

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

INTRODUCTION

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Approach Shaping Place, Building Community Central to the Lakeview Roscoe Village master planning process is the notion that those who live, work or own a business in the neighborhoods must be engaged in ways that create civic pride, identity, and ownership. To cultivate this sense of stewardship, the planning team embraced an approach to community engagement that was sustained and inclusive. Throughout the planning process the team talked, listened, explored, and collaborated with members of the Lakeview Roscoe Village community in a number of ways. Through these workshops, surveys, pop-ups, and focus groups participants were not only shaping place, but also building community. The following pages summarize the engagement carried out during the master planning process. Detailed summaries of the community engagement results can be found in the Appendix.

“

COMMUNITY QUOTES -- look for bubbles like this throughout the plan for quotes from the community!

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Images from the Community Engagement Process

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Pop-up Engagements Meeting members of the Lakeview Roscoe Village community where they live was central to the engagement approach. The planning team leaned on existing events and digital tools to bring a diverse range of voices into the process. An overview of those touchpoints is provided below. Full details can be found in the Appendix.

“

We Asked: What 3 Words Sum Up Your Favorite Aspects Of Lakeview?

Trick or Treat on Southport October 30, 2022 Members of the planning team hit the streets to introduce the Master Plan and invite members of the community to share their future vision of the neighborhood at this fun, family-friendly event on Southport Avenue.

Roscoe Village Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

We Asked: What 3 Words Sum Up Your Favorite Aspects Of Roscoe Village?

December 3, 2022 Members of the planning team joined the Roscoe Village community during their annual holiday tree lighting ceremony to introduce the Master Plan and invite members of the community to contribute to the planning process.

DIVERSE FAMILY SAFE NEIGHBORLY COMMUNITY

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

VIBEY

STROLLERS STORES

BUSY

SUBURBAN FRIENDLY NICE HOMEGROWN EVENTFUL CONNECTED FUN CALM

EASY GOING

“

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

LAKEVIEW IS A: Family-oriented, charming, suburb within the city.

“

ROSCOE VILLAGE: Has its own identity. Great place to live and shop. A village within a city.

Resident & Business Survey Resident and Business Survey December 2022 - February 2023 Survey responses were collected over a two-month period via Survey Monkey to inform the planning process. The survey included 10 pages with topics focusing on the Public Realm, Branding & Identity, and Events & Programming. The following summary represents key take-aways from the survey. The Appendix provides a full analysis of the results as well as the write-in responses that were recieved.

“ 24

“

Business Survey Respondents

The city should install protected bike lanes here to better protect cyclists...

I’d like ‘beautiful alley’ competitions where neighbors work together to beautify their alley spaces.

“

680

Resident Survey Respondents

“

There are so many young families here and they truly just want to enjoy the neighborhood with their little ones or fur babies.

The Southport and Roscoe intersection can get very congested with cars stopping on the corner. It makes it difficult to notice if it is safe to cross when vehicles block the view.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

“

Let’s do a big all neighborhood bike ride with closed streets or CPD traffic safety help.

“

Pop up art galleries in vacant storefronts for one month.

The number of vacant storefronts on Belmont has reduced foot traffic and creates a dangerous area.

*Note: Blue annotations refer to resident/visitor feedback. Green annotations refer to business feedback.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Residents who took the survey live in: 60%

53.38% 53%

of business owners feel the sidewalks along the commercial corridor support their business the most when compared with other public spaces

50%

35.74% 36%

40%

30%

20%

10.88% 11%

10%

West Roscoe West Roscoe Lakeview Village Lakeview Village

Other Other

Business owners who took the survey own a business in: 60%

71%

of residents prefer walking over all other modes of transit throughout the neighborhoods

52% 52%

80%

of residents would be more encouraged to bike with Improved bike lanes

SHO SHOPPING PPING are the top activities that draw residents and and between neighborhood DINING DINING sub-districts present the highest level of safety concerns for pedestrians, bikers and vehicles

50%

38% 38%

40%

20%

9% 9%

0% West West Lakeview

Roscoe Roscoe Village Lakeview Village

ASHLAND ASHLAND and and BELMONT BELMONT

the most important P PU UB BLI L IC C isconsideration for both residents and business owners traveling SA SAFFE ET TY Y between neighborhoods

30%

10%

88%

Other Other

the majority of residents feel:

help the ACTIVE ACTIVE STO STORE REFRONTS FRONTS would neighborhoods SAFE SAFER R CRO CROSSINGS SSINGS feel more and and pedestrian WIDE WIDER R SIDE SIDEWALKS WALKS friendly Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Community Workshops The planning process provided a dedicated space for the community to come together and explore the future of their neighborhoods. The planning team hosted two workshops at critical milestones during the arc of the process. An overview of those touchpoints is provided below. Full details can be found in the Appendix.

Workshop #1 - Vision January 21, 2023 The planning team hosted an open house style workshop with the community at Bitter Pops Taproom. During the event, attendees participated in a series of interactive exercises to introduce the planning process, explore their relationship with the neighborhoods, and envision the future of the community.

“

My most impactful idea for making the neighborhood even better is... “focusing on transit & non-car focused design.”

The highest number of comments related to: BIKE LANES / SAFETY BUS TRANSIT STREET TREES 10

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

The community wants to prioritize these neighborhood improvements:

Workshop #2 - Action April 27, 2023 The planning team hosted the second public workshop with the community at Theater Wit. Attendees viewed a brief presentation and participated in a series of interactive exercises to provide feedback on proposed recommendations and the vision for the public realm.

RIVER TRAIL PEOPLE STREETS ENHANCED CROSSWALKS PEOPLE SPACES NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS 5

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

“

My favorite thing about Lakeview and Roscoe Village is... “the walkability, community feel, and small businesses.”

ANALYSIS

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Existing Brand + Identity Neighborhood brand and identity is central to the core of how a community is perceived both from the inside and outside. Over time the two distinctly branded identities of Lakeview and Roscoe Village (including graphics, color palettes, fonts, and materials) have been merged together. This combination has been transitional in nature, allowing two Chambers to join together under one umbrella with the following observations:

The current merged, stacked logo could be more unified. While the ‘Roscoe’ letters feel somewhat crafted and boutique, they also feel outdated.

