The City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development has begun hearing from Austin residents and businesses about plans for the Armitage Industrial Corridor.
At a July 18 meeting organized by the Industrial Corridor Modernization Initiative held at Intentional Sports, local stakeholders gave feedback and suggestions for the plan, which aims to stimulate growth in the Armitage Industrial Corridor.
Brad Roback, who works with the city-wide planning bureau within the Department of Planning and Development, said, “We want community input, and [want to know] what people feel should be happening in the Armitage Industrial Corridor.” He said the city is seeking “ideas about land use, transportation, community connections, commercial activity and employment.”
Maps of the Armitage Industrial Corridor, which were created by consultants hired by the city, were displayed at the event. The maps detailed the major industrial employers in the area and the approximate jobs of those employers which were sourced from third party sources, Roback said.
Attendees were able to paste notes on boards and maps with suggestions about transportation accessibility, environmental issues and economic opportunities.
For example, a question posed on one board asked: “What buildings contribute to the character and identity of the corridor?” Participants responded with sticky notes that said, “Mars Plant,” the “North Austin Community Center” and the “Old Zenith Bldg.”
Another resident suggested “Increase Bus Time Schedules” on a sticky note that addressed a question regarding transportation and infrastructure improvements in the corridor. Another question was aimed at safety for pedestrians, bicycles and drivers in particular portions of the corridor. The attendees suggested on sticky notes: “Grand + Laramie,” and that “No Bike Lanes on Austin…or Narragansett.”
The city says that efforts for the plans are focused on “strengthening Chicago’s industrial corridors as economic engines and vital job centers, improving access for all transportation modes and enhancing the area’s unique natural and built assets.”
The Department of Planning and Development will host a booth at the 4th Annual Galewoodstock Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 18. This is the first of two such public events for the department. The date for the second event has not been determined.
The timeline for the development of the framework plan includes three meetings (as yet not fully scheduled) with working groups of residents, businesses and students, who will develop strategies and recommendations to include in the plan.
More details regarding the plan or the upcoming tabling at the festival can be found at the following link: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/armitage-industrial-corridor-planning/home.html.