RNRA Perspective on Neighborhood Development

Neighborhood development obviously has both positive and negative implications. Most residents of River North recognize the value of expanding the tax base to pay for city services and of transforming vacant or underutilized properties into more attractive, safer, revenue-generating additions to the neighborhood. They know that business owners require certain levels of pedestrian and vehicular traffic before opening new stores and offices and they recognize that developers have the right to build on the properties they acquired for this purpose, subject to applicable rules. A busier skyline, increased congestion and disruption during construction are some of the unavoidable consequences of a desirable community.

The RNRA believes that developers should look beyond the economic viability of a particular project and endeavor to contribute to the quality of life in the community and the value of local real estate. The due diligence for each proposal should include an independent assessment of its potential impact on neighborhood and architectural character, security, green space, traffic, parking, sightlines, the pedestrian experience, pet resources, affordable housing and retail commerce.  Projects should be designed to improve, rather than degrade, these essential elements. Each development plan should also consider worker parking, truck staging, work hours, site lighting and other construction protocol matters in order to minimize noise, disruption and inconvenience to existing residents and businesses.

If development is conducted in this way, we believe that residents will generally be more supportive and that by working together to cultivate River North’s reputation as a vibrant, creative and desirable community, all parties will benefit in the long run.

Contact the Committee Chair Andrew Schaefer here with questions or comments.

AMLI project at Clark & Hubbard

• Clark & Hubbard
• AMLI Residential Partners, LLC & Friedman Properties, LTD
• Walsh Construction
  
• Construction: underway
• 12,617 sf site
• 50 stories
• 409 rental units (1, 2, and 3 BR)
• 262 parking spaces
• 100% smoke-free building
• LEED Silver Certification
• Amenities on top of adjacent Greenway Self Park garage
• 4,500 sf ground floor retail

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