The master plan completes the Illinois Center Planned community, an important urban neighborhood in Downtown Chicago, which began in 1969. The plan creates clear development blocks, a comprehensive network of streets and new open spaces that connect to other developments and amenities in the city.

 

The central feature of the plan is a new public park built on 'real' ground, where trees and native plants can flourish. A public elementary school and a new park district field house are located within the park. Such amenities will create an urban setting that can attract families to live downtown, and also strengthen the identity of the existing residential neighborhood.

 

The 28-acre site located in Downtown Chicago where the Chicago River joins Lake Michigan is one of the largest remaining vacant development sites in a major downtown in the United States. Bounded by 3 levels of Columbus Drive on the west, 2 levels of Lakeshore Drive on the east, 3 levels of Wacker Drive on the north, and three levels of Randolph Street on the south, the project is especially challenging.

 

PROGRAM

.           The plan supports up to +/- 9.7 million gross square feet of development, including: 2.2

million gsf of potential mixed-use / office space, 1300 hotel rooms, 4800 residential units, a 6-acre public park, and a public elementary school and park district field house.

·           The overall density is lowered from previous proposals by creating more open space and

            public rights-of-way, and reducing building heights.

 

STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS AND GOALS

The master plan addresses a series of existing physical constraints and 'urban barriers', including an existing 3-level roadway system. The plan also addresses an isolated and sunken development site that is disconnected from the city and the waterfront.

The plan needed to reflect the interests of both the public and the private sectors, especially the concerns of neighboring residents. Through interaction with many public agencies and a series of public meetings and workshops, the plan aimed to create consensus and closure to the Illinois Center Master Plan begun in 1969.

The master plan achieved the developer's goals, as well as providing the City with design standards to control the quality and character of the neighborhood over the long life of the project.

 

EXISTING PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS

.          3-level roadway system that acts as a barrier

.          A site that is isolated from the City and disconnected from the Chicago Riverfront and Lakefront

.          Existing utilities and easements for future utilities that run throughout the site

 

CITY CONCERNS

·           Provide a linkage to Chicago Riverfront

.           Provide a linkage to lakefront

.           Minimize traffic Impacts

.           Appropriate scale of development

.           Building separation / setbacks

.           Emergency access

.           Development phasing which is a complete entity in each phase

.           Development controls

.           Quality of architecture / building materials

 

URBAN DESIGN CONCEPTS

.           Complete an urban neighborhood in Downtown Chicago

.           Respond to a unique and challenging urban context

.           Connect the city to the river and lakefront

.           Reinforce the edge of the city

.           Create a small block development pattern

.           Create a livable downtown neighborhood

.           Make a greener downtown

.           Engage and resolve the 3-tiered roadway system

.           Reach a consensus through an open planning process

.           Guide future public and private development over the next 10 to 15 years

.           Build the park, the heart of the neighborhood, first

 

CITY / COMMUNITY PROCESS

Extensive city and community review over 18 months including over 40 presentations, meetings, and workshops:

.           3 large-scale (+/- 500 people) public meetings for neighboring residents were sponsored by the ward alderman

.           City of Chicago agencies were engaged throughout the process, including: Department of Transportation, Chicago Park District, Mayor's Office for Disabilities, and Chicago Fire Department.

.           Community interest groups were brought into the process regularly, including: Metropolitan Planning Council, Friends of Grant Park, Grant Park Advisory Council, Near East Side Association of Residents (N.E.A.R.), lakefront Alliance, and Open lands Project.

 

The master plan was refined throughout the process following input from the city and community. Some of the changes include the following:

.           Creation of additional landscape setbacks and interior gardens

.           Reduction of building heights

.           Increased building separation and refined building orientation

.           Extension of the below-grade Chicago Pedway System to connect to the neighborhood location of the school and refinement of the school program to include space for a park District

 

IMPLEMENTATION

Through negotiations between the developer and city, a comprehensive Planned Development Amendment was orchestrated. The Master Plan and Design Standards created through the PD process will guide future public improvements and establish firm controls on future private development. Passed by the Chicago Plan Commission on March 15, 2001 and adopted on March 20, 2001 by the Zoning Committee of the Chicago City Council, the Design Standards will act as a benchmark for future development proposals at lakeshore East. If consistent with the intent of the PD, detailed site plan submittals may now be approved at a planning staff level.