Discovering Possibilities + Unlocking Potential
Elevate Devon is a pivotal corridor plan focused on improving Devon Avenue between Sheridan Road and Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. This eclectic 1-mile stretch of corridor forms the geographic border between the diverse neighborhoods of Edgewater and Rogers Park, and houses many of the students, faculty, restaurants and businesses of the nearby Loyola University Lake Shore campus.
To ensure a unified vision to shaping a vibrant future on Devon, the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, Loyola University Chicago, and Rogers Park Business Alliance joined forces and hired Teska to lead community engagement, strategic planning and urban design.
"I can honestly say they’ve never explored a park so comfortably as they have this new park in Evanston. It’s been so much fun to just watch them take off and explore and hit every single corner of the park and feel like they’re at home.”
– EVANSTON RESIDENT AND BMX RIDER, PATRICK HAGEMAN · INTERVIEWED BY THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
Placemaking Priorities
Over the course of 8-months, the community came together to identify and prioritize strategies to enliven the eclectic 1-mile project area, foster sense of place, and help local businesses thrive. In addition to corridor pop-up events, workshops, and open houses, over 1,200 poll results were received and hundreds of comments reviewed. The actions and policies outlined are derived from steady and involved work with the community.
Student Ambassadors, Engagement, Consensus
Student Ambassadors from Loyola University Chicago were hired as team extensions and provided a stipend to co-lead targeted engagement events and marketing efforts to gather input from students, faculty, and staff. A market study was conducted, existing conditions analyzed, and an extensive local outreach effort undertaken. Activities and events included a Corridor Priorities Poll, Visual Preference Placemaking Survey, Community Workshop, Corridor Pop-Ups, University Pop-Ups, and an Interactive Comment Map. This depth of feedback allowed the team to understand what residents and businesses wanted most for Devon Avenue!
“I really enjoyed being a part of Elevate Devon and learned a lot from the experience and how corridor planning works. Teska always made me feel comfortable and that my voice was heard! I was able to connect with students and faculty to discuss their concerns/hopes and was excited to see so much of what we heard in the final plan.”
Mia Roman
“The Elevate Devon planning process has helped build stronger connections within the community groups that coalesce in corridor, and now that it’s completed, the real work begins. While part of the plan includes creating a cohesive identity for the corridor, others involve a better pedestrian experience and programming that celebrates the culture reflected in the businesses on the street.”
Christina Pfitzinger
“We are particularly proud that Elevate Devon was developed based on community input that revealed the most pressing needs and priorities of residents, which will inform us to shape a vibrant future for this avenue of great historical and cultural prominence.”
- SANDI PRICE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ROGERS PARK BUSINESS ALLIANCE
Corridor Themes
The project team worked diligently to apply feedback and connect with local partners, wards, and city agencies, including the Chicago Department of Transportation, to draft an aspirational and implementable plan. Elevate Devon's five "Corridor Themes" communicate the community's overarching goals and values, which shall be used to help guide future strategies, actions and improvements.
The Community's Plan
Elevate Devon is the community’s plan! It provides an actionable guide with clear strategies to enhance and enliven a very special corridor, destination, and home to so many. Biggest of thanks to the hundreds of community members, businesses and partners who shared input and took part in the Corridor Visioning Process. We couldn’t have done it with out you. Cheers to the future of Devon!
“As one of the largest institutions in Edgewater and Rogers Park with thousands of faculty, staff, and students, we want to see our students and their families enjoy the Devon corridor. Together we’re enhancing and building places to experience quality food and services, find lively and entertaining events, experience an array of spectacular art to view, and feel safe driving, riding or walking on Devon.”
- CECILIA RODRIGUEZ, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVES AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO