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WAUKEGAN LAKE FRONT REVITALIZATION PLAN
Title
WAUKEGAN LAKE FRONT REVITALIZATION PLAN
Creator
Webb, Natalia Pena
Date
2011-04-13, 2011-05
Description
Waukegan is a place that has a strategic location. Not just because it is in the middle of two important cities like Chicago and Milwaukee,...
Show moreWaukegan is a place that has a strategic location. Not just because it is in the middle of two important cities like Chicago and Milwaukee, but because of its proximity to the lake (which is the most desired location for condos and public activities) and all the existing train systems that can help to develop the area as a public transit oriented city. Because of this, Waukegan has a good possibility to become one of the most desirable places to live, but the lack of intervention; coordination and initiative from the city in the past decades have left the place abandoned. People and companies are leaving, and initiatives to redevelop are still known for its residents and are taking too long. For Waukegan the most important strategy is to bring life back to its downtown. After that, some activities could cross easily to the water front, making people aware of the endless possibilities that the area offers not just for dwelling units, but for commercial, recreational and even educational purposes. (Research center and possible school) For the lake front, the strategy should be different for some spaces depending on the surrounding areas and the character that they could have. A strategy is to bring activities that can complement life in the city, for example: theaters, sports centers, hotels etc. Adding 9,000 people to the total people will give the option of have new routes for public transportation, new jobs and new and more equipment for recreational spaces. Apart from that, the unification of the two areas: down town Waukegan and the water front are important in order to understand the place like one. The fact that the highway and the railroad stand are in the middle of both, just creates a strong division. On the top of that, there is no reason to cross over to go to the beach area. If we consider that highway traffic is low and the railroad could be moved (not erase, but moved. Because there is still the necessity for it) the connection between both places could be more clear and strong, not just for people but for cars. This strategy will be critical at the time of unification of the area. In addition Waukegan has a population of 44.8 % Hispanic, 30.9% White Non-Hispanic. With an estimated median household income in 2007: $45,548. This shows that Waukegan is mainly supported by low income families and they are mostly of Hispanic origin. The idea is not to completely change the city but to support their business and culture making places into an attraction for cultural interchange. One of the main purposes of the new vision city is equality. Not thinking that in order to make a place better (more beautiful or desirable) we have to kick out its old residents. People create ties to the place they live. This could be an incentive to bring the community together in order to improve the environment. Also the addition of the new research center in between down town and the new lake front development will help to bring new uses to the area. The research center will offer new jobs and a choice for some people coming from outside to live in the locality. Close to the research center, the new lake front neighborhood will offer an area with several entertainment spaces and then the option to live closer to this location or in a more quiet and familiar area. The research center will have the possibility for future expansion that could be an education center related to the work that is done there. This will bring students to the area and more diversity. There are many good reasons to stop abusing the car use and make use of the many alternatives, but in the end we design and negotiate the same old fashioned neighborhoods. It is because we have not solved the conflict of interest between a better envi-ronment and a better economy. The problem is that in the end people will opt for those places with more commodities and that includes the car.
M.S. in Architecture, May 2011
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