The word ‘Village’ is hard to read at small sizes and visually too busy. Various branded elements can be seen in a multitude of forms throughout the community on wayfinding signage, light pole banners, bike racks, trash receptacles, event marketing materials as well as the website. The branding and identity goals of the Master Plan are to develop a fresh, cohesive and versatile visual identity system while solidifying a family of graphics, color palettes, and typography that visually tell the Chamber of Commerce story. 30

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Above: Existing Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Logo Right: Current branding seen throughout the community and utilized by the Chamber

otprint

ANALYSIS

Website

R PLAN

Website Blog

Instagram

Existing Public Realm Today’s primary Lakeview and Roscoe Village commercial corridors offer unique and distinct experiences. From the iconic, vibrant, and walkable stretch of the Southport Corridor to the home-grown, eclectic Roscoe Street, each of the seven primary commercial corridors provide a diverse range of neighborhood amenities. Over time these corridors have evolved and presently provide the community an array of centralized programming, events, places to gather, local businesses to support, and special destinations to discover. They are both the lifeblood and the central core of the community, fostering neighborhood identity and day-to-day life. These commercial corridors are well known for iconic visual elements such as the Roscoe Village Gateway Mural Bridge or beloved institutions like the Music Box Theater. Landmarks and identifiers such as these contribute to the unique identities of the corridors and relate to distinct yet currently undefined sub-neighborhoods within the community. On the following pages, several Lakeview and Roscoe Village landmarks and iconic destinations are captured.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Primary Commercial Corridors: Southport Corridor • • •

Vibrant, pedestrian-oriented commercial corridor Dining destination Supportive of neighboring Wrigleyville

Ashland Ave. • • •

Service-oriented commercial hub along Ashland Ave Vehicular dominance Barrier between neighborhoods

Paulina Hub • • •

Transit-centric hub anchored by LowLine public spaces Pedestrian-oriented streetscapes with seating amenities Mixed-use/residential

West Belmont • • •

Roscoe Village side of Belmont Somewhat vehicular-centric corridor Mixed-use / residential and service oriented

East Belmont • • •

Lakeview side of Belmont Somewhat vehicular-centric corridor Mixed-use/residential/service oriented with theater district

Lincoln Hub • • •

Busy vehicular intersections with walkable amenities Iconic and cultural anchors Eclectic furniture and home goods district

Roscoe Street • • •

Vibrant, pedestrian-oriented local small business corridor Residential uses mixed throughout Strong neighborhood scale and identity emphasizing community

ANALYSIS GRACELAND CEMETERY

LEGEND Primary Commercial Corridor

Irving Park Corridor

Secondary Corridor

Irving Park Rd

Lincoln Ave.

Western Ave.

W Roscoe St

9 12

Addison Ave.

Ashland Ave.

N Racine Ave

Roscoe Street

Paulina Hub

1 2 N Southport Ave

W Addison St

Ashland Ave

N Ravenswood Ave

N Damen Ave

W Western Ave

lar

Iconic Places (see pg. 34-35)

Southport Corridor

oln inc

W Belmont Ave

Clybourn Ave.

e Av

West Belmont

East Belmont

4 Lincoln Hub

W Wellington Ave

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

1 | Music Box Theatre

2 | Mercury Theater

3 | St. Alphonsus Church

4 | Stage 773 on Belmont

5 | Farmers Market at Southport Station

6 | Lakeview Low-Line at Paulina Station

7 | Southport and Cornelia Wall Mural

8 | Hamlin Park

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

9 | Roscoe Village Community Kiosks

10 | Roscoe Village Mural Gateway

11 | Roscoe St. Outdoor Dining

12 | Village Discount Outlet

13 | Roscoe Village Farmers Market

14 | Clark Park Boat Launch

15 | Riverview Bridge Trail

16 | The Garden Dirt Jumps

*Note: See Commercial Corridor map on page 33 for the location of each landmark above.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Existing Public Realm Existing land use patterns illustrate the relationship between thriving mixed-use corridors supported by distinct and unique residential enclaves. The majority of land in Lakeview Roscoe Village is dedicated to single and multifamily housing typologies. The distribution of these typologies is relatively consistent within sub-neighborhood residential enclaves. These residential areas are intersected by main commercial corridors. These corridors consist of primarily mixeduse commercial buildings, some with housing. West of Western & Clybourn the land use pattern changes to predominantly big-box commercial, institutional, and industrial uses. These industrial uses are most concentrated along the riverfront between Oakdale in the south to Melrose on the north. Most of the commercial corridors are thriving with active businesses, retail and dining. However, Lincoln Avenue south of Belmont, the densest commercial corridor segment, has experienced increased vacancies. Given the existing mix of furniture shops, theaters, and art galleries present in this area, this segment of the corridor could offer additional pop-up art gallery or live/work artist studio space that would further solidify it as an arts and design focused center.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Single Family Residential along Roscoe St.

Mixed Commercial/Residential along Southport Ave.

Multi-Family Residential along Lincoln Ave.

Big-box Commercial West of Western Ave.

ANALYSIS GRACELAND CEMETARY

LEGEND Single Family

Transportation/ Utilities

Institutional

Parks/Open Space

Vacant Land

Under Construction

Irving Park Rd N Racine Ave

Industrial

N Southport Ave

Commercial

lar

10%

Ashland Ave

Mixed Commercial

N Ravenswood Ave

N Damen Ave

Multi-Family

W Western Ave

35%

North Branch Chi c a g oR ive r

28%

W Addison St

oln inc

W Roscoe St W School St

Ave

W Belmont Ave

W Wellington Ave

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Existing Public Realm With limited parks and open space in an urban environment there lies an opportunity to reconsider how the urban public realm is utilized for the good of the community. With a total of 16 parks and open spaces of various sizes in Lakeview Roscoe Village, many parks are smaller and do not provide adequate space for community recreational activities. Given the limits and voids with existing community green space, this plan seeks to fill those gaps and enhance connectivity to existing and proposed parks and open spaces. This is especially true along the riverfront where Clark Park and the Jimmy Thomas Nature Trail (part of the Lathrop Homes development project) are less than a mile apart, but there is no direct access linking the two. Bikers and pedestrians must meander through the neighborhood, crossing several busy streets to continue along the riverfront trail between the two parks. Strengthening access and connectivity within all neighborhoods to significant open spaces, like the riverfront and Hamlin Park, is essential for community health and wellness. Areas of the community that currently lack green space become the highest priority for enhancing this access while also providing new options for open space access directly within these neighborhoods. 38

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Sheil Park Playground

Hamlin Park

Riverfront Boathouse at Clark Park, Studio Gang

ANALYSIS GRACELAND CEMETARY

LEGEND 1/4 Mile Walking Radius to Park or Open Space

Irving Park Rd

Space/Parks

ile

Fellger Park

ile

Sheil Park

Ave

W Belmont 1Ave /4

ile

Gross Park

oln inc

Juniper Playlot

W Roscoe St

N Racine Ave

ile

N Southport Ave

Clark Park

W Wellington Ave

Merryman Park

Lois Klein Park

W Addison St

Garden Dirt Jumps

Ashland Ave

N Ravenswood Ave

N Damen Ave

W Western Ave

Clark Turf Field

Filbert Playlot

Void of Access to Open

lar

Public Park or Open Space

Hamlin Park

Wood Park Jimmy Thomas Nature Trail

ile

Wieboldt Park

ile

Wang Park

ile

South Lakeview Playground

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Existing Public Realm Lakeview and Roscoe Village are both known as pedestrian-friendly and bikeable neighborhoods. While a variety of existing pedestrianand-bicycle-friendly amenities are present throughout the neighborhoods, routes with these amenities and facilities like the east/west Neighborhood Greenway along Roscoe and School Streets are desired more wholistically throughout the community. Streets like Ashland, Western, and Belmont are auto oriented and less conducive to walking, biking and other forms of mobility. Given the essential prominence of autooriented roadways, alternate pedestrian-andbicycle-oriented routes become even more essential to these bustling neighborhoods where efficient and through vehicular traffic is a core pressing need.

