Since 1995 the City Design Center has provided design
and planning assistance for Chicago-area commercial
districts. The Center’s mission is to improve the appearance
and function of the built environment.
In 2004 the City Design Center launched the Revitalizing
Urban Business Districts Program to provide strategies
for communities to enhance their disinvested retail districts.
The Center has provided Comprehensive Retail
Plans to several Chicago-area municipalities and development
agencies.
Project Components
• Community meetings and charrettes
• Business and building inventories
• Critical issues and needs assessment
• Customer and business surveys
• Retail market evaluation
• Urban design concepts
City Design Center Highlights
• Multidisciplinary expertise from University faculty
• Innovative planning and design strategies
• An emphasis on community participation
• Action-oriented implementation strategies
Program Product
The chief product of the Program is a Comprehensive
Retail Plan that examines the commercial environment,
assesses critical issues and provides a focused, achievable
roadmap for stimulating commercial investment and
improving the physical environment.
