Downtown Bartlett recognized for its revitalization efforts
It took much more than a village to turn a mostly industrial area into the heart of downtown Bartlett.
The newly revitalized development known as Town Center instead is the result of a tireless collaborative effort two decades in the making, and one group took notice.
The Chicago district of the Urban Land Institute recently honored Town Center in Bartlett with its 2007-08 Community Vision Award.
"We were very pleased to have been selected," Village President Catherine Melchert said. "It says to me it's not only the look of the project, but that all that went into it from start to finish was material to them."
Located at Main Street and Railroad Avenue, Town Center is a mixed-use campus consisting of residential condominiums and lofts, retail and yet-to-be-built office space.
Retailers include La Dolce Vita, The Wine Bin, Bartlett Vision, Black Tie Affair Day Spa & Salon, Clique Photography and Fitness Together.
The Community Vision Award examines projects demonstrating excellence in five areas: location; density, design and diversity of uses; transportation, mobility and accessibility; environment; and community assets.
Town Center specializes in the transportation category. Bartlett negotiated for years with Metra to build its new train station further east so commuters would see, and perhaps frequent, the shops and restaurants just steps from the platform.
Town Center is still a work in progress. Though it's only two-thirds completed, village officials acknowledge outsiders aren't visiting downtown Bartlett to eat and shop.
"There are always naysayers. But most people believe this is a vast improvement to the look of downtown," said Melchert. "They will agree this has been an asset to our community."
Melchert said it's been a complex process dating back to the mid-1980s. There were properties to buy, businesses to move, environmental cleanup to do, grants to apply for and citizen input to seek.
"This was the redevelopment to improve infrastructure to revitalize an area that wasn't abandoned but was close to being abandoned," she said.
One of three recipients, Town Center won the suburban category.
The urban award went to the Park Boulevard development on Chicago's South Side. The Center on Halsted on the North Side received a special recognition mention.
Past suburban winners include River Park Place in Elgin and the HomeTown Aurora community.
Recipients were honored Feb. 14 at a panel discussion on urban reinvestment and partnerships. Melchert was one of the panel members.
"We have to believe that doing nothing is going backward," Melchert said. "This is better for our community today and for the future."
The Urban Land Institute works to find solutions and build consensus around land use and development challenges.
The award is also sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Metropolitan Planning Council.