Transforming the Region through Sustainable Development: Community-based sustainable development grant recipients

On May 24, 2012, The Chicago Community Trust -- a close partner with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) throughout the development and implementation of GO TO 2040 -- has approved funding for five significant projects, each of which is linked to the comprehensive regional plan and CMAP's Local Technical Assistance program. 
 

Organization: Active Transportation Alliance

Project: Communities for Complete Streets

Summary: The Communities for Complete Streets project will provide niche consulting services to Blue Island, Des Plaines, Forest Park, Hoffman Estates, and Riverdale to implement the complete streets provisions of their long-range transportation plans. Consulting services include municipal staff training, guidelines on road design, and on-site project installation assessments.

Outcome: The streets of Blue Island, Des Plaines, Forest Park, Hoffman Estates, and Riverdale safely and seamlessly accommodate all users, including bicycles, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

Predominate GO TO 2040 Alignment:

Theme: Regional Mobility

Plan recommendation: Invest strategically in transportation

Implementation action: Prioritize maintenance and modernization projects when making investment decisions

Organization: Developing Communities Project

Project: 2012-2013 Red Line Extension Campaign

Summary: The 2012-2013 Red Line Extension Campaign will prepare for the extension of the CTA Red Line from its current terminus at 95th Street to Chicago's southern boundary at 130th Street. The project includes the completion of a transit-oriented development master plan for the areas around the extension's four proposed transit stations at 103rd, 111th, 115/116th, and 130th streets and workforce development preparations in anticipation of transit-related jobs and economic development.

Outcome: The communities of Greater Roseland are prepared for the Red Line extension implementation and related economic development; Implementation is smooth, efficient, and maximal in local impact for jobs and economic development. The transit-oriented development master plan will help to maximize investment in transit infrastructure by concentrating the most intense types of development around transit stations and making transit use as convenient as possible for local residents.

Predominate GO TO 2040 Alignment:
Themes: Regional Mobility & Livable Communities
**Identified as a regional priority capital project

Plan recommendation: Increase Commitment to Public Transit

Implementation actions:

Plan for land use specifically around major transit capital projects

Use livability principles to plan for land use in development near transit

Identify and exploit additional opportunities for transit oriented development

Align funding for planning and ordinance updates
 

Theme: Human Capital

Plan recommendation: Improve Education and Workforce Development

Implementation actions:

Strengthen role of workforce intermediaries — including community colleges, universities, proprietary schools, apprenticeship programs, vocational programs, community based organizations, Workforce Investment Boards, and Workforce Investment Act affiliates

Strengthen community-focused provision of workforce services

 

Organization: Seven Generations Ahead

Project: PlanItGreen Implementation Project

Summary: The PlanItGreen Implementation Project will implement the priority measures of PlanItGreen, the official long-range environmental sustainability plan for Oak Park and River Forest. The measures include water conservation, energy efficiency, solid waste reduction, and green business development.

Impact: The sustainability performance of Oak Park and River Forest scores well on indicators for environmental sustainability, including carbon emissions reduction, landfill diversion, and decreased water consumption rates.

Predominate GO TO 2040 Alignment:

Theme: Livable Communities

Plan recommendation: Manage and conserve water and energy resources

Implementation actions:

Pursue innovative financing mechanisms for retrofits

Accelerate use of efficient appliances/fixtures through green code adoption

Develop energy and water efficiency and conservation strategies

Adopt policies to encourage attainment of zero water footprints/water neutrality for large scale projects

Theme: Efficient Governance

Plan recommendation: Improve access to information

Implementation action:

Commit to increasing access to information through data sharing and transparency

 

Organization: The Renaissance Collaborative

Project: Bronzeville Retail Initiative

Summary: The Bronzeville Retail Initiative will coordinate economic development with innovative land use planning that leverages the infrastructure amenities of Greater Bronzeville—transit access, housing density, geographic proximity. The project strengthens an ongoing effort to restore the vibrancy of three commercial corridors: 43rd, 47th, and 51st streets. The Bronzeville Retail Initiative will focus heavily on 47^th Street. An economic development manager will coordinate new, innovative, and streamlined business recruitment and retention activities and leverage the resources of the neighborhood's many stakeholder organizations. New development will conform to the provisions established by new land use plans for the corridors. The land use plans will be done in partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning as part of the Local Technical Assistance Program.

Impact: A vibrant, walkable mixed-use corridor along 47th Street and strong mixed-use nodes on 43rd and 51st streets that build on Bronzeville's infrastructure assets and rich cultural history.

Predominate GO TO 2040 Alignment:

Theme: Livable Communities

Plan recommendation: Achieve Greater Livability through Land Use and Housing

Implementation actions:

Encourage formation of formal collaborative planning efforts

Create model ordinances and codes

Research and explore alternative land use regulation systems

Use livability principles to plan for land use in development near transit

 

Organization: Village of Park Forest

Project: The Growing Green Implementation Project

Summary: The Growing Green Implementation Project will institute education and outreach activities for Growing Green, the official long-range sustainability plan for Park Forest. Growing Green is regional model for municipal "triple bottom line" sustainability planning—setting forth a unified strategy for economic, environmental, and equity goal achievement in a single document. While many long-range municipal plans continue to focusalmost exclusively on controlling and guiding development,Growing Green also addresses important contemporary issues such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction and local food systems. The plan was created with the help of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning as part of the Local Technical Assistance Program.

Impact: The sustainability performance of the Village of Park Forest scores well on indicators for the economy, environment, and social equity, including local purchasing, building retrofits for energy efficiency, and participation rates in Village health and wellness programs. 

Predominate GO TO 2040 Alignment:

Theme: Livable Communities

Plan recommendation: Achieve Greater Livability through Land Use and Housing

Implementation actions:

Target technical assistance to communities demonstrating interest in furthering GO TO 2040

Encourage formation of formal collaborative planning efforts

Continually review status of local plans

Analyze ordinance outcomes

Theme: Efficient Governance

Plan recommendation: Improve access to information

Implementation action:

Commit to increasing access to information through data sharing and transparency