Politics & Government

Consultants Recommend New Development to 'Polish the Apple' in Wheaton

City consultants present "vision" for downtown Wheaton plan that includes leveraging public improvements to elevate the area in the suburban market and pursuing opportunities for new development south of the train tracks.

City consultants shared on Monday a "vision" for downtown Wheaton that focuses on leveraging public improvements to elevate it in the suburban market and pursuing new development south of the train tracks.

Downtown Wheaton is already in good shape, Design Workshop Associate Britt Palmberg told City Council. All the city really needs to do is "polish the apple."

Palmberg presented findings to the council from evaluations of the city's traffic, public input and infrastructure, and a market study of downtown Wheaton that helped them form their proposed vision. 

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The vision includes recommendations to pursue development south of the Metra tracks in keeping with the scale of existing development, prioritize short-term and long-term improvements to support development, add parking tied to new development and some "soft programming," such as public festivals year-round, to enhance the branding and marketing of the district. 

Public improvements recommended in the consultant vision report include, "construction of 'festival street' amenities on targeted streets, the enhancement of the French Market and Prairie Path to a 'central park' status along the south side of the Metra tracks and upgrades to streetscape and related amenities across Downtown (including street trees, furniture, lighting, signage, etc.)."

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Palmberg said there is "real opportunity" south of the tracks—"a chance for a fresh start" to downtown development. 

Councilman John Rutledge said he expects the development of Mariano's Fresh Market and the former Jewel property will jumpstart ancillary development in that area.

"Downtown Wheaton north of the tracks is pretty much restaurants and boutiques," he said. "South of the tracks is First Trust, (incoming at former Jewel property) DuPage Medical and Mariano's. ... Those are all bigger, more institutional uses. In a sense you've got kind of a split personality. ... I don't know if that's the way it'll play out, but the market will tell us."

Palmberg said the city could increase its retail demand with additional residential development, a better "capture rate" or an increase in the employment pool, Palmberg said.

Over the next 20 years, he said, downtown Wheaton could absorb about 80,000 square feet of retail space, 50,000 to 75,000 square feet of office space, and at least 1,000 additional residential units. 

Rutledge said the key to planning will be the question of public improvements. 

"What should we do to make it more appealing and attractive?" he said.

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Public input and keypad polling collected last fall showed residents have an overall good impression of downtown Wheaton, but would like to see more benches or seating, shade, outdoor dining, community gathering places, events and a link between the north and south sides of the Metra tracks, Palmberg told the council. 

Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk said moving forward, council and staff will need to build consensus in the community. Councilman Phil Suess said the result of the city's work with Design Workshop "needs to be a blueprint," and a strategy to implement it. 

Design Workshop and city staff will move forward with the streetscape and strategic plans with a public visioning session, with keypad polling and a discussion of design alternatives, and meetings with downtown stakeholders.

Related: 

  • Market Study Compares Downtown Wheaton to Surrounding Downtown Districts


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