Having recently completed a comprehensive plan to revitalize its aging commercial corridor - Lincoln Avenue, the Village of Lincolnwood retained Teska Associates Inc. to create a new ordinance to implement their Plan. One of the key principals of the plan was to introduce new urbanist principals of pedestrian scale and character. To soften the corridor's auto-dependent land uses and create appropriate transitions to the surrounding residential neighborhoods, Teska designed a mixed-use, pedestrian overlay district using a form-based approach.
Rooted in the New Urbanism and Smart Growth movements, form-based codes are an emerging regulatory technique that recognizes a community's physical form as its most essential element. The goal of form-based codes (FBCs) is to shape the character within communities by establishing definitive design/development criteria for such elements as building height, architectural standards, use designations, sidewalk dimensions, build-to-lines, landscaping, and parking configurations.
By applying these techniques to Lincoln Avenue Corridor, Teska created a unique set of standards and design guidelines aimed to fulfill the mix of development opportunities identified in the Village Plan. The successful implementation of these guidelines will create a high quality environment with an inviting, pedestrian friendly image; promote a recognizable, mixed-use corridor that fosters a sense of civic pride; and establish the corridor as a distinct and inviting place to live, work, and shop.
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