Noticing Suburban “Main Streets”
Glenview Downtown -Coming Together
Walking Downtown Glenview for a recent Municipal Design Review Network professional event brought together two interests I’ve followed for years: local revitalization and better community design. What began as a look at several recent projects quickly became something more - a practical checklist of the issues almost every community faces in trying to make an older downtown more attractive, energetic and economically sustainable.
Restaurants as Destinations
Some of the most visible changes in Glenview are the new restaurants and gathering places that give people a reason to come Downtown and stay awhile. Village leaderhsip has been especially strategic in attracting experienced restaurateurs willing to work with the Village on projects such as Jackman & Co./Zensi Den, Ovvio Italian Taverna and restoration of the historic Glen View House for Foxtail. These are very different buildings and sites, but each shows how a successful business can also become part of a larger placemaking strategy. And as pictured, adding architectural detail at Cerca to a historic setting.
Beyond the Buildings
Just as important are the smaller things that make those destinations feel connected. Landscaping, trees, pedestrian improvements and inviting outdoor areas soften what can otherwise be an auto/commercial corridor. At one location, reconfiguration of parking and adjoining uses helped create a quieter riverfront setting. I had never really noticed how effectively it was tucked behind the more visible development! Those details may seem secondary to the buildings themselves, but they are often what make people comfortable walking from one place to another.
Adding Community Character
Public art provides another example. A new community mural sponsored by the Art League brought together local artists and community participation while responding to the natural and architectural character of its setting. This broader sense of community life can also be seen in the annual Blocktoberfest, first initiated by our Friends of Downtown Glenview (FDG) group. It now draws tens of thousands for a day of food, beer tasting, entertainment and music. These specific examples are reminders that a Downtown becomes more memorable when people are participating in it!
Economics of Appearance
Of course, attractive places may not succeed on design alone. During the tour, Glenview Community Development Director Jeff Brady emphasized the practical “gap” between the businesses residents may say they want and those that can actually operate sustainably. That makes cooperation with property owners and business operators especially important. Beyond direct financial incentives, communities can help through “façade improvement” programs, property remodeling assistance and constructive work with owners investing in the District. Some new boutique businesses replacing less active office uses are one notable result.
Design Process
The design review process helps make all of this happen. The group discussion ranged from broad zoning and architectural “form” based tool to very specific techniques—building articulation, setbacks, lighting, signage and contextual relationship to surroundings. But perhaps the more important reminder was procedural: Good standards accomplish little if applicants do not understand what is expected of them. Brady illustrated the detailed review process intended to establish expectations early and carry them through to final approval.
More Than the Sum of Parts
Walking the Downtown district made clear that revitalization is rarely the result of one dramatic project. It comes from patiently fitting viable businesses, welcoming public spaces and community participation together—piece by piece—until the Downtown suddenly feels like more than the sum of its parts!