Divvy Station along Southport Ave.

School Street Neighborhood Greenway

These opportunities for safe pedestrian and multi-mobility travel between neighborhoods were a key focus and concern of residents and business owners. Enhanced access and connectivity to existing riverway trails and amenities were also a primary interest. Lowering vehicular speeds, increasing pedestrian visibility, adding bicycle amenities, and enhancing safety within crossings are just a few strategies to create a safer, more walkable, and bikeable community. 40

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Riverview Trail at Clark (Richard) Park

ANALYSIS GRACELAND CEMETARY

LEGEND

t N Racine Ave

N Southport Ave

Divvy Stations

Addison Brown Line Station

Ashland Ave

Bike Rack Locations

N Damen Ave

Shared Use Lane

Irving Park Rd W Western Ave

Bike Lane (Planned)

Buffered Bike Lane Bike Lane

lar

Irving Park Brown Line Station

Protected Bike Lane

N Ravenswood Ave

North Branch Chi c a g oR ive r

Neighborhood Greenway

W Addison St Paulina Brown Line Station

oln inc

W Roscoe St

Southport Brown Line Station

W School St

Ave

W Belmont Ave

W Wellington Ave

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Existing Public Realm Well-connected and accessible options for public transit exist throughout the majority of Lakeview Roscoe Village but some areas feel more disconnected than others. The Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber service area hosts three Brown Line stations within its boundary: Southport, Paulina, and Addison. Additionally, all other major corridors accept Lincoln Avenue have CTA bus routes with stops at most intersections. There is a significant portion of the southwestern community that is outside a comfortable half-mile mile walk radius to any Brown Line station stops. While much of the community has ample access to public transportation, this southwestern area of the community may feel more disconnected and need additional transit connectivity. Over the past 10 years, the Chamber has successfully implemented Phases I and II of a three Phase public realm improvement strategy called the Low-Line under the elevated Brown Line train tracks. This project enhances connectivity, safety, and comfort for pedestrians traveling east/west between the Southport and Paulina Stations. There are opportunities to employ similar strategies throughout the community to help guide and facilitate safe movement between neighborhoods and towards public transportation options. 42

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

The Paulina Brown Line Station

Southport Station Entrance

The Paulina Station Low-Line

CTA Bus Stop at Addison and Southport

ANALYSIS GRACELAND CEMETARY

LEGEND Brown Line

lar

Bus Routes

Irving Park Brown Line Station

Union Pacific North Metra Line

Bus Stop Locations

N Racine Ave

N Southport Ave

Addison Brown Line Station

Ashland Ave

1/2 Mile Walk Radius

N Ravenswood Ave

1/4 Mile Walk Radius

N Damen Ave

Irving Park Rd

Brown Line Station

W Addison St Paulina Brown Line Station

Southport Brown Line Station

Low-Line

le mi 1/2

W Belmont Ave

1/4 m

ile

W Roscoe St

N n e Av

W Western Ave

ol nc

W Wellington Ave

W Diversey Pkwy

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Events + Programming Current events and programming are concentrated along three main corridors: Southport, Roscoe, and Lincoln with some events occuring along Belmont. The location of these events leads to an over concentration that leaves some members of the community underserved, specifically in the southwest and northwest areas of the neighborhood. Events and programs are funded, managed, and executed by several different organizations including the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, SSA27, Friends of Lakeview, and other neighborhood organizations and community groups. The range of event hosts and facilitators leads to challenges around event tracking, record keeping, and event types offered for individual areas of the neighborhood. There are opportunities to re-evaluate the success, outcomes, and location of current events. Resources in the future should be allocated toward programming to provide equitable access and activation within all areas of the community. Likewise, opportunities exist to leverage existing public and open spaces that currently do not host events such as the Clark Park, the riverfront trails, and Hamlin Park for programming into the future. 44

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

SSA 27 1

Ice Sculpting

Lincoln Roscoe Art + Craft Fair

Wake Up With Your Pup

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Lakeview Menorah Lighting Ceremony

Endless Summer Pop-Up Camp Experience

International Pop-Down

Arts & Science Fest

Earth Day Event

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber 10

Southport Holiday Stroll

Beer Stroll

Roscoe Village Farmer’s Market

Shop for Schools

Porchfest Roscoe Village (neighborhood wide)

Porchfest Lakeview (neighborhood wide)

Roscoe Village Burger Fest

Summer Sidewalk Sale

Mom’s Night Out

Belmont Bunny Hop

Winter Wine Walk

Friends of Lakeview 21

Lakeview Taco Fest

Trick or Treat on Southport

Low-Line Market

Other Neighborhood Events 24

Roscoe Streetery

Retro On Roscoe

Southport Art Fest

ANALYSIS GRACELAND CEMETARY

LEGEND Summer Events

lar

Spring Events

Irving Park Brown Line Station

Fall Events

Winter Events

Ashland Ave

N Ravenswood Ave

N Damen Ave Addison Brown Line Station

N Racine Ave

Irving Park Rd W Western Ave

Areas Void of Events

6 21 20 26 17

W Addison St 10 Southport Brown Line 18 Station

Paulina Brown Line Station

W Roscoe St 17 13 14

7 24

23 5

W Belmont Ave

ol nc

e Av

W Wellington Ave

4 9

iver

R ago Chic

W Diversey Pkwy

N Southport Ave

17 2

22 3

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

RECOMMENDATIONS

Distinct & Unique Sub-Neighborhoods Why Sub-Neighborhoods? In the last century economic, political, cultural, and social forces have shaped this area of Chicago into several distinct subneighborhoods, each with its own defining characteristics. These forces include commercial development along corridors, such as the Southport Corridor or Lincoln Avenue, proximities to natural features such as Riverview along the Chicago River, or the tight-knit bonds of neighbors living together in close communities like Roscoe Village. Organizing the larger community into smaller sub-neighborhoods allows the Chamber to apply customized strategies and approaches for the individual needs of that neighborhood rather than developing a blanket strategy for the entire community that might not directly apply everywhere. Defining sub-neighborhoods also allows residents the opportunity to personally identify with their own community’s sense of place thus instilling individual ownership, stewardship and pride within their neighborhood. To the right is a brief description of each sub-neighborhood’s current characteristics.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

• •

• • •

• •

• • •

Southport

Home to national and local retailers, restaurants, and cultural institutions Currently host to many Chamber events

