Environmental Progress - Winter 2002

Projects Earn "Illinois Tomorrow" Recognition

First recipients of the Illinois Tomorrow Awards have been recognized.

In April 2000, Gov. George H. Ryan unveiled the creation of a new umbrella initiative called "Illinois Tomorrow - Balanced Growth for a Better Quality of Life." The goal of the initiative is to address unplanned growth in the state, and provide local governments and Illinois citizens with the tools they need to encourage the creation, expansion and restoration of livable communities.

As the cornerstone of "Illinois Tomorrow," the Governor identified five core principles to guide and focus the myriad of state programs and initiatives that impact growth in this state. Those five core principles include: reducing traffic congestion; preservation of open space; reinvestment and redevelopment; quality of life; and local government partnerships. Critical to the Governor's Illinois Tomorrow program is the need to work together, as "partners" with local government, environmentalists, farmers and Illinois citizens to enhance and protect Illinois' quality of life for future generations. Successful balanced growth planning can be achieved through an incentive-based, collaborative approach to planning, and does not necessarily require mandated growth restrictions or growth boundaries.

Recently, with the help of University of Illinois Professor Gerrit Knaap and representatives of such groups as the American Planning Association, American Institute of Architects, Sierra Club, Urban Land Institute and Illinois Farm Bureau, Gov. Ryan recognized 14 outstanding examples of balanced growth initiatives in this state through the Governor's "first ever" Illinois Tomorrow Awards.

The accomplishments of these 14 outstanding projects are all excellent examples of private and public interests working together for the long-range public interest. The achievements of the 14 winners are:

Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation/The Kenard Corporation: Holsten was recognized for the North Town Village project, a 261-acre mixed-income development on the site of the Cabrini Green public housing complex in Chicago. Highlights of the project include distribution of residents of all income groups throughout the development; placing local residents in on-site construction jobs; providing a variety of educational, employment and family programs to residents; and innovative financing and partnerships.

Village of Round Lake Beach: Built in the late 1980s, the 208 town home development in the Meadowgreen Subdivision had fallen into disrepair and the neighborhood had begun experiencing increased crime. The village worked with a Homeowners Association to establish Homeowner Association-based financing and a TIF to help support renovations of the units and repair the failing infrastructure system to provide a safer and cleaner neighborhood and higher property values.

Northeastern Illinois Regional Transportation Authority: The Regional Technical Assistance Program was created to promote transit planning and leveraging partnerships including local communities, the RTA, transit operators and regional planning agencies. Four station planning studies have been completed through this program in Olympia Fields, Orland Park, Westmont and Waukegan. The planning includes improved transportation circulation; mixed-use development; transit facility improvements; and a pedestrian and transit friendly environment.

Downtown St. Charles Partnership Inc.: Downtown St. Charles Partnership, Inc. and the village of St. Charles partnered to develop the Downtown St. Charles Strategy Plan. The plan includes eliminating public surface parking lots in favor of parking structures; encouraging pedestrian traffic and encouraging a variety of downtown mixed uses. The project will enhance and maintain the historic downtown area, and intensify land use within a compact area bounded by parks and hillside neighborhoods with a focus on the Fox River.

Kane County Development Department: Kane County was recognized for its farmland protection program, created by a $5 million annual appropriation at the county level to buy farmland or developmental rights for protection. The program supports the county's historic character and rural lifestyle in the Agricultural Corridor, and is part of the county's land use strategy that includes open space and water resource protection and directing growth toward the Urban Corridor.

Village of Algonquin: The village recognized its community was quickly changing from a rural agricultural area to a major urbanized center. To protect rare wetlands and fens in its community, the village adopted the Woods Creek Watershed Protection Plan to preserve the watershed in this rapidly urbanizing portion of McHenry County. Land acquisition, a protection ordinance and wetland habitat improvements as well as other educational and planning efforts are underway.

Campaign for Sensible Growth: A coalition of more than 160 organizational members is recognized for its efforts to encourage balanced growth goals through technical assistance to local governments, project developers and communities and increasing public and government awareness of sensible growth issues. The Campaign provides much needed leadership and serves as the point organization for information dissemination.

City of Highland Park: Since Highland Park has become an increasingly attractive place to live, lower income families and long time residents on fixed income were being forced out. Through a partnership with the Highland Park Housing Commission, University of Illinois Chicago Nathalie Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement and Great Cities Institute, Highland Park adopted its affordable housing plan. The plan includes use of community land trusts to support rehabilitation and new construction of affordable housing and preserve existing housing, as well as assistance programs for city employees and zoning ordinances providing set asides for affordable units.

City of Alton: The former Owens-Illinois Glassworks plant in Alton previously employed 5,000, but has been vacant for more than a decade. The city of Alton teamed up with various public and private entities to address substantial environmental contamination and to redevelop the 160-acre site into the mixed-use "Alton Center Business Park." The demolition of most of the old complex and refurbishing of two large buildings has been completed and the first tenant, employing 350, has occupied the site.

Bi-State Development Agency: Bi-State Development Agency, a quasi-governmental agency created through a compact between Illinois and Missouri, has been empowered to develop transportation programs that enhance the region's quality of life and economic development. In partnership with the St. Clair County Transit District, the Agency was recognized for its approach in constructing the 17.4 mile MetroLink light rail extension from East St. Louis through Swansea and Belleville. Abandoned right-of-way was used for most of the route, avoiding new land acquisition; a parallel bicycle trail is planned; the route was altered to avoid Native American land; and free parking spaces were provided, as well as coordinated bus feeder service. The extension also reduces traffic congestion by taking more than 25,000 vehicles per day off highways.

In addition to the award winners, Gov. Ryan recognized four additional projects as Honorable Mentions. In northern Illinois, honorable mention was given to the Farmland Protection Project, a volunteer organization in Boone County working to protect farmland. In downstate Illinois, honorable mentions went to the Pleasant Plains School District's Prairie Creek Environmental Habitat in Sangamon County, the PORTA Community Problem Solvers Team in Petersburg, and the Elmwood Community Foundation.