OP/FYI for August 2004 - Page 2

itself sends a powerful message to anyone looking for an exceptional place to live or do business.

High private investment interest

Public investments affect private property as well, motivating many property owners to make improvements, too. Resident and investor confidence in Oak Park is at all-time highs, as a record 7,000-plus building permits were issued in 2003. The construction value of the projects for these permits approached nearly $100 million dollars, a trend that appears likely to continue during the current year.

New construction also has flourished. Over the past year and a half more than 250 residential units were completed or begun. Another 430 were in the planning and permitting process. And more than 22,000 square feet of retail space were completed or in the process. The Village also was successful in helping long time auto dealer Shepherd Motors stay in Oak Park by moving its Volvo facility from cramped, outdated space on Madison Street to a new facility at Garfield Street and Harlem Avenue.

Why such a building boom? Decisions by past Village Boards to market the community to outside investors and reduce regulatory impediments to redevelopment has helped fuel the dramatic increase in redevelopment in Oak Park. And the sustained period of low-interest rates has made investments in property easier and more economically feasible than ever before.

From promotion to planning

Such unprecedented investor confidence has raised concerns as well. That's why the current Village Board is taking a close look at the impact of heightened investment interest on the quality of life in the community. Policy direction has now shifted from marketing the Village to planning for the future within the context of just what constitutes appropriate redevelopment.

This new focus began in earnest with successful community planning projects concluded this past year. A partnership with the University of Illinois that focused on the Harrison Street and the South Oak Park Avenue-Eisenhower business districts has received national attention as an innovative and collaborative approach to neighborhood planning. And a study for Roosevelt Road, in cooperation with the Berwyn Development Corporation, has created new ideas and approaches for this important, east-west corridor. These studies shared a commitment to significant and meaningful public involvement, as residents and business operators were motivated to play key roles in the process.

Looking to the future

The focus of planning this year is downtown. A study that began in July (see page 1) is calling on Oak Park residents, property owners and business operators to be a part of a very public process to create a vision for the redevelopment of the greater downtown area. A series of workshops, including September 22 and November 11, will gather community input and comment that will be incorporated into a long-range plan for the Village's greater downtown area, including Lake Street, South and North boulevards, Chicago Avenue and Marion Street. The downtown planning process also will set the stage for a review of the Village's award-winning comprehensive plan next year.

For more information on redevelopment in Oak Park, contact the Development Services Department at 358.5640 or email devsvs@oak-park.us. Opportunities for citizen involvement also are posted on the Village’s official website www.oak-park.us.

Next month -- Intergovernmental communication and cooperation (watch for the video versions on VOP-TV6)


				Public, private investment fueling economic prosperity Public investment, a bell weather of the health of a community, has increased dramatically in Oak Park over the past several years. This trend demonstrates that Oak Park, as a community, believes in itself and is investing to assure a strong, healthy future.

				The new main library, the renovation of the Dole Learning Center and the recent completion of major parking facilities and new middle schools are examples of what can be achieved when a community invests in itself. The benefits of public investments go beyond the improvements themselves, however. Public investment also helps attract the private investment so essential to the long-term health and attractiveness of the Village. Put simply, a community that invests in




				itself sends a powerful message to anyone looking for an exceptional place to live or do business. High private investment interest Public investments affect private property as well, motivating many property owners to make improvements, too. Resident and investor confidence in Oak Park is at all-time highs, as a record 7,000-plus building permits were issued in 2003. The construction value of the projects for these permits approached nearly $100 million dollars, a trend that appears likely to continue during the current year. New construction also has flourished. Over the past year and a half more than 250 residential units were completed or begun. Another 430 were in the planning and permitting process. And more than 22,000 square feet of retail space were completed or in the process. The Village also was successful in helping long time auto dealer Shepherd Motors stay in Oak Park by moving its Volvo facility from cramped, outdated space on Madison Street to a new facility at Garfield Street and Harlem Avenue. Why such a building boom? Decisions by past Village Boards to market the community to outside investors and reduce regulatory impediments to redevelopment has helped fuel the dramatic increase in redevelopment in Oak Park. And the sustained period of low-interest rates has made investments in property easier and more economically feasible than ever before. From promotion to planning Such unprecedented investor confidence has raised concerns as well. That's why the current Village Board is taking a close look at the impact of heightened investment interest on the quality of life in the community. Policy direction has now shifted from marketing the Village to planning for the future within the context of just what constitutes appropriate redevelopment. This new focus began in earnest with successful community planning projects concluded this past year. A partnership with the University of Illinois that focused on the Harrison Street and the South Oak Park Avenue-Eisenhower business districts has received national attention as an innovative and collaborative approach to neighborhood planning. And a study for Roosevelt Road, in cooperation with the Berwyn Development Corporation, has created new ideas and approaches for this important, east-west corridor. These studies shared a commitment to significant and meaningful public involvement, as residents and business operators were motivated to play key roles in the process. Looking to the future The focus of planning this year is downtown. A study that began in July (see page 1) is calling on Oak Park residents, property owners and business operators to be a part of a very public process to create a vision for the redevelopment of the greater downtown area. A series of workshops, including September 22 and November 11, will gather community input and comment that will be incorporated into a long-range plan for the Village's greater downtown area, including Lake Street, South and North boulevards, Chicago Avenue and Marion Street. The downtown planning process also will set the stage for a review of the Village's award-winning comprehensive plan next year. For more information on redevelopment in Oak Park, contact the Development Services Department at 358.5640 or email devsvs@oak-park.us. Opportunities for citizen involvement also are posted on the Village’s official website www.oak-park.us. Next month -- Intergovernmental communication and cooperation (watch for the video versions on VOP-TV6)
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