A Vision for the Future and Recommendations

Land Use and Redevelopment

The pattern of land use in the downtown reflects Oswego's rich history. Compared to today's typical arterial roadway-oriented businesses, the lots are smaller, the buildings are typically constructed at the front lot line, and the floor area of the one- and two-story structures is relatively small. Parking is located in lots behind buildings as well as on the street.

Heavy commercial uses, including Alexander Lumber and Dodd Construction are located on large parcels between the railroad tracks and the Fox River. The grain elevators, located between Adams Street and the railroad tracks, immediately south of VanBuren Street, are visual reminders of the time when Oswego was a mercantile hub that catered to surrounding farms in addition to travelers on the Chicago-Galena Road.

Although single-family residential develop-ment is the dominant land use east of Madison Street (Illinois Route 34), financial, institutional (church and post office) uses have frontage along the east side of Madison Street, and there is pressure to convert existing residential homes to nonresidential land uses.

Long Range Land Use Plan

Figure 6 shows how the downtown and associated sectors should be developed, long-term. The pattern of land uses presented in this graphic was carefully established to provide a critical massing of retail uses in the historic core of Oswego's downtown, without en-croaching into existing, residential neighbor-hoods. The Long Range Land Use Plan identifies areas where new, specialty retail and restaurants could be developed, as existing uses or ownership of existing buildings change. It also sets aside areas for park and open space; revenue generating recreation land uses (such as miniature golf facilities, boat rentals, etc.); and infill office. It also shows important landmark buildings, including the Good Shepard Church and grain elevators, which are reminders of Oswego's history, and create focal points as one enters, and travels through the downtown.

This overview graphic shows how the various components of the comprehensive plan work together to create a cohesive district that has a pedestrian-friendly retail core, a river-walk promenade, new parking, and a retail core that is large enough to provide for the diversity of uses required to attract residents into the downtown.

Illustrative Downtown Redevelopment Plan

The illustrative site plan prepared for Oswego's downtown area incorporates proposals that involve either the relocation, or adaptive reuse of some existing businesses.

The Technical and Citizens' Advisory Committees have taken great care to develop plans and implementation measures that can revitalize the downtown without the need to acquire individual properties. The plan is a long-term guide that provides a framework for decision-making once a property becomes available for redevelopment or adaptive reuse

The illustrative Downtown Redevelopment Plan presented as Figure 7 was prepared to provide a vision for areas that are either vacant, underutilized sites; properties that may need to relocate based on space or locational requirements; or sites that are currently developed with uses that are not compatible with the long-term vision created for Oswego. This plan is the result of the review of several alternatives proposed, and incorporates the elements of the mission statement as adopted by the Technical and Citizens' Advisory Committees.

The planning area associated with this concept generally is bounded by Jefferson Street on the north, Tyler Street on the south, and lies between Madison Street and the Fox River. Recommendations that follow are presented by geographic area or use:

Alexander Lumber Site

One of the more ambitious components of this concept includes the redevelopment of the Block bounded by Washington, Jackson and Adams and Harrison Streets, also known as the Alexander Lumber site (see Figure 7). Imple-mentation of this component of the plan, as described below, would involve the relocation of the existing lumber business to a location in Oswego that meets the space and rail require-ments associated with this retailer. The Committees believe that this block offers the opportunity to expand the retail functions in the downtown, provide much-needed parking, and offer new sites for restaurants, which have been essential for attracting people into Oswego's downtown. The concept takes advantage of the site's proximity to the park, by incorporating roof-top gardens into the overall design scheme. Key elements of this component of the illustrative downtown redevelopment plan include the following:

Construction of a parking deck. Off-street parking would be located on the ground floor, with access from Harrison Street.

The existing grade of the site, as it relates to Washington Street, provides the opportunity to continue the design that is already in place one block east. Existing businesses east of Adams Street are located above the street grade, and set back from Washington Street.

As planned, parking proposed along Washington would be located below the street. Landscape berming, similar to that which exists east of Adams, would provide the transition between Washington Street and new restaurants proposed on top of the parking structure. A raised walkway that is proposed to extend across the front of the new businesses (restaurant and retail), would provide direct access to these new businesses from Washington Street (see First and Second Floor Layout plans for the Alexander Lumber Site, Figure 7.

In areas where the parking structure will be exposed to public view, the design of this building should replicate the fenestration pattern of buildings in the downtown, and include ornamentation and detailing that help it relate to the surrounding turn-of-the century buildings.

New retail, planned along Jackson Street, allows the opportunity to expand the retail uses in the downtown, and help anchor the corner of Jackson and Adams as a destina-tion between Main Street and Hudson Crossing Park, thereby reinforcing Jackson Street as a major pedestrian way.

The upper level of the parking structure would include two restaurants, retail space, a rooftop garden that offers diners views of the river and adjacent park.

New retail would be located at the inter-section of Adams and Washington Street. This not only expands opportunities for businesses in the downtown, but avoids gaps between businesses that can interrupt the shopping experience.

