Project Overview
Placemaking design initiatives, such as people spaces, can help connect neighborhoods and commercial streets into socially cohesive places by creating new, vibrant community hubs. The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) and Special Service Area (SSA) #31 have initiated a design process to create a series of permanent people spaces in Ravenswood.
GRCC has commissioned The Lakota Group, a Chicago-based urban design and landscape architecture firm, to design and implement a series of “Ravenswood People Spaces.” Working with the Lakota Group design team, we are exploring Ravenswood’s many assets and placemaking needs to identify locations and develop several community-gathering spaces along many of the neighborhood’s key commercial streets.
Well-designed People Spaces facilitate community interaction, support economic development and local businesses, visually enhance our urban environment, narrate a neighborhood’s history, and invite residents and visitors to explore and enjoy a community. When completed, these spaces will create a cultural network that strengthens the connection between people and the Ravenswood neighborhood.
Examples of People Spaces can include, but are not limited to:
- Informal Seating Areas
- Outdoor Dining Areas
- Small Plazas
- Pockets of Green Space
- Parklets
Questions about the project? Please contact our office. Amy, our project manager, looks forward to your input and feedback.
Concept Renderings Gallery
Project Timeline
The People Spaces design project aims to implement gathering spaces by the end of 2021. This process focuses on three main phases:
Phase 1:
Program Development
February – May
GRCC and the planning team will analyze existing conditions, explore project scope, and engage with stakeholders to establish a strong foundation.
Phase 2:
Design Development
May – August
Based on the analysis conducted, GRCC and the design team will explore People Space design options to enhance the district.
Phase 3:
Implement
September – December
In the final phase, GRCC will implement People Spaces with the planning teams guidance. Completion is expected by the end of December 2021.
Documents and Resources
Our team will post documents as they are ready. Stay tuned!
Public Feedback and Engagement
Engagement is a key component of this design process to ensure that the People Spaces cater to the needs of the Ravenswood community, including residents, business owners, property owners, and visitors.
As part of this initiative, GRCC, SSA #31 and the design team will undertake a meaningful and inclusive public participation process to get valuable input and feedback on the locations and design ideas. Over the coming months, the design team will facilitate a series of engagement activities, starting with the interactive map featured above.
We will provide stakeholders with several ways to engage and share input throughout this process. Contact us with your questions.
We encourage you to sign up for regular email updates about this project!
Subscribe to updates and be sure to check the box for “Ravenswood People Spaces Updates” to get information specific to this endeavor.
