Below is an article in the Hyde Park Herald about our involvement with the potential redevelopment of Harper Court. We are very encouraged by the support our plans have received. We look forward to continuing the ongoing dialogue.

Front Page

Second Page

http://www.hpherald.com/index.html

Romero Cook Design Studio has been working with Hyde Park / Kenwood Community Council, as well as members of the community, to develop a alternative for what could happen in Harper Court. which is currently a under-utilized and ineffective space. Through a process of community input, including the 53rd Street Visioning Workshop, a design concept has been developed that is viable, innovative, and responsive to the needs of the greater community without sacrificing the character the context of surrounding area.

The incorporated principles of the plan are derived from a rigorous evaluation of successful places in the United States and abroad. In doing this, we extracted the qualities of these places and incorporated them into the plan. At the same time, we studied the qualities of the local architecture of Hyde Park and Chicago that are based on our climate, culture, and history. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel or create a folly as other approaches might try to do. We are using the principles of good urban design and building design to create a real place that will be timeless as well serve as a destination for people within the community to live, work, and shop.

We hope you enjoy what you see. Please feel free to comment below.

Existing Aerial:

Existing View, from south.

Existing View, from northwest

Proposed Site Plan:

Section through new plaza, looking south:

Section through new plaza, looking east:

Section through new plaza, looking north:

1.  Before World War II, urban planning was based on the pedestrian. Through logical planning based on the ideal that one can walk or take mass transit to any of his daily needs. Public investment in infrastructure was in the form of streetcars, subways, trains etc.

2.  After World War II, urban planning became based on the automobile. Government policy and racial undertone pushed the population out of the central city into the suburbs. The mixes of uses in the central city became segmented where people lived in one area, shopped in another, and worked in another. The car was required to travel these distances. Public investment, especially from the federal government, was devoted mainly to highways and roads.

3.  A new paradigm emerged called New Urbanism that sought to bring back the ideals of traditional urbanism.  When introduced, the environment was such that New Urbanism could not break into mainstream thinking in urban planning.  They found someone who saw the value and the Founders of this movement designed the now famous Seaside, Florida. New Urbanism is currently fighting to get past the impression that it is elitist and nostalgic. 

5.  Now, to get past that impression is to understand that traditional urbanism can fix existing downtowns and bring smart, dense development to the suburbs. Take the concepts of urbanism and apply them to these markets.

6.  How can these concepts be incorporated into the suburbs?  Changing the mindset of everyone involved.  Educating city leaders, civic leaders and residents, making them understand that if they keep embracing the suburban model, they will be passed by nearby cities who more proactively embrace traditional urban concepts.

7.  Who incorporates them?  It takes like-minded developers, planners, architects and receptive, educated city leaders.  Developers must use political will to make city leaders grasp that, in the long view, this is the way to plan their growth.

8.  A project in Naperville, Illinois is exactly an example of this urbanization of a suburb. The project’s aim is to add density and expand the existing vibrant, yet small downtown to include another district that includes great buildings on great streets and a plaza.  We met initial resistance from the establishment, but currently nearly all are convinced.  In the end, this project will be of great benefit to the community.

9.  A project in Northern Indiana is an example of an infill project that turned momentum for a depressed downtown.  The City had plans to demolish this block of historic buildings to make way for new development.  Now, the buildings are being adapted to new uses and starting to bring people back to the Downtown. 

In cities such as Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles suburban sprawl forces people to live further and further from the city center. This sprawl forces people to drive long distances to their jobs, increasing traffic and greenhouse gas pollution. It also does not help those people feel happy to be in their cars for so long each day.

Good urban planning, attractive architecture and traditional city design helps people feel more comfortable living in the city center. When people feel comfortable living in cities, they live in dense enough populations that environment-friendly institutions such as public transit can flourish. When people live near where they work, they don’t have to drive, or drive as far as they would if they lived in the suburbs.

Good urban planning can therefore help us help ourselves. Housing types such as wall-sharing townhouses conserve energy because houses lose less heat and cool through their walls into the outside spaces. When houses share walls they in effect share heating and cooling expenditures, they don’t lose heat into the outside air.

Traditional neighborhood development and urban design advocates mixed use development, which combines residential and retail space in close proximity. This proximity, like people living near where they work, also cuts down on fossil fuel use and greenhouse gases. When someone doesn’t have to drive to the store to pick up groceries, or shop for whatever they need, without driving, it cuts down on exhaust and fuel use.

Finally, good urban design makes people happier and more able to live long and healthy lives. Living in dense urban areas encourages walking, which has obvious health benefits, as well as mental benefits. When people are out walking on the streets, sitting on their porches or enjoying public parks, it encourages socialization, getting to know ones neighbors and keeps the streets safe for everyone.