New Streetlights, Street Furniture Coming to Oakton, Lee, and Miner

Anything is an improvement, and will make the streets more pedestrian-friendly.

Except past reports have said that the lights they plan to use are the Acorn-stlye ones in Metropolitan Square. Wouldn't it make more sense to use replicas of the lights that actually were downtown from the 1910s-1950s (like these - the same kind you'll find in places like Evanston and Lake Forest), and Modern style lights that evoke the 40s and 50s on Oakton, instead of Metropolitan Square Acorn lights that evoke a brand-new (or is it bland-new?) shopping center? Has this process been consistent with the recommendations of the city's 2005 Design Guidelines? What does the upcoming Form-Based Zoning Code have to say about streetscape design?

To make these improvements work to their full potential, they need to be well-thought out and consistent with a larger plan. Look around downtown and it's obvious what happens when you try to do these things piecemeal, as we've been doing over the last 40 years: inconsistency, inefficiency when everything gets replaced again to match to the newest idea, and a cobbled-together appearance.

State Grant To Help Revamp Downtown DP, Oakton St.
via journal-topics.com on 9/11/09

Downtown Des Plaines and a section along Oakton Street will take on a new and fresher look beginning next spring thanks to $1 million in planned lighting and beautification improvements. Aldermen Tuesday night agreed to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Dept. of Transportation that calls for the awarding of an $800,000 state grant. That money, along with an additional $200,000 in city funds will pay for a number of improvements in the downtown area along Miner and Lee streets and on Oakton Street.

According to Tim Oakley, Des Plaines' director of engineering and public works, planned work calls for the installation of new ornamental light poles on both sides of Miner Street and Lee Street in the central business district along with the placement of new lawn furniture such as benches and trash cans.

The same kind of furniture will be placed along Oakton Street, although it is not yet known how much money will be available for that. The city's $200,000 contribution will come from funds on deposit in its downtown Tax Increment Financing Dist. No. 1 fund.

Oakley said formal bids will be sought in November with work scheduled for next spring.

During the last few years, the city has made a number of downtown beautification improvements including a new park setting east of the Des Plaines Public Library and quicker removal of trash.