Community Engagement
The Western Avenue Corridor Study team has six foundational participation principles:
We will envision the long-term future grounded in data-driven and feasible strategies
We will create a collective vision for Western Avenue that acknowledges the diverse conditions of the entire five-mile corridor from Addison to Howard
We will develop a cohesive, long-term roadmap that is the first of many steps toward change — implementation will entail future projects with their own processes
We will be transparent by sharing relevant information, ideas, and concerns with one another
We will seek inclusion by listening to as many voices as possible while embracing productive tensions and respectful disagreements
We will communicate in good faith, in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect
Comments, questions, suggestions, observations, photos, and more are welcome at any time at WesternAve@cityofchicago.org.
6 P.M., Thursday, Oct. 6
Be part of the future of Western Avenue. Join the City of Chicago for a presentation of the community vision for Western Avenue corridor. Register now >>
The Western Avenue Corridor Study team hosted geographically-based focus groups in March 2022 to discuss short- and long-term opportunities with neighbors, business owners and other stakeholders who know the areas intimately. These small group conversations were venues to collectively discuss the trade-offs for potential transportation, development, and urban design recommendations, examining the corridor a few blocks at a time. The comments and ideas from participants will help inform a set of draft recommendations that will be shared with the broader public for additional feedback in coming months.
The study team produced a set of summary slides that synthesizes the main takeaways for each focus area discussion.
Local stakeholders were asked to respond to a wide-ranging community survey in the launch phase of the Western Avenue Corridor Study. Among other questions, the survey asked residents about the corridor's biggest challenges, their visions for the corridor's future, and their opinion about what makes the Western Avene corridor unique.
A summary of the survey results is now available for review. More than 1,500 residents submitted a response to this initial survey. The raw data is also available as an Excel document. An analysis of the data will be provided at future community meetings.
The Western Avenue Youth Council was formed in partnership with Territory, a nonprofit group that promotes the inclusion of young people in urban design, public art, and community planning across Chicago.
The council consists of current students and recent alumni from several North Side high schools, including Amundsen High School, Lake View High School, Lane Tech College Prep, Mather High School, St. Matthias Catholic School and more.
The study team hosted two virtual meetings in July 2021 to review their progress and invite open discussion on key elements of the Western Avenue Corridor Study. Each meeting contained the same content, but breakout discussions focused on two different geographies of the five-mile study area.
July 20: Howard to Bryn Mawr
- Staff Update (YouTube)
- Breakout Discussion: Land Use and Development (YouTube)
- Breakout Discussion: Mobility and Public Spaces (YouTube)
- Breakout Discussion: Sustainability and Resiliency (YouTube)
- Presentation (.pdf)
July 22: Bryn Mawr to Addison
The Western Avenue Study team hosted six focus groups in March 2021 to discuss specific topics, including:
- Housing and Neighborhoods
- Economic and Community Development
- Transportation and Infrastructure
- Sustainability & Resilience
- Arts, Culture and Identity
- Community Wellness
Each one-hour focus group included a group of approximately ten stakeholders, including residents, business owners, community organization representatives, and local experts in relevant topics. Meetings included people that live or work in neighborhoods along the length of the corridor. The primary goal was to hear a variety of perspectives and identify or confirm the issues and opportunities to explore in the next phase of the study.
Community stakeholders attended a virtual kick-off meeting for the Western Avenue Corridor Study in January 2021. The meeting presentation is available for review. A replay of the event can be found on DPD's YouTube page and is watchable above. Participants’ initial comments, questions and insights will help shape the planning process and focus areas in the weeks and months to come.
The Western Avenue Corridor Study team is in the process of planning future engagement opportunities, with additional events expected once draft study materials are ready for review. Sign up for email updates to be notified when these meetings are scheduled.