Urban Land Institute Chicago presented a series of recommendations on March 4 for the redevelopment of Stony Island Avenue between 56th and 79th streets, following a request from the city amid ongoing development in the South Shore area.
The recommendations are intended to guide future growth along this key South Side corridor, which is seeing major projects such as the Obama Presidential Center, renovations to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, a new hotel, Regal Mile Studios, and the nearby Woodlawn Central megadevelopment. The panel’s suggestions aim to balance these developments with community needs and improved infrastructure.
The technical assistance panel, made up of 11 experts in urban planning, real estate, economic development, and finance, proposed several ideas. These include promoting “hub and spoke development” to encourage visitors to explore surrounding neighborhoods; redesigning parts of Stony Island to reduce roadway width and add pedestrian amenities; offering repair loans for owner-occupied properties; increasing residential development through local initiatives; prioritizing use of Stony Island for residents rather than as a thoroughfare; exploring transit upgrades like bus rapid transit or extending the Green Line; and creating an organization to coordinate planning efforts.
Swasti Shah, director of community engagement for Urban Land Institute Chicago, said at the public meeting that these recommendations are not finalized city plans. “The recommendations tend to be — because of the way this [panel] is structured — not very detailed recommendations, as other plans can be,” Shah told Block Club. “This is more directional and gives you the themes of how we should move forward.” She also noted that any significant changes would require coordination among government agencies and local officials.
Panelists interviewed between 75-100 people connected to the corridor during a two-day session in January before making their proposals. Interviewees included property owners, business owners, and representatives from institutions such as the University of Chicago and several museums. The session was not widely publicized but relied on local networks for participation.
Shah said that forming a new organization focused on Stony Island could help coordinate existing efforts from previous studies like the South Shore Corridor Study (2020), Woodlawn Plan Consolidation Report (2020), South Shore Quality of Life Plan (2022), and ongoing work along 71st Street. “You want to move all that forward, but you also want to have an entity…that helps coordinate all of that effort,” she said.
A final report from Urban Land Institute Chicago is expected in early May.