Lincoln Art District

Home to designers, retailers, storefront theaters and flexible arts spaces Recent streetscape improvements Currently lacks strong identity

Paulina

Tight-knit businesses & patrons centered around Lincoln Avenue Hub for brown line access

Roscoe Village

Extremely strong sense of place & identity as a village within the city Aging infrastructure and streetscapes

Bricktown

Least connected to public transportation Connectivity to open space and green networks Lacks identity/sense of place

Riverview

Mostly big-box commercial, institutional, and industrial uses Lacks identity/sense of place Opportunity to integrate into the larger neighborhood

RECOMMENDATIONS

N Racine Ave t

lar

N Southport Ave

Ashland Ave

N Ravenswood Ave

W Western Ave

N Damen Ave

Irving Park Rd

GRACELAND CEMETARY

Paulina

Southport

Addison Brown Line Station

W Addison St

Riverview

Roscoe Village

Paulina Brown Line Station

Southport Brown Line Station

W Roscoe St n col

Lin e Av

W Belmont Ave

Bricktown W Wellington Ave

Lincoln Art District

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Distinct & Unique Sub-Neighborhoods Sub-Neighborhood Analysis The process of developing subneighborhoods was paired with a critical analysis to understand individual community issues and opportunities. This study provided insights into the quality of life in each neighborhood through differing lenses. By understanding the specific strengths and weaknesses of each neighborhood, the Chamber can better prioritize the type of improvements and investments to employ in each area.

Finally, each sub-neighborhood was cross referenced against all data received from the public engagement process to assign a value rating to each sub-category. Through this process, each neighborhood can be compared with one another to most fully understand where and what type of improvements need to be prioritized to improve the quality of life in each area.

First, a land use analysis was carried out to understand how each sub-neighborhood was currently being utilized. Then, the subneighborhoods were evaluated based upon the following three categories:

Connectivity • • •

Walking Biking Transit

Vibrancy • • •

Sense of Place Active Storefronts Development

Public Space • • •

Equitable Access Activation Stewardship

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Winter storefront activation along Belmont Ave. made possible through City Grant funding.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Connectivity

Vibrancy

Public Space

Walking / Biking / Transit

Sense of Place / Active Storefronts / Development

Equitable Access / Activation / Stewardship

Highest Rated -

SOUTHPORT PAULINA

Highest Rated -

SOUTHPORT

10 9

SOUTHPORT 8 7

ROSCOE VILLAGE LINCOLN ARTS DISTRICT

Highest Rated -

PAULINA ROSCOE VILLAGE

PAULINA

RIVERVIEW ROSCOE VILLAGE

RIVERVIEW

BRICKTOWN

LINCOLN ARTS DISTRICT

BRICKTOWN

LINCOLN ARTS DISTRICT

RIVERVIEW

Lowest Rated -

*Note: All data and charts for the full analysis are available in the Appendix. Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Branding + Identity

The Importance of Identity Developing a cohesive Chamber identity is imperative to instill unity into a large community while also bringing individuality to each of the sub-neighborhoods.

Inspiration

Font

The visual identity was inspired by brickwork, built materials, floor tiling, mosaics and sidewalk patterns seen widely across the Lakeview Roscoe Village neighborhood.

The brand typeface is Sunset Gothic, a painterly sans-serif inspired by type painted directly onto building facades and store fronts. This direction employs the Heavy and Heavy Italic styles for both large headlines and smaller body copy.

Sunset Gothic Sunset Gothic Primary font

Sunset Gothic Sunset Gothic Secondary font

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

RECOMMENDATIONS

Color Palette

Logo

The palette pairs vibrant pastel hues with deeper saturated tones. The bright greens and blues call back to familiar palettes and the colors most strongly associated with the area. A wide palette allows for multiple color combinations to represent subneighborhoods in the area.

The Chamber name stacked and centered naturally forms a diamond shape. This shape resembles a square viewed from above on an isometric map— one square taking part in a larger city grid. Around the name is a diamond-shaped border composed of bricks; the simplicity of the diamond shape allows it to easily be incorporated into layouts as a recurring motif.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Branding + Identity

Event Graphics and Signage

Concept for a Facade Mural Within the Neighborhood

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

RECOMMENDATIONS

Social Media Post Graphics

Environmental Graphic Event Advertising

Sub-Neighborhood Identity Light Pole Banners

*Note: The photographic renderings above depict ideas for how new Chamber branding can be utilized. Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Creating Places for People

Connected Neighborhoods

Combining connectivity strategies between sub-neighborhoods will serve to strengthen a more connected Lakeview Roscoe Village and Chicago as a whole.

Neighborhood Vibrancy

Places for People

WESTERN MOBILITY HUB

RIVERVIEW PLAZA

TH OR

RIV

HOYN CONNEC RIVER TRAIL EXTENSION

BE N

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

DAM Y SE ER V

The river is an extremely valuable asset that has been largely dormant for the past 50 years. It is time for the river to be restored to a beautiful, sustainable, and welcoming place that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come.

WELLI GREE

River Activation

TO NG

With limited open space in the urban environment, prioritizing the creation of more places for people will provide increased opportunities for community connection, activity, respite, and greater promotion of personal and collective health and well-being.

GO ICA

C AN

Activation strategies within all subneighborhoods will promote a vibrant, energetic, and safe community for both residents and visitors alike.

R G

RECOMMENDATIONS LEGEND LAKEVIEW CENTER

ROSCOE GREENWAY

Neighborhood Greenway Greenway Connectors

LINCOLN / ASHLAND PLAZA

Commercial Districts

Low-Line

ROSCOE VILLAGE HUB

PAULINA MARKET PLAZA

River Trail Lakeview Center Mobility Hub

NE CTOR

Lincoln People Alleys

NEIGHBORHOOD GATEWAY

SOUTHPORT MOBILITY HUB

PAULINA MOBILITY HUB

IRV

PAR K

LIN

ING

GRACE GREENWAY SCHOOL GREENWAY

IN A C

L SH

C RA

RO S LINCOLN HUB

RT PO H T

SOUTHPORT GREENWAY CONNECTOR

INGTON ENWAY

RAVENSWOOD PEOPLE SPACES

LINCOLN PEOPLE ALLEYS NEIGHBORHOOD GATEWAY

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Creating Places for People Fostering Community At the heart of creating places for people is the physical, cultural, and social identity of the community — spaces to meet, gather, mingle, rest, engage and inspire. Bringing people together within and between sub-neighborhoods will foster a sense of belonging to instill ownership and pride within the community. The following strategies represent prioritized interventions for implementation throughout Lakeview Roscoe Village:

Lakeview Center (see pg. 60-61)

Future LowLine

Greenway Connectors (see pg. 62-63)

Neighborhood Wayfinding

Neighborhood Gateway

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Lincoln Avenue Allery’s (see pg. 64-65)

