A Provocative Vision On Skokie's Downtown Redevelopment

Daniel Burnham’s view toward planning - “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir man’s blood” - is very appropriate to what is occurring in the downtown area. To achieve those successes which measure up to Burnham’s admonition, Skokie’s planners must be visionary and bold.

The redevelopment of the Searle/Pfizer campus by Forest City is a once in a lifetime opportunity not seen since the Searle property was initially developed in 1941-42. The Mayor and the Village Board have the prestige and political capital to push the planners toward achieving a master plan which will live well into this century.

As a life-long resident of Skokie and observer of our downtown, perhaps my comments will have some resonance with you, the reader, and members of the village board and staff. I understand that the redevelopment of the downtown area will ultimately be determined by the following:

• The free market will determine what projects go where;

• Once zoning and code provisions are complied with by developers, the Village cannot dictate the outcome of a development area but can use its zoning and planning powers to shape the ultimate outcome of the downtown area;

• Absorption rates for condominia in the downtown area may govern development of particular condo projects.

As I have stated publicly and privately, I believe Oakton Street is a barrier to the redevelopment of downtown.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, I parked my car on Oakton Street east of the Metropolitan building. I could not exit my car until all eastbound traffic had passed - cars traveling eastbound pass within 2 feet of one’s car. On another occasion, I was walking from Toscana at about 6:30pm on a Thursday night - there were no cars parked on Oakton Street - and a truck whizzed past me at a relatively high speed. The truck and I were within approximately 6 feet of one another. It is no secret that over the last 40 years or so, the County has widened Oakton Street so that the shoppers’ sidewalk has shrunk to almost nothing. Oakton Street is nothing but a 90 foot freeway between Evanston and Elk Grove Village. The shopping ambience of Oakton Street is nil.

If it is neither politically nor financially feasible to assume ownership over Oakton Street and shrink it, offer larger sidewalks and more convenient and safe parking, then I suggest that the following be considered:

• Why not have the residential density desired for the downtown area located on the south side of Oakton Street from 5049 Oakton Street to Lamon Avenue;

• Krier Plaza should be retained and any building which fronts on the plaza should be encouraged to develop some sort of artwork on its exterior front reflecting the veteran theme of the plaza;

• Use elevated pedestrian walkways to traverse Oakton Street between buildings on the south and north side of the street;

• Envision the east side of Lincoln Avenue from Lincoln/Galitz to Krier Plaza redeveloped with row houses with 8-12 foot tree-lined setbacks. Lincoln Avenue has no more traffic than Fullerton Avenue in Lincoln
Park; if multi-million dollar brownstones on a high traffic arterial can attract high income users, so could attractive row homes;

• For the residential redevelopment to succeed, the Lincoln Park ambience, restaurants, bars need to be created in the downtown area;

• Consider this: the Elmwood triangle (the area bounded by Niles Avenue, Warren Street, Searle Parkway and Elmwood Avenue) should be reserved primarily for retail/commercial use. I envision a pedestrian-friendly shopping complex with stores featuring glass curtain walls on the exterior perimeter. Parking can be diagonal on the perimeter. Any businesses displaced from the south side of Oakton Street or from Lincoln Avenue can relocate to this area. Village TIF funds could be used to reduce relocation expenses etc. of these businesses.

• If employees located at the Forest City site are to take advantage of the shops on Lincoln Avenue, the ambience of Warren Avenue needs to be improved. If the Elmwood triangle is developed with retail, then the North side of Warren could be redeveloped from the alley east of the 5040 Warren building to Elmwood with a continuum of retail shops.

My purpose in commenting is to provoke thought and discussion. I have no personal or financial stake in the redevelopment of the downtown area but merely wish to see a vital and vibrant downtown exist for the benefit of the whole Village.

Submitted by Richard J. Witry, Skokie, IL

Reprinted courtesy of IMODS