Downtown Revitalization Plan Update

1. Downtown Revitalization PlanUpdate Re:New DeKalb City of DeKalb DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

2. Introduction – The Team • David Schreiber, PLA | Revitalization Strategy • Ryan Garcia, AICP | Contextual Analysis Implementation Strategy • Geoff Dickinson, AICP | Market AnalysisRevitalization Strategy • YOU!

3. Introduction – The Study Area

4. Introduction – The Agenda • Revisit 2006 plan goals, objectives & principles • Highlightkey accomplishments since 2006 Plan • Review key recommendationsyet to be implemented • Discuss characteristics of downtown/market • Group activity|One Word Games • 5 minute break – divide into workteams • Engage in priority-setting workshops • Recess: Business After Hours • Reconvene for brief synthesisworkshop

5. Introduction – The Update • Review2006 plan recommendations in current context • Confirm community goals and vision • Engage stakeholders • Leverage community investments and assets • Refocus priorities • Identify 5-year action plan

6. 2006 Plan – Goals and Objectives • Primary Goal: Restore Downtown as the centerpiece of the community. • Objectives:Significantly improve downtown’s image.Provide a variety of destinations to serve the community and to attract visitors.

7. 2006 Plan – Principles • Plan Principles:Create a compact, walkable core.Create distinctive amenities that reflect DeKalb’s unique character.Create a Downtown that is comfortable, easy to access and easy to circulate within.Create a Downtown that is sustainable environmentally, socially, economically and culturally.

8. 2006 Plan – Accomplishments • Core area streetscapes • Frank Van BuerPlaza • Replaced failing infrastructure • Lincoln Highway redevelopment west of 1st Street (NB&T) • Landscaped parking lots • Enhance Wayfinding • Create Design Guidelines for new construction • Seating improvements at Egyptian • Aggressiveblight removal program

9. 2006 Plan – Accomplishments

10. 2006 Plan – Recommendations (to do) • Expandparking • Re-open Oak to two-way traffic • Screen/buffer railroad tracks • RelocateCity Hall • Promote residential development • Foster redevelopment of vacant, underutilzed sites QUESTION: In your mind, which of these recommendations are still valid?

11. Downtown – Regional Context • Excellent visibility and access • Almost all of downtown’s potential market capture is 5-mile • Essentially, the same can be said for Sycamore

12. Downtown – Local Context • It’s “Everybody’s Business” • In the midst of great public open spaces and amenities • Geographic epicenter of community

13. Downtown – How do I get here? • Limited connectivity to bicycle network • Periodic transit service • Lincoln, 1st, 4th are primary gateway corridors – primarily auto-oriented

14. Downtown – Parking/Circulation

15. Downtown – Destinations/Events • Breakfast with the Bunny • Farmers Market • Go Red for Women-Girls Night Out • Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular • Hollydays

16. Downtown – Open Space • Small spaces interspersed • Large space for program currently lacking • Kishwaukee provides a “greenway” element

17. Downtown – Market • Primary market areawithin the 1 and 5mile radius • DeKalb - more lower income households than neighboring cities • Highest incomes on the northern side of DeKalb • Chicago’s western suburbs - generally higher income

18. Downtown – Study Area & TIF • Study Area boundary largely avoids residential uses and considers 2006 Plan • Downtown is primarily within TIF 1 and is adjacent to additional TIF districts in adjoining neighborhoods

19. Downtown –Characteristics • Regional accessibility and visibility Highway 38 -- approximately 9,000 average daily trips First Street -- approximately 7,000 to 15,000 average daily trips 38 1st St Source: Illinois Department of Transportation, 2011 Average Daily Traffic Counts

20. Downtown –Characteristics • Major AdjacenciesUniversity provides a steady student population and activity driverThe Union Pacific Railroad tracks cut through downtown with approximately 60 freight trains per day

21. Downtown –Characteristics • Key Traffic GeneratorsEgyptian TheaterLibrary (averages 1,000 visitors per day)Van Buer PlazaMunicipal BuildingsUnique Restaurants & Entertainment Egyptian Theatre

22. Downtown –Characteristics • Urban FormBuried power lines & improved streetscapeHistoric buildings add to the overall appeal and charm Continuity from 1st – 4th streetA fragmented street wall reduces continuity from 4th – 7th streetSix at-grade rail crossings Continuity and character from 1st – 3rd street

23. Downtown – Tenant Mix • Retail and service uses predominate • Lincoln Highway - epicenter of activity & vacancy • Professional/personal services - 2nd, 3rd and 4th • Limited entertainment options • Limited cultural, institutional, and public use options Source: SB Friedman fieldwork as of January 2013, updated from City of DeKalb Central Business District Listings . Includes ground floor tenant uses only along Lincoln Highway, 1st, 2nd, 3rd , and 4th street

24. Downtown – Market Characteristics Source: ESRI/Infogroup as of June 2011. Infogroup relies on several data sources including: directory listings such as Yellow Pages and business white pages; federal, state, and municipal government data; business magazines; newsletters and newspapers; and information from the US Postal Service. To ensure accurate and complete information, Infogroup conducts annual telephone verifications with each business listed in the database.

25. Summary - Observations • Substantial public investment in the “core” • Regionally and locally, there is significant competition for visitation and market • Nearby community assets drive opportunity (Kishwaukee River, NIU, public parks and uses, etc.) • Communityaccessibility is a major strength • Downtown is somewhat isolated by land use and transportation patterns • Downtown’s mix of uses is challenged to support “around the clock” activity

26. Engage – One Word Activity • When you hear “Downtown DeKalb”, what is the first word that comes to mind to describe it today? • When you think ideally of Downtown DeKalb 10 years from now, what one word would you to use to describe it? 1word

27. Engage - Purpose • Next exercise – going to breakout • Purpose is to zero down in specific categories, with the core question being: “How do we get from where we are today to where you want to be tomorrow?” • Business Mix • New Development • Aesthetics • Transportation • Parking • Events/programming • Public space

28. Engage – Break-out Groups • Count-off • Take 5, then return to the appropriate table • Table captains – scripts at table • Two Rules:1) There are no bad/wrong answers2) Everyone contributes 2rules

29. Here’s What we’re asking you to do • Select a table captain • Discuss the questions at heading of each page • Record responses in workbook • Where helpful, use maps to notate issues/opportunities • At 4:30 – we’ll do group reporting

31. Engage - Summary & Priority Voting • Table Captain reports • We’ll generate some “theme” posters • “Sticky Dots” – vote for your priorities

32. Business After Hours • Enjoy! • Don’t forget to vote!

33. Next Steps • Draft recommendations • Prepare Action Plan strategy • Review Meeting with steering committee • Public Open House • Finalize plan

34. THANK YOU!!!