08-15-08 Study: Redesign LaSalle Square for mixed use

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Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE August 15, 2008 10 a.m. Study: Redesign LaSalle Square for mixed use Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 or Jeff Vitton, Community Development Planner, 235-9660 A month after nearly 100 residents gathered at LaSalle Square to discuss the future of the former commercial hub, a market analysis by consultants is supporting their call for mixed-use development Using an innovative public-involvement tool called “Neighborhood Transopoly,” two planning consultant firms from Chicago gathered valuable information on what residents want and need, and their vision for LaSalle Square. “One thing quickly became apparent: residents want a vibrant LaSalle Square with a variety of uses,” said Jeff Vitton, a community development planner who is leading LaSalle Square planning on behalf of the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development. “Synergy between public opinion and market realities indicates that LaSalle Square will be a mixed-use center.” The market analysis conducted by the consultants supports the concept, indicating that the retail marketplace will not support large-scale retail uses that used to occupy LaSalle Square. The analysis does indicate, however, that LaSalle Square could possibly support a small convenience-related retail center on its northeast edge. But the size of the retail space proposed, 20,000 to 40,000 square feet, is much smaller than the hundreds of thousands of square feet once occupied by Target, Kroger and other stores at the former shopping complex on the city’s west side. “The LaSalle Square neighborhood shows a market need for most types of stores. But these needs are more than met by stores in a wider area, primarily by large stores on north Bendix,” the analysis said. “The neighborhood within a one-mile radius of LaSalle Square could support a modest amount of convenience retail development on the