Story posted Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Downtown Landscaping Improvements Planned
The city is planning to make Des Plaines more pedestrian friendly in 2010 by softening the downtown area through landscaping.
The plan was outlined during a meeting of the Economic Development Commission on Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Nearly $1.5 million will be allocated for these improvements this year. The most costly measure will be replacing streetlights along Miner Street with more decorative and pedestrian-friendly fixtures. The light replacement will cost $1,073,256, $858,605 of which will come from a grant through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The cost to the city is $214,651.
Part of making downtown Des Plaines more pedestrian friendly is improving existing public space, Director of Community and Economic Development Michael Conlan told the commission, which is why the city will spend $200,000 to make improvements to Metropolitan Square and the train station. DLK Civic Design, a Chicago-based architectural firm specializing in public space and train stations, is working on redesigns for the two areas.
The city's Façade Rehabilitation Program is also being expanded to include awnings and canopies. The program helps business owners pay to improve their storefronts. About $100,000 has been allocated for the program this year. However, Conlan said that was the beautification program the city has the least control over because business owners must approach the city for the funds. The 2010 plan also has $50,000 to add benches, planters, and bike racks throughout the downtown area.
Future improvements should include relocating or improving parking areas in order to make downtown more attractive, Conlan said. Although such changes are not scheduled for this year, there are plans to eventually add hedges or plantings between the sidewalk and parking lot across from City Hall. Parking spaces along the north end of the lot near the Metra station may also be removed and replaced with a landscaped area between the parking lot and Miner Street. Those spaces would be moved to a back lot off of Miner Street.
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