Pingree Grove looking to take Heritage District to next level

In hopes of "adding more teeth" to an existing downtown plan, Pingree Grove leaders are embarking on a blueprint that focuses squarely on its Heritage District - the original part of the village.

Pingree Grove recently sent out a request for qualifications for companies willing to create the plan and received 22 responses.

Officials have narrowed the job down to four firms that will begin making presentations to the five-member committee in early December.

And it is the committee - composed of two board members, two planning and zoning commission members and one resident - that will decide which company gets the job.

"I've been hands off in this process," said Village President Wyman "Clint" Carey. "I like the idea of a committee selecting this firm."

The village has set aside $50,000 for the project but has not yet established a complete budget.

With the new plan, officials hope to:

• Embrace new planning concepts that mirror residents' feedback.

• Include green practices and approaches into the designing, planning and building concepts.

• Establish a clear vision for mixed use and turn the village center into a community gathering place and destination.

• Creatively embracing the character, history and opportunities of the Heritage District while recognizing physical and economic limitations.

This document won't replace the village's 3-year-old downtown plan, officials said.

"It's basically taking the 2006 plan to the next level," Village Manager Scott Hartman said.

Residents are invited to attend the public presentations, which will each last an hour and include a public question and answer session.

The first is Dec. 2 and involves Teska Associates in Evanston and Houseal Lavigne Associates out of Chicago.

The Dec. 9 session will feature Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative out of Tennessee and 180 Degree Urban Design and Architecture, out of Kansas City, Mo.

The village board will ultimately take a vote confirming or rejecting the committee's decision.