After nearly eight months of research, the village government's plan to revitalize downtown Skokie received approval to go forward Monday.
In a unanimous decision, the Skokie Village Board of Trustees adopted the Downtown Task Force's recommendations to create a "lively, attractive, active commercial district," according to the plan's mission statement. Known as the Downtown Skokie Action Plan, the two-phase strategy would first improve the traffic flow and aesthetics of the downtown area, then actively recruit developers and retailers. Economic Development Coordinator Tom Thompson said the village has already started marketing.
"While we have earmarked 2012 as the beginning year for retail recruitment, I don't want to give the impression that we're not going to do any retail recruitment before that," Thompson said. "We've already done some with some success, and we will continue at that."
The plan is based on a market analysis by Chicago consulting firm 4Insights presented to the task force in June. It also includes the suggestions of the Independent Merchants of Downtown Skokie, whose membership includes about 60 to 70 percent of downtown retail businesses, according to president Randy Miles.
Thompson discussed improving Lamon Avenue between Oakton Community College and downtown to reach the "untapped market" of students. He also laid out ideas for making Oakton Street more pedestrian- and retail-friendly, including narrowing the street to create more parking and hiring professional designers to advise retailers on window displays.
Despite the unanimous vote, Trustee Donald Perille questioned 4Insights' recommendation that businesses switch from flat signs to blade signs, which protrude from a building instead of lying flat against it.
"I heard [the consultant] say blade signs, and my blood ran cold," Perille said.
According to Perille, who has worked for the village government since 1961, Skokie used blade signs until about 35 years ago, when it switched to flat signage to give the downtown a neater appearance and make the signs easier to read. In a phone interview, he said the change took about five years and some business owners objected to the expense. In the end, though, the change was popular, he said.
Perille also asked the task force to take inventory of existing commercial space to see how much is vacant before further development. He warned building more could further harm current property owners in a weak economy.
Village Manager Albert Rigoni urged Perille to consider the plan "conceptual" when Perille voiced his objections, assuring him developments would come before the board before implementation.
Approved by the Skokie Village Board of Trustees on Monday, the Downtown Skokie Action Plan encourages developing "the Floral Triangle," an area near Village Hall bordered in part by Oakton Street and Floral Avenue. (Emmarie Huetteman/Medill)
The two-phase revitalization plan recommends exploring ways to make Oakton Street more pedestrian- and retail-friendly. One suggestion is to narrow the street to create more parking and walking space. (Emmarie Huetteman/Medill)
Economic Development Coordinator Tom Thompson recommended hiring professional help to cover and use vacant storefronts like this one to promote Skokie events. "Every area, no matter how healthy, has them," he said of the vacancies. (Emmarie Huetteman/Medill)
Trustee Donald Perille objected to the Downtown Task Force's suggestion to switch back to blade signage, which protrudes from buildings. He said Skokie changed to flat signs about 35 years ago and that after the initial transition pains, the change was popular. (Emmarie Huetteman/Medill)
Perille said downtown Skokie looked like "a jumble, hodge-podge" if one looked east down Lincoln Avenue in the late 1960s. Today there's "more light and air," and the signs are easier to read, he said. (Emmarie Huetteman/Medill)
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