By Leslie Clark Lewis, Class of 2009
After breakfast and Docent Council President Ross Wirth’s warm welcome to the nearly 180 docents and staff…
Bobbi Pinkert presented the overall theme of the All Docent Day 2024 – planning for Chicago’s central area. Lisa Pickell then introduced the day’s speakers and invited them to the dais.
Speaking first was Gia Biagi, Principal of Urbanism & Civic Impact at Studio Gang and formerly head of the city’s Transportation Department. Gia referenced Chicago’s updated Central Area Plan and provided a map of the area, the size of which surprised many docents.
Gia discussed the scale and planning required for such projects as The 78, the 62-acre parcel along the river just south of the Roosevelt Road. Before any development starts (thinking of you, Sox Park), trestles must be built, streets created or lengthened, railroad tracks realigned, and streetscapes and riverwalks created.
Landscape architect Rob Reuland, Principal, site design (sic) group, and previous president, American Society of Landscape Architects, discussed how landscape architecture and urban design supports the area plan. CLICK here to review the eight Pillar Statements of the plan which show how downtown growth can serve all Chicagoans.
Rob presented a number of case studies, including Riverwalk East, with its incredibly short timeline and modest $10M budget; the Park at the Mart, reinventing a previously dreary taxi loading zone; and Pioneer Court, reconnecting Michigan Avenue with the area to the east. CLICK here to access Chicago’s Green Corridors report, with maps and details of the river’s 30 landscape projects.
Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Planning & Development Cynthia Roubik reviewed some of the more 30 initiatives within the updated plan.
Of special interest to docents are the Fulton Market Innovation District and its landmarking protections; the Kinzie Industrial Corridor; LaSalle Street Reimagined, with four planned residential adaptive reuse projects; and the use of TIF monies. The chart below shows that Chicago has had the fastest growth in its downtown area than other American city.
Finally, CAC’s CEO and President Eleanor Gorski connected the dots, so to speak, among the speakers. All four have worked together on various projects throughout the years. She led the panel discussion before the Q&A Session, which, not unexpectedly, generated many more questions than there was time to answer.
After lunch, Barbara Mousigian directed docents to their chosen tour tables to discuss the eight pillars and how some of them might relate to their tours. This was a fitting end to a program of insights and connections to our city.
Kudos to the program committee members Bobbi Pinkert, Lance Friedman, Lisa Pickell, and Barbara Mousigian, who produced a most memorable ADD 2024.
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This is very informative, Leslie, thanks! I was unable to attend, so am wondering if the program was recorded and available to watch.
Great summary, Leslie! And thank you to the planning committee for a wonderful day!
Thanks much for all the work you put in: Bobbi, Lance, Lisa, Barbara and the CAC staff (Caroline, Jared, Cole, and others?). It was a wonderful day. Thanks also to Leslie, Kelly, Mary Jo, and Robin for the wonderful recap & photos!
Thank you so much for all the organization committee, to make this happen. Big thanks to Barbara, Bobbi, Lance and Lisa!!!
To all the CAC Staff thank you very much for all the work you do!
To all my fellow docents, thank you for everything!
Leslie thank you for the amazing summary from all docent day!!