April 19, 2006

UIC Helps Plan New East Garfield Park Retail Development

Madison Street would serve East Garfield Park as a revitalized, redesigned business artery under a plan being drafted over the next nine months by the City Design Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The plan will advise the Greater Garfield Park and Madison-Western chambers of commerce on redevelopment of commercial lots on Madison Street from Damen west to Central Park avenues, and on four streets that intersect Madison - Homan, Kedzie, California and Western avenues - from Fulton Street south to Interstate 290.

"The City Design Center's planning process will make it easier for residents and business owners to choose commercial redevelopment strategies that will serve the entire community for the long term," said Brent Ryan, co-director of the center.

Planners and urban designers from UIC will meet regularly with a steering committee of about 30 residents, business owners and community leaders from East Garfield Park for suggestions on the mix of retail goods and services.

The first meeting addressed the needs of the community's youth and the importance of building on the community's history. The steering team requested a mix of chains and independent businesses that would encourage local entrepreneurs.

Later this spring, researchers will survey shoppers and businesses, interview other stakeholders, and evaluate opportunities for the requested businesses in various locations.

"This planning effort demonstrates how UIC resources can support local communities while offering valuable educational opportunities to our students," said Rachel Weber, associate professor of planning.

Community meetings will be held in late April, July and October to discuss the plan and share ideas. The chambers of commerce will present the final plan in January.

The planning effort is supported through the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance by the New Communities Program, an initiative of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Chicago to assist comprehensive community development in 16 Chicago neighborhoods.

UIC ranks among the nation's top 50 universities in federal research funding and is Chicago's largest university with 25,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state's major public medical center. A hallmark of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty, students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and government partners in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world.

For more information about UIC, visit www.uic.edu

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