Comissioned by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning ( CMAP ) in collaboration with the Rogers Park Business Alliance, this project is meant to facilitate discussion of the future of Rogers Park by its community.





















Concept: two public spaces:
1) existing - the beach
2) new - the boulevard

Strategy:
In order to achieve this new public space at the existing Sheridan Road
4 main steps need to happen:

A) zoning changes
B) streetscape changes
C) new “Errand building”
D) tunnel below Sheridan road resolving
its main problem of heavy through-traffic


A) Zoning Changes

Setbacks
Any new development is required to have a setback of 45’. The total sidewalk width is approximately 70’. This extremely wide sidewalk, unusual for any urban street world-wide, is a new urban public space suitable for all kinds of activities.

Height
Any new development is allowed to be 95’ high. This height is optimal for the spatial articulation of the new wide Sheridan Road.

Commercial Ground Use
Any new development is required to have commercial space, 15’ high, on the ground level. The commercial uses will be positively influenced by the oportunities of the wide sidewalk.

Mixed-use Buildings
Any new development is required to have affordable units, rental units, live-work spaces and offices for small businesses.


B) Streetscape

Traffic
The street is reorganized to be more pedestrian and bike-friendly, and also more fluid for throught-traffic.

• The sidewalks are now 5’ wider on each side allowing for more public activity along the corridor.
• Designate safe - and covered - bike paths are introduced.

Sidewalks
Green strip “parkways” will be removed in order to make better use of the pavement. However, new green strips will be introduced next to the area’s “four plus one” buildings, allowing a profusion of green to develop along the corridor, through landscaping and the planting of ivy. Sidewalks will be replaced with permeable pavement.An inventory of existing trees will be made to identify the ones that will be replaced over time with trees like autumn blaze maples and other urban-resistant species. Ivy will grow up the facades of the “four plus one” buildings.

link to shadow diagrams of new taller buildings towards surrounding building

link to images of preserved buildings

Sustainability
The boulevard is a model street-scape of sustainability with permeable surfaces for better storm water management, street lights that get powered by the sun and wind, a covered bike lane that collects water that gets stored along the boulevard to be used for irrigation of the street trees.




link to larger image

Gateway
The walls on the both sides of the Loyola Red Line Station overpass are painted with murals by an artist, creating a vibrant gateway to Rogers Park.



link to larger image



C) Loyola “Errand” Building

Next to Loyola station is the ideal hub building that serves all daily needs of the community and public transport users.


Loyola “Errand” Building uses:
entrance to train station 1
car parking 2
bycicle parking 3
bycicle rental 4
grocery stores 5
hardware stores 6
pharmacy 7
fitness center 8
dry cleaning 9
shoe repair 10
child care 11

link to larger plans

D) Sheridan Road Tunnel

The underground Sheridan Road tunnel is a better and less expensive solution for the area’s through traffic congestion than the extension of Lake Shore Drive.

Avoiding the controversial extension of Lake Shore Drive, the tunnel allows Sheridan Road’s hectic through traffic to and from the North - including commuters and large tractor trailers - to efficiently bypass
slower-moving local streets.

Unlike the current Sheridan Road, which is often dominated by this through traffic, the new Rogers Park Boulevard is a pedestrian and bike-friendly environment that faciliates easy access to lakefront parks and beach.

While continuing to allow automobile traffic, noise and exhaust levels are greatly reduced, encouraging cafes, farmers markets, street fairs, and other outdoor activities along its widened sidewalks.

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