Streetscape Design and Planning Services are available through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA),Preservation Services Division, in association with the Illinois Main Street Program. These services are free of charge to any Illinois Main Street Community in good standing.

The purpose of these services is to provide assistance to Main Street Communities in the design and implementation of public improvements. Helping communities in the process of assessing conditions and determining goals and objectives for the physical appearance of down towns are two tasks to undertaken by the IHPA Project Architect.

Throughout this process, the involvement of the community is vital. A public meeting (or series of meetings) is first held, which includes a presentation of the issues defining streetscape design. This presentation is followed by discussion of the concerns of the community. Participation by the community leaders in these sessions is encouraged. The town's Mayor, City Manager, Council Members, Public Works Managers, and other Municipal Officials should be invited to attend. The Main Street Design Committee is required of meet following this presentation and, following its own consultation, forward its findings and concerns to the IHPA Project Architect.

Planning involves first assessing the existing physical conditions of the Main Street District and then determining the areas and elements of the district that need to be proved. Base map drawing are prepared and through a process that includes community involvement, a physical plan is generated with priorities and objectives and timetables defined.

 

Streetscape Design involves the public improvements of the streets within the Main Street District boundaries and includes the design of the following elements:  sidewalks and streets, paving, street and pedestrian lighting, trees and plantings, street furniture and artifacts. For all planning and design activities, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's publication, Main Street Guidelines, Public Improvements On Main Street, and The Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for both Buildings and Cultural Landscapes are employed.

PROGRAM PRESENTATION: "Your Town's Streetscape Design" Public Meeting conducted by the Main Street Project Architect, 11/2 hours, with time for audience discussion.

 

DOWNTOWN VISIONING: A day long workshop designed to assist the community in identifying the improvements that are needed for the Main Street District. Professionals noted in the field would be invited to make presentations regarding downtown development, followed by a session of idea sharing conducted by the Main Street Project Architect.

 

DOWNTOWN INVENTORY SURVEY: A detailed block-by-block site photograph inventory of the Main Street District. Also, a detailed dimension check of sidewalk and street widths is conducted. The inventory includes all noteworthy elements including lights, trees, furniture, ect.

BASE MAP GENERATION: Computer (CAD) generated scale drawing of the downtown district at an appropriate scale.

 

PLANNING DRAWINGS:

• Base maps with downtown structures, streets and walks, open spaces, and features defined. Areas of concern are noted.
• Schematic design of possible downtown development, overlaid on the base map drawings.
• Enlarged schematic drawings of defining specific areas of improvements, as required.

Sketches that illustrate proposed improvements in general terms, as required.

 

PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS:

A report on the existing conditions of the downtown district with suggested areas of concentration listed, priorities and timetables defined for improvements noted, in a written format. Document includes planning drawings.

 

DESCRIPTION OF FUNDING SOURCES:

A description of available funding sources and mechanisms available to municipalities and Main Street Organizations, including local initiatives, State, and Federal Programs.

 

DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS:

• Streetscape improvements, walks and paving, lighting, plantings, and street furniture overlaid on the downtown district base map.
• Enlarged drawings of streets and walks with design shown at larger scale.
• Sketches that illustrate the purposed streetscape design.

 

STREETSCAPE COST ESTIMATE

• A detailed itemized construction cost estimate breakdown of the streetscape improvements.

 

SPECIAL PROJECTS

• Design of main street projects such as parks, parking lots, and special interest areas.
• Consultation regarding analysis of downtown streetscape elements and plans. Design review meetings could be held with other professionals already under contract to provide services for either planning or streetscape design work.

 

FORMAL PRESENTATIONS

• A formal presentation of proposed downtown plan and or streetscape design in a public meeting format, presented by the Project Architect. This presentation is often given to City Councils as an agenda item for scheduled meeting session.

 

ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE

Fees for professional services for projects of this type can range in $120.00 per hour. For 100 hours of billable services, which comprises the approximate time (one month) to undertake a streetscape design project, a fee charge of $19,200 would not be uncommon.

 

REQUESTING SERVICES

A request for services listed above, should be made in writing from the Main Street Program Manager to the James A. Johnston A.I.A., IHPA Project Architect. Once the formal written request is received, preliminary visits to the Main Street Community will be scheduled.