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Community Planning & Development
Cross-border cooperation earns national recognition Oct. 1, 2010 – The cooperative effort to revitalize Roosevelt Road from Harlem Avenue to Austin Boulevard has earned the City of Berwyn, Town of Cicero and Village of Oak Park recognition from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the world's largest network of economic development professionals. The honorable mention for Excellence in Economic Development was presented at an awards ceremony Tuesday at the IEDC Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The award, in the category of regionalism and cross-border promotion for communities with populations of 25,000 – 200,000, was presented for the Roosevelt Road development plan and form-based zoning code adopted by the three communities. “We recognize the City of Berwyn, Town of Cicero, and Village of Oak Park for providing successful strategies to promote new paradigms in economic development in this period of global recovery,” IEDC Chair William Best said in a written statement. “Our awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in communities. The City of Berwyn, Town of Cicero, and Village of Oak Park are showing that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession and are using innovative and effective practices that can be replicated in other communities." Oak Park Village Manager Tom Barwin called the recognition by the IEDC an unexpected, but welcomed honor, as efforts to forge cooperation have now moved to actual construction along the important shared corridor. "Those of us in the communities involved in this cooperative effort have long since moved beyond talk of working together toward a common goal, and even planning how best to do it. Construction workers are there now transforming our joint ideas and shared vision into physical changes to the Roosevelt Road streetscape," Barwin said. "Of course, we are very pleased that the years of working together across jurisdictions has earned the respect and recognition of one of the largest associations of economic development pros. We knew we had done something special, but it's nice for others – especially professionals in the discipline – to recognize it, too." Initial groundwork for the project was laid in 2000 with an Illinois Tomorrow Grant to develop general guidelines for improving the Roosevelt Road corridor. That plan, released in 2003, recommended that the three communities adopt a shared vision and unified regulations to make it possible. The three communities signed an intergovernmental agreement in 2006 pledging to work together to revitalize their shared border. Specific design plans for streetscape improvements were authorized in 2007, and shared zoning regulations were approved by all three communities in 2009. Actual work to improve the streetscape and walkability of Roosevelt Road got underway in September, with efforts focusing on creating a more pedestrian-friendly, landscaped and vibrant commercial corridor along the busy thoroughfare shared by Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero. The project includes new sidewalks, curbs, streetlights and garbage cans, as well as extensive landscaping with trees and planters. Curb bump outs also are planned to create spaces for new benches. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2011. The IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards Program annually recognizes the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials and most influential leaders. The program honors organizations and individuals in 28 categories for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities. For more information on the Roosevelt Road project, including copies of the planning documents, visit www.rooseveltroad.com. *** State, federal funds to transform Roosevelt RoadDec. 14, 2009 – The goal of revitalizing Roosevelt Road from Harlem Avenue to Austin Boulevard moved from concept to reality with a written commitment from the Illinois Department of Transportation authorizing nearly $7 million in state and federal funds for the project. With IDOT's written commitment, efforts to create a more pedestrian-friendly,landscaped and vibrant commercial corridor along the busy Roosevelt Road thoroughfare shared by Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero will begin by summer 2010, officials say. "This commitment from the Illinois Department of Transportation is huge,"said OakPark Village President David Pope."This commitment confirms the importance of all the work that our Initial groundwork for the project first was laid in 2000 when the Berwyn Development Corporation, working with the City of Berwyn and the Village of Oak Park, received an Illinois Tomorrow Grant to develop general guidelines for improving the Roosevelt Road corridor. That plan, released in 2003, recommended that the three communities adopt a shared vision and unified regulations to make it possible. The project took a dramatic step forward in 2006 when Berwyn and Oak Park, along with the Cicero, signed an intergovernmental agreement pledging to work together to revitalize their shared border. "The adoption of the intergovernmental agreement among these three communities, and the consequent establishment of the jointly supported Roosevelt Road Advisory Committee, was a game changer," Pope said. Creation of specific design plans for streetscape improvements and new consistent, form-based zoning regulations for all three communities were authorized in 2007. Streetscape design plans were adopted by all three communities in 2008, and the zoning regulations approved in 2009. The only remaining obstacle was to secure funding for the project, a hurdle swept away by a letter from IDOT received Tuesday. "This $7 million commitment is a testament to the importance of communities with shared borders working together for the benefit of all," Pope said. "Importantly, it also highlights a growing understanding by IDOT of the value of investing in infrastructure projects that can dramatically enhance quality of life for people where they live." Included in the funding commitment is $1.2 million that IDOT will allocate toward resurfacing Roosevelt Road. An additional $1.8 million in state funds will go toward other corridor improvements. IDOT also committed $3.95 million in federal funds for streetscape improvements and $25,000 for bikeway signage along the corridor, money administered through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). Implementation of the entire Roosevelt Road plan is estimated to cost about $9 million. Since the work will cover multiple fiscal years and costs will be shared among the three communities, funding resources are available to ensure that the work will begin in July 2010. Stressing the long-term benefits of the project, Pope added, "The importance of this project and the support by IDOT cannot be overstated. This project will help enhance the commercial vibrancy and aesthetics of the corridor, and improve quality of life not only for residents of Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero, but for the entire region." For more information on the Roosevelt Road project, call 708.358.5720 or e-mail planning@oak-park.us. Details, including copies of the planning documents, are posted at www.rooseveltroad.com.
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Contact Number: Email: Related Commission: Related Information: • Roosevelt Road Planning Report (23 mb)
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threecommunities have invested to enhance this critical and previously neglected border that we all share. Afterseveral years of collaboration by our three communities, and the tireless participation of the business owners, residents and municipal staff in collaboration with the Roosevelt Road Advisory Committee, we now have the money to begin what will be one of the most important economic development projects in the region."
