Chicago Loop Alliance Seeks Public Input for First State Street Corridor Plan in 33 Years

Chicago Loop Alliance will produce the first State Street Corridor Plan in 33 years with the help of Site Design Group Ltd. (Site), an urban design and architecture firm that was selected from a competitive pool of applicants. The plan, to be released next fall, will include recommendations on character, aesthetics and infrastructure, public space, transportation and mobility, retail and business mix, and technology. Community engagement is sought for the planning process; you can sign up for news and to become involved at www.loopchicago.com/statestreet.

The corridor plan will be Chicago Loop Alliance’s first plan for State Street since 1987, when the organization called for the street to be reopened to automobile traffic after becoming a bus and pedestrian mall in 1979. State Street reopened in 1996 with historic-looking light poles, bus kiosks and planters.

“As we showed with our Economic Profile last year, everything about the Loop is changing rapidly—residential demographics, commercial real estate, mobility, etc.,” said Chicago Loop Alliance Director of Planning Kalindi Parikh. “We see this street as a connector for all of Chicago’s neighborhoods. Our corridor plan will guide us in keeping the street competitive in a changing economic landscape, and in keeping it a ‘great street’ for all Chicagoans.”

Chicago Loop Alliance previously worked with Site on Lightscape, a light and sound installation located in 17 planters along State Street that was installed in 2011. Site is also known for projects around Chicago including the Argyle Shared Street, McCormick Square, Mary Bartelme Park, Chicago Riverwalk East, West Loop Design Guidelines, and Printer’s Row Park.

To kick off the State Street Corridor Plan process, Site principal and co-founder Ernie Wong will keynote Chicago Loop Alliance’s 2020 annual meeting, from 8-10:15 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, in the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer House Hilton. Wong will answer the question, “Why create a plan for State Street?” and will explain how stakeholders can get involved with the planning process.

The event will also feature remarks from Samir Mayekar, Chicago’s deputy mayor for economic and neighborhood development. Tickets for the annual meeting are $75 members/$85 non-members and can be purchased at www.loopchicago.com/ annualmeeting.

-Suzanne Hanney, from online sources