People Plazas

People Spaces

RECOMMENDATIONS LEGEND Lakeview Center

People Plazas People Spaces

N Racine Ave t

SSA 27

Addison Brown Line Station PAULINA MARKET PLAZA

W Addison St NEIGHBORHOOD GATEWAY

FUTURE LOWLINE

Paulina Brown Line Station

ROSCOE VILLAGE HUB

W Roscoe St

RIVERVIEW PLAZA

HOYNE GREENWAY CONNECTOR

lar

Neighborhood Wayfinding

RAVENSWOOD PEOPLE SPACES

GRACELAND CEMETARY

Neighborhood Gateway

N Damen Ave

Irving Park Rd

Future Low-Line

N Southport Ave

People Alleys

Ashland Ave

N Ravenswood Ave

Greenway Connector

LAKEVIEW CENTER

Southport Brown Line Station

SOUTHPORT GREENWAY CONNECTOR

BELMONT PLAZA

W Belmont Ave NEIGHBORHOOD WAYFINDING

W Wellington Ave

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

W Western Ave

LINCOLN AVENUE ALLERYS

NEIGHBORHOOD GATEWAY

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Creating Places for People COMMUNITY EVENT ADVERTISEMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Center of the Neighborhood Where Lincoln, Ashland, and Belmont intersect and four sub-neighborhoods converge, Lakeview Center becomes the symbolic and geographic heart of Lakeview Roscoe Village. The intersection has undergone recent streetscape renovations which have enhanced safety and infrastructure. Capitalizing on the momentum of these improvements would allow the Chamber to reclaim, take ownership, and strengthen the intersection as the center of Lakeview Roscoe Village.

An Icon in the Community To support the identity of the neighborhoods, the intersection needs to become an icon within the community. As people pass through this complex intersection they should be reminded of where they are and what the community represents. To make Lakeview Center iconic, enhancements should be focused on placemaking through creative branding strategies, wayfinding elements, dynamic signage, billboards, and lighting. Keyplan Opposite: View looking northwest along Lincoln at Ashland and Belmont where branding, signage, wayfinding, and lighting are utilized to promote sense of place.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTIFIERS

LAKEVIEW CENTER

LAKEVIEW ROSCOE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BRANDING BILLBOARDS & DIGITAL DISPLAYS

TEMPORARY INSTALLATIONS & ACTIVATIONS

FACADE ACTIVATION THROUGH MURALS

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Creating Places for People Connecting Neighborhoods Intersections within designated greenway connectors present a unique opportunity to get creative with the access and use of public spaces. Introducing places where people can meet, relax, and safely pass through these intersections will connect subneighborhoods both physically and socially. Implementing artistic wayfinding serves to creatively guide people from one place to the next. Incorporating neighborhood identifiers allows residents and travelers to know where they are and feel connected to each strongly recognizable sub-neighborhood.

Safe Crossings Ensuring safe and accessible crosswalks at key intersections promotes public safety, bike safety, security, and accessibility for pedestrians of all abilities. Raised crosswalks, specialty paving, curb extensions, and parklets are all strategies to achieve a higher level of safety while calming traffic. Color and artistic interventions at strategic intersections create fun and engaging experiences that also promote sub-neighborhood branding.

Keyplan Opposite: View looking north along Southport at School Street where a Greenway Connector strengthens neighborhood connectivity, access to open space, and safe intersection crossings.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

INTERSECTION PARKLETS

ARTISTIC WAYFINDING

GREENWAY CONNECTORS

NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTIFIERS DEDICATED BIKE LANES RAISED INTERSECTIONS

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Creating Places for People

DYNAMIC LIGHTING

Alley + Gallery = Allery Reimagining the ways in which urban remnant spaces are utilized presents an opportunity to strengthen cohesion, unity, and vibrancy within the neighborhood. An ‘allery’ combines the concepts of art galleries and urban alleys to reimagine what an art gallery is, where it should be housed, and for whom it is created. Art, when part of the public realm, allows equitable access to the artistic experience and outdoor galleries can allow unique opportunities for artists and the community to interact and create together.

Programmable Space Many spaces that may have been designed for a single purpose in the past, can be creatively reimagined as spaces to host temporary events. This was successfully demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic when many outdoor spaces, including streets, were reimagined to host a wide variety of programming. These endeavors are often a public-private partnership to locate, permit, and execute the use of flexible space for something other than what was originally intended. These types of spaces may be surface parking lots, alleyways, rights-of-way, or any other under-utilized remnant space. Keyplan Opposite: View southeast on the 2800 block of N Lincoln Avenue illustrating how surface parking lots and alleys can be utilized for flexible programming and activation. 64

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

MOVEABLE PEDESTRIAN FURNITURE

LINCOLN AVENUE ALLERY LRVC BRANDED MURAL

ARTIST WALL GALLERY

TEMPORARY ACTIVATION

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Creating Places for People A Place to Gather Roscoe Village is a tight-knit community — a ‘village within a city.’ This is seen through the organization and management of their neighborhood group Roscoe Village Neighbors (RVN) which serves the community to provide a unified voice for the betterment of the village. RVN plans and organizes several events and gatherings throughout the year. Supporting community events along Roscoe Street can be accomplished by providing more, adaptable space for community gatherings. Partnerships between RVN, the Chamber, and the Alderman can be utilized to strategize mechanisms for funding corridor gathering spaces and safety enhancements.

Promoting Safety The intersection of Roscoe and Hoyne presents an opportunity to increase safe public space. Likewise, connections to other greenway networks allow for cross-neighborhood connectivity, promoting access to other open spaces in adjacent sub-neighborhoods like Bricktown. Raised intersections, specialty paving, bollards, lighting, and people spaces can all be used to promote safety and establish more space for community gathering along Roscoe Street. Keyplan Opposite: View looking east along Roscoe at Hoyne during a Roscoe Village winter event where street enhancements create additional space for people to gather. 66

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

INTERSECTION PARKLET

ROSCOE STREET HUB

DEDICATED BIKE LANE

RAISED INTERSECTIONS

CORNER ACTIVATION

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Getting Around Safer Crossings

Connected Experiences

Intersection improvements are a major step to elevate the pedestrian experience and encourage more people to walk within and between the sub-neighborhoods. There are a variety of strategies to increase safety depending on the location and condition of an intersection. These include raised intersections, pavement painting, specialty pavement, curb extensions, landscaping and many more. Priority intersections have been identified on the map for targeted improvements.

Currently, with limited safe and accessible options for travel between sub-neighborhoods, people tend to stay in or visit one neighborhood at a time. However, implementing northsouth greenway connectors between Southport and the Lincoln Arts District and between Roscoe Village and Bricktown will provide safe conduits for this crossneighborhood circulation to occur. Likewise, establishing Wellington and Grace Streets as Neighborhood Greenways will serve to unify neighborhoods east and west. Establishing an interconnected network of safe, inviting pedestrian greenways will provide people with a greater ease of access to the entire community and a greater range of experiences.

