Metropolitan Planning Council

Talking Transit: Sharing tolls with transit

cnichols@metroplanning.org (Chrissy Mancini Nichols) — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 CST

Did you know? Miami shared I-95 toll revenues to fund expanded transit service on the interstate. As a result weekday bus ridership increased 57 percent. Sharing toll revenues with transit is an innovative financing tool that can squeeze more capacity from existing transportation infrastructure and alleviate traffic gridlock. Cities across the country are combining congestion pricing with enhanced transit service as an incentive for people to travel during less congested times, as well as…

Placemaking Case Study: Albany Park's Multicultural Sculpture Park and Healing Garden

mnovara@metroplanning.org (Marisa Novara) — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Marisa Novara

MPC Research Assistant Cristina Silva authored this post. Placemaking Principle #5: Develop a vision For the past year, a pair of large art installations have claimed a home amidst the trees and otherwise bare park space at Argyle and Lawrence in the Albany Park community. ‘‘Happy Family” and “Come. Unity.” are the first round of sculpture pieces that will rotate annually and adorn the area as it transforms from Ronan Park into the community-planned/managed…

Placemaking, makeovers renewing Miller Beach as a premier destination in Northwest Indiana

mnovara@metroplanning.org (Marisa Novara) — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Marisa Novara

I love being surprised by places. Somewhere you’ve been – or been through – countless times but never stopped to really look around, or somewhere you lived near for years but never knew of its charms. photo courtesy of Miller Beach Arts & Creative District Gary’s Miller Beach is one of those places for me. On a recent visit I was traveling down Miller’s main drag, Lake Street, with my Placemaking hat on, busily noting this effort here and that possibility…

Retooling the United Center: New expansion proposal made public

jtrotter@metroplanning.org (Joanna Trotter) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Joanna Trotter

A “sea of parking.” A “wasteland.” These were just some of the terms residents of Chicago’s Near West Side neighborhood have used to describe the United Center’s footprint. This may soon change as preliminary plans were released this week for the redevelopment of some of the United Center’s eastern parking lots as part of an approximately 260,000 sq. ft. expansion. The preliminary plans call for new restaurants, bars, a team store, event space, and…

Talking Transit: Chicago gearing up for bike sharing

cnichols@metroplanning.org (Chrissy Mancini Nichols) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Chrissy Mancini Nichols

Did you know? In Paris and Barcelona almost 40 percent of bike share trips are in conjunction with transit. Chicagoans, get geared up: This summer, Chicago’s first large-scale bike sharing network will roll out across the city, with 3,000 bicycles available to rent from 300 stations in 2012, and 4,000 bikes at 400 stations by next year. (Kudos to City Council for approving the plan on April 18.) Bike sharing has become incredibly popular across the globe: More than 240 cities have bike…

Placemaking Case Study: Oklahoma City

mnovara@metroplanning.org (Marisa Novara) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Marisa Novara

Research Assistant Evan Severs co-authored this report. April 2012 Placemaking Principle: Develop a Vision During the mid-1990s, Oklahoma City was facing a conundrum shared by many cities across the country: Once the workday ceased at 5 p.m., the downtown area would empty with a vigor shared only by elementary school children running outside for recess. With little to attract and occupy workers after normal business hours, the city of 579,999 all but emptied to the surrounding suburbs,…

Value Capture Case Studies: Denver’s Historic Union Station

cnichols@metroplanning.org (Chrissy Mancini Nichols) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Chrissy Mancini Nichols

Value Capture Case Studies is an ongoing series highlighting ways in which cities and regions across the country are using value capture mechanisms to fund transportation plans. These case studies present novel learnings for the Chicago region as it grapples with how to pay for necessary transportation improvements. Each post will focus on real-life examples of value capture mechanisms at work. To learn more about the basics of value capture read “Value capture case studies: What is…

Project-based subsidies available for rental property developers, owners through Regional Housing Initiative

bgala@metroplanning.org (Breann Gala) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Breann Gala

To address metropolitan Chicago’s growing demand for quality, rental homes in attractive locations, developers and owners of rental housing near transit and jobs in Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties are encouraged to participate in the Regional Housing Initiative (RHI). Through RHI, developers and owners can earn project-based subsidies that provide a dependable funding stream for apartments for up to 15 years (extendable), keeping rents affordable and operating budgets…

Value Capture Case Studies: Washington, DC Metro expansion to Dulles Airport

cnichols@metroplanning.org (Chrissy Mancini Nichols) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Chrissy Mancini Nichols

Value Capture Case Studies: Portland’s Cascade Station and Light Rail to PDX

cnichols@metroplanning.org (Chrissy Mancini Nichols) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Chrissy Mancini Nichols

Urban Exchange brings together two mayors determined to bring their cities back

jtrotter@metroplanning.org (Joanna Trotter) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Joanna Trotter

Duluth, Minn., and Gary, Ind.: Aside from the obvious differences in racial demographics – Gary is 84 percent African American and Duluth is 90 percent White – the similarities are uncanny. These two mid-sized towns have grappled for decades with the loss of industry. As a result, populations plummeted and both have experienced significant unemployment. However, it is not just the challenges, but the opportunities that bind these communities. This is why the Metropolitan Planning…

Developing vibrant retail in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood

mnovara@metroplanning.org (Marisa Novara) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:00:00 CST

By Marisa Novara

When the Bronzeville Alliance, a coalition of local community organizations, invited the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) to help staff and provide recommendations to its Bronzeville Retail Initiative in 2010, MPC jumped at the opportunity to support coordinated retail planning, retention, and recruitment in this revitalizing South Side Chicago neighborhood. This project is a natural complement to Reconnecting Neighborhoods, a partnership since 2007 between the City of Chicago, Regional…

South Cook County (Chicago included)