News & Events

A New Vision for 53rd Street

December 10, 2007

Despite frigid temperatures and an early morning start time, nearly 200 Hyde Park and mid-South Side residents packed the gymnasium of Canter Middle School on December 8, 2007, for a half-day workshop to discuss future development of 53rd Street, Hyde Park's primary commercial business corridor and an important shopping hub for the mid-south side of Chicago.

Using technology provided by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), attendees were able to vote on development priorities and see their preferences reflected in real time.

Results from the day's polling revealed several themes for the future of 53rd Street, including a nearly universal desire for:

• A greater range of options for shopping, dining, and entertainment
• More restaurants and entertainment venues, including cultural venues, movies, and nightlife
• Development with retail on the ground floor with residential or office above
• A pedestrian friendly, visually clean, and attractive environment.
• Parking above, behind, or beneath developments

Workshop participants expressed enthusiasm for the event. “The tone of the workshop was fantastic,” noted participant Jeff Edstrom, “and the excitement was really palpable.”

The workshop was sponsored by 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle and a coalition of local institutions and community organizers, including the 53rd Street TIF Advisory Council, the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference, and the South East Chicago Commission.

The information culled from the workshop will be shared with City of Chicago planners and reflected in future requests for proposals (RFPs) to developers.

For more information about the workshop and about the 53rd Street TIF, see the 53rd Street TIF Advisory Council’s website or check the Council’s newsletter.