ILAPA News BURST! Chicago Southland

Planners Key to Regional Cooperation in Chicago Southland by Robert E. Sullivan, AICP and Grace Bazylewski

	The Chicago Southland is a fascinating, diverse area of 1.5 million people encompassing southern Cook County and Northeastern Will County. This area includes some of the oldest Chicago area settlements including historic Blue Island, Lemont and Chicago Heights. Many communities retain a rich ethnic flavor including German, Irish, Polish, African-American, Mexican, Lithuanian, Italian, Greek and Dutch. The area also boasts beautiful natural areas such as the sprawling Palos-Sag Valley, contrasting with huge industrial areas in the Calumet region. Communities range from wealthy Palos Park, Frankfort and Flossmoor to economically challenged Robbins and Ford Heights, and from the large bustling regional center of Orland Park to tiny rural Beecher. Planners from this widely varied area have gathered together informally under the auspices of the South Cook/North Will Planners Forum for many years to share experiences and learn from each other. They have also worked with regional organizations such as the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Southwest Conference of Mayors, and Southland Economic Development Corporation to facilitate many different projects. This type of collaboration has led to a number of ongoing endeavors including the following: Interstate 80 Corridor. This heavily traveled coast-to-coast highway projects an image to hundreds of thousands of motorists annually. This image is not only of the Chicago Southland but of the entire Chicago area. It was decided that a program of prioritized physical improvements was needed, including the state line entrance from Indiana. IDOT has agreed to allow customized sound wall designs that depict local landmarks of Lansing, South Holland and other communities along the route. Planners are working with the regional organizations and consultants on design and prioritizing, as well as Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway Authority. The tollway communities are also working on soundwall standards to match the I-80 Corridor. Calumet Sag Channel Trail Corridor. The Calumet Sag Channel is a working waterway which connects the Calumet River and Lake Michigan to the Des Plaines River. A regional trail and greenway through the southern suburbs is envisioned which will include marinas, restaurants, lodging and points of interest. This project includes adjacent and nearby municipalities, Greater Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Cook County Forest Preserve District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and many local groups and individuals. Riverdale has already built a marina and restaurant, and Blue Island has a marina/residential project under construction at Fay’s Point. Harlem Avenue Corridor. This project encompasses Harlem Avenue from the Stevenson Expressway to Interstate 80, including Summit, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Burbank, Oak Lawn, Worth, Palos Heights, Orland Park and Tinley Park. It has resulted in funding approval for a number of physical improvements to upgrade the appearance and image of this important arterial and commercial street. Southwest Metra Line. Metra is in the process of significantly upgrading service, improving stations and adding parking along this line. Planners have been facilitating transit-oriented redevelopment projects in Oak Lawn and Orland Park which will enhance and create town centers. Southeast Metra Line. This is a proposed new line from LaSalle Street Station to Crete along the existing UP/CSX freight line. Communities are planning for their stations and surrounding development. Through a cooperative effort the communities along the proposed route have completed the necessary due diligence needed to pursue national, state and regional support, approvals and funding. 159th Street Corridor. This is a recently submitted grant application which applies to 159th Street between I-294 on the east and the new I-355 on the west. It will provide an economic analysis, transportation study and streetscape/physical enhancement plan. The goal is have the communities of Markham, Oak Forest, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Orland Hills and Homer Glen work together to improve the functionality and appearance of this major commercial highway. South Suburban Calumet Area Open Space Initiative. A cooperative effort of the local council of government and the Openlands Project has led to development of an open space preservation and restoration plan for the Southland’s easternmost communities. The plan inventories natural areas and defines organizational structure for funding and implementation strategies. The initiative allows the Calumet Area to set a vision for development of this long-abused area with a sensitivity to natural areas of significance and open space needs. Safe Routes to School. This new program strives to reduce auto use and promote walking and bicycling to school. Funded with a CMAQ grant, the initiative involves local communities and schools in innovative and creative approaches to develop safe routes to schools and other destination in south suburban communities. This pilot program will be used to springboard safe route projects throughout the region. Brownfields. The communities of Burnham, Markham and Robbins have joined Chicago Heights, Lansing, Posen, Riverdale and South Chicago Heights in utilizing State and EPA funding for brownfields. They are identifying sites, assessing redevelopment potential, undertaking cleanup and marketing to developers. In summary, the Southland is a huge and complex area with numerous opportunities as well as many challenges. A collaborative and regional approach with leadership and participation by local planners is vital in making great communities happen. Planners play an important role in the initiation, research, planning and implementation of the above programs and the success of the region. We do make a difference!
	Robert E. Sullivan Planning Director Village of Orland Park 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue Orland Park, Illinois 60462 Phone: 708.403-6115 Fax: 708.403-6124 bsullivan@orland-park.il.us	Grace Bazylewski Planning and Development Director Village of Lansing 18200 Chicago Avenue Lansing, Illinois 60438 Phone: 708.895.7174 Fax: 708.895.6878 gbazylewski@yahoo.com