Surface parking is proposed north of Jackson, between Adams Street and the Hudson Crossing Park. It is intended that this parking can be shared with the Park District, thereby reducing the number of spaces that might be required to serve the needs of the adjacent park. Also, this area is intended to double as a special event area, offering opportunities for open air markets, festivals and other promotional events. The decomposed granite surface that has been proposed for this area accommodates parked cars, but also provides a surface that lends itself to other activities.

Jackson Street

Jackson Street is expected to become a major pedestrian travel way between Main Street and the Fox River. South of Adams Street, Jackson Street is proposed to be constructed of cobbles. This will slow traffic in an area that has been designed for pedestrians, and visually attract pedestrians to the Hudson Crossing Park and the new restaurants, retail shops, and special events area that have been proposed as part of this long-range plan.

Recreation Area South of Washington Street

Although not specifically designed, the area along the Fox River, south of Washington Street has been targeted for a revenue-generating, active recreational use, such as a lighted miniature golf course, boat rentals or concession stand. This area has been viewed as an extension of the Hudson Crossing Park proposed by the Oswegoland Park District. Also proposed are fishing piers, and a continuation of the river walk promenade (see Figure 7). These are destination uses that will not only generate revenues, but also attract people to Oswego's downtown.

Island Park

The Fox River Trail bicycle and pedestrian trail is proposed to extend through Hudson Crossing Park and continue south through the planned recreation area south of Washington Street. The concept Downtown Redevelopment Plan shows the possible extension of this trail to the existing island in the Fox River, offering the opportunity for picnics or relaxing along the river (see Figure 7). Lighting, overlooks, and seating areas are proposed for safety, aesthetics, and enjoyment of this potential recreational resource.

A canoe and small watercraft launch, along with a concessions stand, is also proposed at the south end of Harrison Street. This area, currently used to stockpile brush, offers another opportunity to take advantage of the Fox River and provides a revenue-generating business opportunity for another destination-oriented use in the downtown.

Village Complex

The expansion of the Village Hall Complex offers the opportunity to design a building, or series of buildings that help provide a visual focal point and anchor at the south end of the downtown. The new Village Hall complex is intended to accommodate day-to-day Village administration services, which has outgrown its existing space.

The Technical and Citizens Committees emphasized the importance of retaining public and institutional uses, such as the Village Hall, the post office and the library in the downtown. These uses serve all residents, and make a positive contribution to the identity of the district as the town "center".

Madison Street

Madison Street (U.S. 34) forms the eastern edge of the retail portion of the downtown. Existing uses range from small offices, to automobile service stations and automobile repair and sales shops. A landmark church is located where U.S. 34 turns west toward the River and becomes Washington Street (see Figure 7).

The planned uses and design of the street at this edge of downtown Oswego are different than those envisioned for the traditional retail core. However, the automobile uses that currently exist along this street were not determined to be the best uses for this area, long-term. Typically, automotive uses are large-space users that often include the outdoor storage of vehicles. Buildings are set back from the right-of-way, and the large expanses of pavement and wide curb cuts break the continuity of the pedestrian-oriented, retail experience.

It is recognized that many of the uses along Madison Street have been in existence for some time, are successful enterprises, and therefore are not likely to leave the downtown in the near future. These individual businesses are important to Oswego, and redevelopment will only take place when properties are made available by individual owners.

In recognition that uses are not likely to change in the near future, businesses and property owners along Madison Street will be encouraged to participate in a facade improvement program. This will enable structures to visually relate to the rest of the downtown, and work together to provide opportunities to continue the streetscape implementation and parking reorganization.

The plan for Madison Street illustrates the following redevelopment options:

A redevelopment opportunity at the southwest corner of Madison and Jefferson (see Figure 7) that includes approximately 7,500 square feet of new retail space and associated off-street parking.

Consistent with the future land use map, offices are proposed to occupy the northwest corner of Madison and Washing-ton Streets (see Figure 7). The additional parking created on this block, as well as that proposed north of Jackson, helps fill the demand for off-street parking generated by other uses in this part of the downtown.

The existing automobile service station at the northwest corner of Jefferson Street and Route 25 could eventually be used for library expansion, and creating an entry plaza feature for the downtown.

The existing church is an important landmark building that should be preserved. In the event that the existing congregation outgrows the space afforded by this building and site, the church structure could be adaptively reused as a restaurant.

Also, defined entry features are proposed at the intersection of Jefferson and Madison Streets. The planned location and orientation of buildings allows for entry monument signs and pedestrian plazas, designed as key focal points that identify these areas as gateways to the downtown.

Fire Station

As Oswego continues to grow, it is likely that the Fire Department located on Main Street will need to be expanded and/or relocated (see Figure 7). When this occurs, the area currently occupied by this emergency service can be converted to new retail with additional rear yard parking, and the concepts included on the Main Street Development Plan extended across the front of this property, to provide continuity in design. This includes diagonal parking as well as the installation of the brick paver edge, with street trees, ornamental lighting, and movable planters.