Latest plans for Ogden Avenue push access, enhancement
Access and beautification are the key points to the most recent draft of the Ogden Avenue enhancement plans in Naperville.
Planners are pushing for greater pedestrian access to the shopping areas along Ogden Avenue between Naper Boulevard and Washington Street as part of any redevelopment proposals for the corridor.
City planners will also take a proposal to the city council later this month that calls for incentive packages to property owners in the area to make landscaping, facade and sign improvements.
The consultant team hired by the city to create the reports that will eventually guide any future redevelopment in the area, said the stretch of road is dogged by out-of-date architectural design and land uses.
"The 1960s and 1970s style designs are really having an impact on the area," said Amy Furfori, a senior associate with Houseal Lavigne Associates. "It's not just the buildings themselves, but the parcel sizes."
Planners suggested fancy light posts, a landscaped median in some parts of the corridor, more trees and other decorative effects to make the area more appealing.
They also suggested a traffic light be placed somewhere between Columbia Street and Iroquois Avenue to calm traffic.
About two dozen people showed up Tuesday night to hear the presentation of the current draft, which shows the preferred concept plans for redevelopment in the area.
The report emphasizes a desire to connect the area to Diehl Road, specifically at the Freedom Commons development that is coming on line and bringing a dining and retail destination to the area. Planners contend that type of shopping destination is different than what the Ogden Avenue corridor offers and actually complement each other.
City planners are hopeful the council will adopt a final version of the plan by early 2008. But first they are seeking council approval at the Aug. 21 meeting on several key initiatives that will lay the groundwork for the final plan, community planner Amy Emery said.
Those initiatives cover the incentive packages, aesthetics, land use and transportation improvements, she said.
Residents who live near the study area said they are happy with the emphasis planners have placed on not disturbing the neighboring residential properties.
"Some of the things they're talking about would make it nicer for the neighbors," Dennis Wencel said. "But the nice thing about this whole process has been how the team has worked with us and always met with us and incorporated our concerns into the plan, which I think is very strong."