Saturday, March 03, 2007

Context Sensitive Design Solutions in Transportation Seminar

A special workshop on how to use street design to build vibrant neighborhoods in your community.
• Learn about changing standards in street design;
• Increase knowledge of the impacts of street design;
• Learn how to work with transportation agencies; and
• Identify key urban design features that support a strong community.

THE CITY OF ELGIN is pleased to invite you to a special workshop on how to use street design to build vibrant neighborhoods in your community. The workshop will focus on a design
manual from the Institute of Transportation Engineers and CNU entitled Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities. This proposed
recommended practice helps public officials and planners create context-sensitive streets that function to serve pedestrians, transit-riders, and cyclists as well as motorists.

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 2007
WHERE: The Centre of Elgin, Heritage Ballroom
100 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120
TIME: 8:30am to 1:00pm. LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED
COST: FREE to all attendees

Please R.S.V.P. before March 12, to Crystal McGuire at the City of Elgin
Phone: 847-931-5939 • Email so that we can plan to provide you with lunch. Space is limited, so please sign up today! We look forward to seeing you on March 16.

Streets are central to adding value to communities. Richly-textured roads
designed for multiple modes of transportation and diverse uses help create
community character and can boost economic, social and cultural activities
along key corridors. As a local decision-maker, you have a number
of opportunities to use street design to enhance your community and
shape its identity. We hope you will take advantage of this unique event.

EVENT SCHEDULE
8:30-9:00am Coffee and refreshments
9:00 – 9:15am Welcome and Opening Remarks
Ed Schock, Mayor, City of Elgin
9:15 – 9:45am Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities: History of the project
Jacky Grimshaw, The Center for Neighborhood Technology
9:45 – 10:30am The Complexity of the Street Network: Adding Value to Your Community
John Norquist, President and CEO, Congress for the New Urbanism
10:30 – 11:15am Before and After Examples from the Chicago Region: What Works and What Doesn’t!
John LaPlante, Chief Transportation Engineer, T.Y. Lin International
11:15 – 12:00pm Implementing Ideas in the Manual: How Do We Get from Here to There?
Billy Hattaway, Corridor Planning and Engineering Practice Leader,
Glatting, Jackson, Kirchner, Anglin: Orlando, Florida
12:00pm LUNCH and Social Hour

Special thanks to Nora Beck of the Congress for the New Urbanism, and Beth Dever of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus for their assistance in putting together the workshop.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

2007 Elgin Mayors Awards for Preservation Nominations

The Elgin Heritage Commission is still seeking nominations for the 2007 Elgin Mayors Awards for Preservation. Nominations can be submitted by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007. The application is available here.

The awards recognize creative and imaginative efforts made toward neighborhood and downtown revitalization with three honors of distinction.

The three honors awards are:
1. The Mayor George Van De Voorde Award which is given to an individual recognizing the continuing vigor, imagination, and persistence in preserving Elgin's heritage.
2. The William Stickling Award which honors achievements in the adaptive reuse of industrial and commercial buildings.
3. The Artisan Award which recognizes the exemplary work of a contractor, craftsperson or artisan in the preservation and restoration of Elgin's architectural heritage.

Elgin's Heritage Commission will select City winners who will then be honored at the annual Mayors Awards for Preservation event Thursday, May 3, 2007 at The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way.

Nominations can be submitted to Sophia Morales, Community Development Department.