Walkability 71% of residents surveyed said that walking was their preferred method of transportation when travelling in the neighborhood. Partnered with their top concern for public safety, enhancing safe walkability should be a focus on streets and along corridors that have the highest pedestrian use and need for improvements. This includes expanding pedestrian amenities along existing greenway corridors, adding new greenway connectors and connecting disparate trail systems to one another.

Image of a Safe and Accessible Pedestrian Crossing

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

RECOMMENDATIONS LEGEND Neighborhood Greenway (existing)

River Trail (existing) Enhanced Crossing (future)

SSA 27

N Racine Ave t

Greenway Connectors (future)

Low-Line (future)

lar

Neighborhood Greenway (future)

GRACELAND CEMETARY

N Damen Ave

River Trail Extension/Connection (future)

N Southport Ave

Low-Line (existing)

Ashland Ave

N Ravenswood Ave

Commercial Districts (existing)

Addison Brown Line Station

W Addison St Paulina Brown Line Station

Southport Brown Line Station

W Roscoe St

W Belmont Ave

W Wellington Ave

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

W Western Ave

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Getting Around Bike Lane Improvements

Mobility Hubs

Improving bicycle infrastructure in Lakeview Roscoe Village has been a consistent message from the community throughout the planning process. Creating a safer, more accessible bike network will enhance the connectivity within the community and to the city at large. CDOT has planned improvements that will enhance bicycle connectivity, but there are additional opportunities for major improvements that will create a complete network for the neighborhoods.

Not every transit user is within walking distance to a CTA stop or station. Mobility Hubs provide critical infrastructure for a variety of first-and-last mile transportation types making transit more accessible for those who do not own a car or live near a train station. Hubs should be equipped with connections to city buses, access to the bicycle network, shared mobility such as Divvy Bikes and Scooters, and outfitted with all amenities for bicyclists for parking, maintenance, and repair.

Neighborhood Greenways Roscoe Street already contains a neighborhood greenway that diverts into School Street at Ravenswood Avenue. Intersection improvements need to be made along this greenway especially at the transition from Roscoe to School. This greenway currently acts as the backbone for east-west bike traffic through the community. However, additional east-west greenways should be considered along Wellington and Grace to provide supplemental safe bike routes at greater intervals within the roadway network. Providing additional safe bike route options will serve to reduce congestion and bike usage on heavier traffic streets like Belmont or Addison.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Image of Existing Protected Bike Lane on Damen looking South from Diversey

RECOMMENDATIONS LEGEND Bike Lane (existing)

Bike Shop (existing) Improved Bike Lanes (future)

N Racine Ave t

SSA 27

lar

Mobility Hub (future)

N Damen Ave

Neighborhood Greenway (future)

N Southport Ave

Divvy Station (existing)

Ashland Ave

N Ravenswood Ave

Bike Rack (existing)

GRACELAND CEMETARY

Grace St

Addison Brown Line Station

W Addison St Paulina Brown Line Station

Southport Brown Line Station

W Roscoe St

W Belmont Ave

W Wellington Ave

W Diversey Pkwy

iver

R ago Chic

W Western Ave

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

BRIDGE U

SAFER

ESS POINT C S C

P IL

RPASS

Enhanced North Belmo Access Poi

In the past 20 years Chicago has seen a return to and reclamation of the Chicago River that has transformed the riverfront into a sought-after amenity. Riverfront open spaces emerging throughout Chicago like the Chicago River Walk and Ping Tom Memorial Park have led to millions of dollars in economic development opportunities. Along this section of the Chicago River within Lakeview Roscoe Village, development and improvement projects have begun to revitalize the waterfront, but the river is still largely inaccessible. Targeting this area for improvement has the potential to create valuable amenities economically, culturally, and geographically for the Chamber, its residents, and the greater Chicago community.

Returning to the River

TR A

Connecting to the River

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Bike Ride to Lathrop Homes / Jimmy Holmes Nature Trail

Proposed Multiuse Trail Extension

CH RT IC H A BR G A O N RI C V H ER

There have already been two major riverfront infrastructure improvements along this section of the river. Riverview Bridge to the north connects Clark Park through a trail network to Montrose, and the Lathrop redevelopment project to the south provides a trail network that extends south past Diversey. Connecting these two sections of trail is an essential and prioritized aspect of a long-term vision for a more connected recreational trail network along the Chicago River.

4min

Connecting Two Trails

4min

Bike Ride to Horner Park via Riverview Bridge

Existing Multiuse Trail

IKE ACCE B S E

CLARK PARK BOATHOUSE

ROS CO

THE GARDEN DIRT JUMPS

PARK CLARK

Proposed Rockwell Trail Access Point

d ont int

DEPAUL COLLEGE PREP Existing Bike Route

ST WELL

LL PBE

CAM

AVE

ROS E

ES TE

MEL

Proposed South Belmont Access Point

AV E

ROCK

DG E

Keyplan

RI B TRAIL

A CE S

P LA

RECOMMENDATIONS

PEOPLE

View looking northwest at the Riverview Trail, proposed connection points and access opportunities

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Events + Programming Movement Between Sub-Neighborhoods

Event Evaluation

With six distinct sub-neighborhoods, spotlighting each unique community through a variety of events and/or programs will be essential to fostering individual neighborhood pride and identity while encouraging crossneighborhood movement on a regular basis.

Events can be both costly and demanding on staff time. The Chamber would benefit from setting goals and establishing a process for measuring the success of each event and program against the established goals for each community entity: Chamber of Commerce, SSA 27 and Friends of Lakeview. Through this evaluation, decisions can be made about the longevity of individual events.

LAKEVIEW

Event Categories ROSCOE

VILLAGE

CHAMBER

Overall Attraction In addition to fostering pride and exploration among residents within the sub-neighborhoods, attraction and attendance from those outside the community is also a primary focus. Focusing on attracting those from surrounding communities as well as Chicago tourists will strengthen interest and recognition for the community over time.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

During the Master Plan process three distinct event typologies were identified within the community:

Signature Events

Big and bold specialty events emanating the character of the neighborhood and attracting those from inside and outside the neighborhood

Neighborhood Events

Small and intimate neighborhood-centric events that attract those who live close by

Community Programs

Wide-spread programming or events that span multiple sub-neighborhoods and promotes crossneighborhood movement

RECOMMENDATIONS Signature Events Establishing and/or strengthening bold ‘Signature Events’ for each sub-neighborhood will serve to foster pride and identity within each community. The following Signature Event ideas could be developed within Bricktown, Roscoe Village, the Lincoln Arts District and Riverview:

BRICK TOWN

ARK HAMLINFPEST IE MOV

ROSCOE It takes a

Village Block Party

Lincoln Arts District

Historic Riverview

The following current neighborhood events should continue in the Paulina and Southport neighborhoods as Signature Events:

Paulina

ART + CRAFT FAIR

Southport Summer Sidewalk Sale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

