The Near West Side is among three neighborhoods being targeted in a recently launched redevelopment program called Reconnecting Neighborhoods.

The project is an initiative led by the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development with support from the Regional Transportation Authority. The goal of Reconnecting Neighborhoods is to improve the pedestrian environment, create new commercial opportunities and enhance transit services and facilities on the Mid-South, Near North and Near West sides through community outreach. A launch event was held in November, but the project's first planning session is starting at the end of January.

"We're saying to all residents, 'We're moving forward as a city. How can we make improvements to best serve you?'" said Robin Snyderman, housing director for Metropolitan Planning Council, which is coordinating the public outreach component of the project.

The neighborhoods chosen for the project all include new mixed-income communities being constructed under the Chicago Housing Authority's Plan for Transformation. The Near West Side's West Haven community was developed to replace the Henry Horner Homes.

These areas are experiencing an influx of new homes and residents that has created a demand for better public transit, pedestrian connections and new retail opportunities to accommodate the residents.

Reconnecting Neighborhoods is taking community input and developing plans based off of the resident's recommendations to tackle these issues. The mission, Snyderman says, is to help residents plan for the future of their communities.

"It is as much about community building as it is about transit and retail," Snyderman said. "We're getting to the heart of issues central to people's lives."

Task Forces, consisting of community leaders, have been established in each neighborhood to regularly meet with the project team to create a blueprint for transit service and other neighborhood improvements. The Task Force members also work with the neighbors throughout all stages of the process.

The Task Forces and other residents are provided resources to help them make competent recommendations, said Brandon Johnson, Reconnecting Neighborhoods project manager. Johnson said with the community involvement and guidance from planning experts, the plans should be well received by residents.

"There should be no opposition when the recommendations are rolled out," Johnson said.

Snyderman said projects like streetscaping could possibly happen in a year but the bigger goals will take longer depending on the nature of the recommendation.

But Johnson said Reconnecting Neighborhood representatives will be there to help residents as they adjust to the changes being made to their neighborhoods.

"With any major change, there are going to be growing pains," Johnson said. "Part of our involvement is helping residents cope with the changes."

Steve DeBretto, co-chair of the Task Force for the Near West Side and director of Outreach and Member Services for the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, said this project is part of the city stepping up to the necessary transit needs of the Near West Side, especially its manufacturing district. DeBretto said one of the goals of Reconnecting Neighborhoods is to provide more adequate transportation between the Kinzie Industrial Corridor and West Haven community.

"With West Haven becoming more densely populated, the city has to respond to growth in the area and provide the necessary transportation," DeBretto said. "We need a Green Line stop at Damen [and Lake] more than ever."

DeBretto also said the launch of this initiative will not overshadow recommendations already made by ICNC.

"We are going to continue to advocate what businesses have said they need for the neighborhood," DeBretto said. "We didn't put anything on hold while this was going on."

For more information about the project, visit www.reconnectingneighborhoods.org.  

CONTACT: hgraham@chicagojournal.com