Public Policy Case Studies

Downtown planning

Client

Village of Western Springs, Illinois

Situation

The threatened departure of a major local retailer heightened concerns about the downtown’s eroding infrastructure and lack of commercial diversity.

Solution

The village’s Economic Development Commission retained McElroy Associates and Hitchcock Design Group to research long-range land use issues and make specific recommendations for short-term improvements.

Result

The consultants’ combination of skills-our extensive experience in economic redevelopment policy, plus Hitchcock Design Group’s site planning expertise-proved a success. Village officials received several design proposals, all based on two underlying goals: increased focus on an existing downtown park, and infrastructure improvements near the commuter train station. Much of the plan has been implemented.