Politics & Government

Officials Bringing in the Big Guns to Fix Clark Street

Chicago-based urban design experts are starting a massive study on how make the stretch of Clark Street north of Diversey Parkway significantly more vibrant.

Lincoln Avenue isn’t the only major thoroughfare getting extra attention in Lake View.

Officials revealed they’ve started working with an urban planning team to create a comprehensive study of Clark Street between Diversey Parkway and Barry Avenue. The process, which is aimed at making the stretch more pedestrian and business friendly, is expected to take almost half a year.

Design team The Lakota Group, who is also redesigning Six Corners in Portage Park, recently met for the first time with representatives with the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, Ald. Tom Tunney’s (44th) office, and the City of Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development, among others.

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Together they’ll form a plan to bring Clark Street back to life.

“(The Lakeview East Chamber) hired the Lakota Group and retail and engineering consultants to basically study Clark Street,” said York Chan, a South East Lake View Neighbors association board member, as well as a member on the Clark Street planning committee.

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“If you haven’t walked down Clark Street in the past few years, you probably haven’t seen there’s a lot of empty storefronts and businesses barely hanging on,” Chan continued. “This has been an ongoing problem.”

"We have to identify what can be done immediately, what can be done in the near future and what we might see in three to five years."

Just like the Lincoln Avenue redevelopment, the Clark Street project is being funded by the Lakeview East Chamber’s Special Service Area, a property tax levy allocated from the City of Chicago to improve Lake View.

But there are already some restrictions. Although the team just recently had its first meeting, the main issues already identified are the narrow sidewalks, putting a pinch on pedestrians and potential sidewalk cafés.

Maureen Martino, executive director with the East Lakeview Chamber, says this portion of Clark has “vaulted sidewalks,” which were built over old parts of the street or even the basements of old storefronts. Expanding the sidewalks and fixing the issue would be extremely expensive.

“I think what we’re trying to do right now is identify the issues that we have with the street, whether it be infrastructure or beautification,” Martino said. “Can we at least get some floral elements on the light poles, or can we get new poles in general? We need to make it aesthetically pleasing and functional, so thinking of other ways to let a restaurant have a sidewalk café.”

Bringing People Spots to Clark may also be an option over expanded sidewalks. Lake View will now have two People Spots, Chicago’s unique way of transforming street parking spots into seating areas.

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The Lakota Group’s urban study, which will be broken up into three phases, will include things like community involvement and neighborhood open houses. The final strategic plan is scheduled to be completed by June.

“One thing we were really careful about is inviting (officials) from departments and organizations to keep everyone (informed) while we’re moving along,” Martino said. “There are grandiose ideas, low hanging fruit and somewhere in the middle. We have to identify what can be done immediately, what can be done in the near future and what we might see in three to five years.”

The first phase of the Clark Street Strategic Plan runs through the end of April, with a community open house scheduled to gather feedback sometime around April 26.

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