Project Web Development

The Village of South Elgin, IL has been committed to the establishment of a unified Village Center and downtown redevelopment for almost forty years. Updates of the comprehensive plan throughout the 1990s resulted in the development of a downtown 'framework plan' and related design and development guidelines. Teska Associates, Inc., along with a team of firms, was retained by the Village to analyze market and transportation feasibility, stormwater management, and to prepare a comprehensive master plan for the Village Center providing a detailed set of guidelines to facilitate desired development in the downtown, integrating the East and West sides of the river. Central to the vision was the need to build synergy between the riverfront area and emerging Village Center. The resulting Riverwalk Master Plan is a key organizing element of South Elgin's new Village Center.

The process was citizen lead, directed by a Steering Committee, consisting of a broad range of community leaders, who formed four sub-committees/leadership teams. These sub-committees established goals and objectives, and recommendations to guide the master plan. The process resulted in the creation of a Master Development Plan and specific development concepts for each district of downtown South Elgin. The final plan features a mixed-use community center, village hall, about 103,000 sq ft of retail, restaurant, and office space, and 596 residential units.