As part of the Blue Island’s Corridor Planning Grant from IDOT, the City has been working with traffic engineers and consultants from KLOA. As mentioned last month, KLOA has presented their draft plan, and a final report will be delivered to IDOT in February, along with a market analysis provided by the Center for Neighborhood Technology.
The objective is to present IDOT with a feasible plan for converting Western Avenue and Gregory Street back to 2-way traffic flow. This long sought-after goal would put more eyes on our business district and, we believe, boost profits for our local business owners, as well as make Uptown a more desirable location for new or expanding businesses looking to locate in Blue Island.
Although we don’t know yet how the final results of this study will be received by IDOT, changes are already underway on Western Avenue to make the streetscape more appealing to pedestrians.
Robinson Engineering has secured ARRA (“stimulus”) funding to reconstruct the Vermont Street and York Street intersections on Western Ave this spring. Crosswalks will be reconstructed with dyed red cement and stamped with a herringbone pattern. This will replace the sprayed asphalt crosswalks at these locations. There will be new pedestrian-friendly “bumpouts” built at the SE (Dunkin Donuts) and NW (Dollar Store) corners on Vermont Street. In connection with these plans, the City hopes to work with local landscape firms to install street trees on Western Ave. We will be using the recommendations developed by Farr Associates in connection with the Blue Island Plan.
If you were at our March 2009 Blue Island Plan Update, you were part of the team that helped guide and draft these recommendations!
Robinson Engineering has said there will be some disruptions to vehicle traffic as the concrete crosswalks cure. We hope you all agree this is a small cost to pay for an improvement to our downtown landscape.
Learn more about proposed House Bill 4823, the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Act.
This new bill was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives by Reps. Greg Harris, Maria Antonia Berrios, Jay C. Hoffman, Thomas Holbrook, and Careen M. Gordon. It is currently in review by the Revenue and Finance Committee.
HB 4823 would authorize tax credits against Illinois income taxes and insurance company privilege taxes for 25% of the costs of rehabilitating eligible historic properties in the state.
- Credits not used in a single tax year could be used over a period of up to ten years, or sold for cash, transferred, or assigned.
- Eligible properties would need to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places or in a certified local historic district/landmark.
- Eligible properties could include residential, commercial, non-profit, or governmental purposes.
- The existing 20% Federal Historic Tax Credit could be coupled with the proposed 25% State Rehabilitation Tax Credit meaning that essentially 45% of the cost of rehabilitation could be claimed as tax credits or sold.
- The work would have to conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
- The tax credit appears to be largely modeled on Missouri’s hugely successful state historic tax credit which has turned out to be the best economic development incentive for blight properties and neighborhoods available in that state.
Track the status of the HB4823 bill
With our Cultural Heritage Branding complete, Blue Island’s Preserve America grant moves to the Marketing Phase. Beginning this month, the Community Development Department will be partnering with a marketing firm to research and establish a solution for creating a successful message and marketing plan based on our new cultural heritage brand identity. The Marketing Phase will include planning and concepting — potential products could include direct mail, flyers, or brochures.
Watch for more information, including opportunities for input this Spring!
Master’s level students from PAB-accredited planning departments may apply
for the Economic Development Division’s graduate scholarship. The recipient
of the $1,000 award will be chosen based on a faculty recommendation and an
original paper or work on a topic related to economic development and
planning. Apply by February 18. http://www.planning.org/divisions/economic/scholarships/
The Housing and Community Development Division Research Grant program
identifies innovative housing or community development methods, practices, or programs. The 2010 grant recipient will receive $1,000 for materials and
activities directly related to research for a master’s thesis or other
project. The submission deadline is February 18.
http://www.planning.org/divisions/housing/grants.htm
The student writing competition sponsored by the Transportation Planning
Division recognizes and rewards student work completed for courses in
PAB-accredited programs on current transportation planning or policy
issues. Submit entries by February 18. http://www.apa-tpd.org/competition.html
EXCITING NEWS! The City’s traffic consultant, KLOA, has finished their study and draft report for 2-way traffic on Western & Gregory Aves. The draft has been reviewed by the Community Development Department and its partners, the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Farr Associates. A final study will be completed soon and we will meet with IDOT to discuss the findings.
Related to the KLOA study, the Chamber of Commerce is organizing a parking committee to discuss how to effectively manage on-street and off-street parking in Uptown. If you’re interested in learning more contact the Chamber at blueislandchamber@sbcglobal.net.
We’re currently looking to fill a temporary, grant-funded position of Brownfields Grant Project Coordinator, which provides staff support to the Community Development Department for the programming of the City’s 2008 USEPA Brownfields Assessment Grant project.
Bachelor Degree in Public Administration, Economic Development, or related field required; Master Degree preferred. Excellent oral, written and organizational skills required.
Interested applicants should submit their resume and cover letter via email no later than Friday, January 29, 2010 to brownfields@cityofblueisland.org.
For additional details visit http://www.blueisland.org/position-opening-brownfields-coordinator/
Visit us online for additional information on the Blue Island Brownfields Initiative.