A Vibrant + Livable Community Tying It All Together

family -fri e vibr a

e saf ef ac pe

nd ly

comm un it y

conn ect e

rs e e v i d

Lakeview Roscoe Village, the sum of six distinct and unique sub-neighborhoods, offers residents and business owners the opportunity to live and work in a warm, peaceful, and playful community. Interwoven recommendations for branding, programming, and the public realm will serve to support and celebrate unique community identities, fostering an individual and collective sense of pride and ownership while developing physical cohesion and connectivity between subneighborhoods.

hb neig

y orl

warm

For the Business Owners

For the Residents

By celebrating the unique identities of the sub-neighborhoods and instilling pride throughout the community, business owners can reap the benefits of choosing to conduct their business in Lakeview Roscoe Village. As residents feel more safe, better connected, and proud of their neighborhoods, they will also spend more time in the commercial corridors and seek out local businesses that eminate the qualities they love about their neighborhood. Enhanced branding, identity, and sub-neighborhood marketing will drive local pride while signature subneighborhood events will encourage residents and visitors to spend more time within the community and crossing between neighborhoods.

Improving livability through increased public safety, enhanced connectivity, access to welcoming open space, and vibrant community events enables residents a healthy framework to live, work, and play. Whether venturing out on a Saturday morning to the Farmers Market, grabbing a coffee from the corner bakery, taking a long bike ride along the riverfront, or meeting up with friends at a weekend festival, Lakeview Roscoe Village is a community that provides an array of diverse options to build a life and foster vibrant community.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

RECOMMENDATIONS

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

IMPLEMENTATION

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Next Steps Executing the Plan! The following comprehensive guide of recommendations lays out a path forward for the Chamber, supporting organizations, agencies and community partners towards implementation. With several funding mechanisms in place, each recommendation identifies possible allocation of resources to help fund projects over time. Priority level for each project is based upon existing project momentum and community priorities while timelines are defined to estimate the length of time a project might take to get underway or to complete. Timelines are defined per the following: Short-Term: 0-3 years Mid-Term: 3-7 years Long Term: 7+ years

LRVCC Budget Allocation The Chamber serves as the sole service provider of Special Service Area (SSA) 27 to support additional programs and services to supplement city services, including neighborhood promotion and public space enhancements. The Chamber also partners with the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Friends of Lakeview on community events and capital improvement projects that 80

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

advance common goals. SSA 27 and Friends of Lakeview each offer funding opportunities: SSA 27 Funding SSAs are a funding mechanism to raise money for services to a designated mixeduse area through a property tax levy in order to supplement City services. SSA 27 supports the local economy for the benefit of Chicago’s West Lakeview community through neighborhood promotion, business development, advocacy, and public space enhancements.

Friends of Lakeview By leveraging individual and corporate donations, grants, and other sources of funding, Friends of Lakeview supports a resilient local economy and high quality of life to benefit businesses and residents in Chicago’s Lakeview community by enhancing public streets and spaces, creating memorable experiences, and promoting the neighborhood.

TIF Funding Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a special funding tool used by the City of Chicago to promote public and private investment across the city. Funds are used to build and repair roads and infrastructure. City/State/Federal Grants Opportunities for applicable grants may arise that fit the programming or placemaking proposed in the Master Plan.

IMPLEMENTATION

Irving Park Brown Line Station

TIF DISTRICTS Western Avenue South Addison South Diversey/Chicago River RPM Phase One Project

Ashland Ave

SSA 27

Ravenswood

SPECIAL SERVICE AREA

Southport Ave

LEGEND

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COVERAGE AREA

Irving Park Rd

r Cla t kS

WESTERN AVE SOUTH TIF

Addison Brown Line Station

Addison St

WESTERN AVE SOUTH TIF

Paulina Brown Line Station

Southport Brown Line Station

Roscoe St

RPM PHASE ONE TIF

SSA 27 Belmont Ave

ADDISON SOUTH TIF

ol nc

Li e Av

Wellington Ave

ag o Chic

DIVERSEY/ CHICAGO RIVER TIF

Diversey Pkwy

ive r

Not to Scale

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Implementation Strategy PUBLIC REALM RECOMMENDATION

ACTION ITEMS

PARTNER AGENCIES

POTENTIAL FUNDING

PRIORITY

TIMELINE

High

Short-term

High

Mid-term

High

Long-term

High

Mid-term

Mid

Long-term

PLACES FOR PEOPLE

Strengthen the Identity of “Lakeview Center”

Implement Low-Line Phase 3a (Ashland Crossing)

Implement Low-Line Phase 3b (Community Greenway)

SSA Funds

•

Coordinate projects with partner agencies, property owners, and local artists/designers

•

Implement artistic interventions that take advantage of the vertical architectural space and highlight the unique character of the neighborhood.

Landscape Architect

Meet with CDOT to develop an approach and requirements for implementation.

Alderman’s Office

•

Identify business and sponsorship funding partners.

Landscape Architect

•

Meet with CTA to develop an approach and requirements for implementation.

•

Identify business/sponsorship funding partners.

•

Create a community engagement strategy to garner support for phase 3b.

Alderman’s Office CDOT

CTA CDOT

CTA Alderman’s Office CDOT Landscape Architect

Aldermanic Menu Funds Business Sponsors TIF Funding OSLAD, LISC Chicago, ArtPlace America Grants CTA Funds ITEP Grants TIF Funding Business Sponsors

CTA Funds ITEP Grants TIF Funding

Develop design for greenway with assistance from a Landscape Architect. SSA Funds

•

Coordinate with partner agencies and property owners to design, engineer, and implement a green network of pedestrianoriented community spaces along “Greenway Connectors” throughout the district.

Alderman’s Office

TIF Funds

Landscape Architect

Aldermanic Menu Funds

•

Coordinate with partner agencies and community groups

LRVCC

•

Design, engineer, and install artistic neighborhood gateways at significant thresholds throughout the district.

Develop “Greenway Connector” Spaces

Create Neighborhood Gateways

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

City Funds

CDOT

Alderman’s Office

Partners for Places Grants

SSA Funds City Funds

CDOT

Aldermanic Menu Funds

Design Consultant

TIF Funds

Timeline Definitions: Short-Term: 0-3 years Mid-Term: 3-7 years Long Term: 7+ years

PUBLIC REALM RECOMMENDATION

ACTION ITEMS

PARTNER AGENCIES

POTENTIAL FUNDING

Alderman’s Office

SSA Funds

CDOT

Business Sponsors

PRIORITY

TIMELINE

High

Mid-term

Low

Mid-term

Low

Long-term

High

Mid-term

High

Mid-term

High

Mid-term

PLACES FOR PEOPLE •

Develop “People Alleys”

•

Develop “People Plazas”

•

Develop “People Spaces”

Coordinate with property owners, city agencies and local artists/ designers Activate alleys fronting Lincoln Ave. with public art, lighting and spaces for community events. Coordinate with partner agencies and property owners to design, engineer, and implement larger, comfortable community plazas that can be used for special events and gathering throughout the district. Coordinate with partner agencies and property owners to design, engineer, and implement comfortable community spaces at intersections and remnant urban spaces throughout the district.

Sponsor Businesses Design Consultant LRVCC Alderman’s Office CDOT Sponsor Businesses Design Consultant Metra UP-North Alderman’s Office CDOT Sponsor Businesses Design Consultant

Aldermanic Menu Funds SSA Funds Business Sponsors Aldermanic Menu Funds SSA Funds Business Sponsors Aldermanic Menu Funds

GETTING AROUND Develop “Greenway Connectors” linking Sub-Neighborhood anchors

SSA Funds •

Coordinate with partner agencies to design, engineer, and implement new “Greenway Connectors” throughout the district.

Alderman’s Office Landscape Architect CDOT

Alderman’s Office

Implement Enhanced Pedestrian Crossings

•

Coordinate with partner agencies to design, engineer, and implement safe and accessible pedestrian crossings throughout the district.

CDOT Design Consultant Local Artists Chicago Public Arts Group

Business Sponsors Partners for Places Grants SSA Funds City Funds Aldermanic Menu Funds LISC Chicago Grants ArtPlace America SSA Funds

Implement Improved Bike Lanes

•

Coordinate with partner agencies to design, engineer, and implement improved bike lanes throughout the district.

CDOT Active Transportation Alliance

Aldermanic Menu Funds Business Sponsors ITEP Grants

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Implementation Strategy PUBLIC REALM RECOMMENDATION

ACTION ITEMS •

Expand Bike Parking & Repair Facilities

•

Chicago River Trail Extension/Connection

Expand the Network of Neighborhood Greenways

•

Establish “Mobility Hubs”

Install bike parking at businesses and institutions throughout the district. Install mobile bike repair stations at strategic locations throughout the district.

Coordinate with partner agencies and property owners to design, engineer, and implement a multiuse trail extension from Belmont Ave to Lathrop Family Homes trail network.

Coordinate with partner agencies to design, engineer, and implement new “Neighborhood Greenways” throughout the district.

Coordinate with partner agencies to design, engineer, & install improved bus stops, bike parking, mobile bike repair stations, Divvy stations, wayfinding, and supportive amenities at strategic locations throughout the district.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

PARTNER AGENCIES

POTENTIAL FUNDING

CDOT

Aldermanic Menu Funds

PRIORITY

TIMELINE

Mid

Mid-term

High

Long-term

Mid

Long-term

Low

Long-term

SSA Funds

Active Transportation Alliance

Business Sponsors ITEP Grants

CDOT Alderman’s Office Landscape Architect Engineering/Design Consultant Active Transportation Alliance

SSA Funds Business Sponsors Partners for Places Grants State/Federal Funds

CDOT

CDOT Funds

Alderman’s Office

Aldermanic Menu Funds

Landscape Architect

SSA Funds CDOT Active Transportation Alliance

Aldermanic Menu Funds Business Sponsors ITEP Grants

Timeline Definitions: Short-Term: 0-3 years Mid-Term: 3-7 years Long Term: 7+ years

EVENTS & PROGRAMMING RECOMMENDATION

ACTION ITEMS

Initiate existing event tracking and evaluation process

• Select and implement a program to track staff time on events • Document existing stats to measure against • Complete an event valuation form for each event • Create a Strategic Event Strategy • Determine if event(s) can be tweaked to meet goals • Review Evaluation Stats and discuss effectiveness events and comparison to event strategy • Offload or cancel events that are not meeting goals

Evaluate overarching event strategy

• Evaluate ratio of events by subneighborhood • Develop annual strategy for reaching all sub-neighborhoods through events and programming

Conduct annual strategic events planning

• Annually access all existing events for performance and future longevity • Evaluate feasibility of top event ideas • Develop upcoming yearly schedule of events combining existing and proposed events

Event promotion

• Promote events within Lakeview Roscoe Village (on social media, website, newsletters, etc.) • Promote events to surrounding communities (Chambers, on public transit, etc.) • Promote events to greater Chicago (via tourism agencies, hotels, etc.)

PARTNER AGENCY

LRVCC SSA Friends of Lakeview

LRVCC SSA Friends of Lakeview LRVCC SSA Friends of Lakeview LRVCC SSA Friends of Lakeview Business Sponsors

FUNDING

PRIORITY

TIMELINE

High

Short-term

High

Mid-term

Mid

Mid-term

Mid

Short/Midterm

SSA Funds Friends of Lakeview

SSA Funds Friends of Lakeview Business Sponsors

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

Timeline Definitions:

Implementation Strategy

Short-Term: 0-3 years Mid-Term: 3-7 years Long Term: 7+ years

BRANDING + IDENTITY RECOMMENDATION

Develop a Brand Guide and Achieve Brand Consistency

ACTION ITEMS •

Collaborate with a design/branding consultant to develop a LVRCC Brand Guide building on the concept developed during the Master Plan.

•

Drive consistency in branding across platforms (social media, website, etc.) and internal/ external communications using the standards set forth in the Brand Guide.

•

Collaborate with a design/branding consultant to expand the LVRCC Brand to include compatible/ complementary color schemes and graphic palettes for each identify with each sub-neighborhood within the district.

Develop SubNeighborhood Identities

Celebrate the Brand through ShortTerm Placemaking Strategies and Interventions

•

Distribute LVRCC branded materials, such as stickers and totes, to businesses and residents.

•

Collaborate with local artists/ designers to create short-term installations and activities that showcase the new LVRCC brand.

•

Apply lessons learned to future initiatives and longer-term interventions.

•

Collaborate with local artists/ designers to create banners and wayfinding elements that are consistent with the LVRCC brand but tailored to the unique identity of each sub-neighborhood.

Enhance & Expand Neighborhood Wayfinding

Create a Historic Signage Strategy Around Roscoe Village Metra Gateway

Establish metrics to define “success” for the various placemaking initiatives and evaluate accordingly.

•

Continue to engage residents, businesses and Metra to create and implement a strategy as construction continues on UP North.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan

PARTNER AGENCIES

Design Consultant

POTENTIAL FUNDING

SSA Funds Business Sponsors

SSA Funds

PRIORITY

TIMELINE

High

Short-term

High

Short-term and ongoing

High

Short-term and ongoing

Mid

Mid-term

Mid

Long-term

Local Arts Groups Design Consultant Students from Elementary and High Schools Chicago Public Arts Group

LISC Chicago Grants ArtPlace America SSA Funds Business Sponsors

Alderman’s Office

Aldermanic Menu Funds

Design Consultant

City Funds

Active Transportation Alliance

SSA Funds Business Sponsors ITEP Grants City Funds

Design Consultant

National Endowment for the Arts Grants America’s Historic Places Grants

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Master Plan