Rosemont Comprehensive Plan Existing Conditions Report

Transcription

Rosemont Comprehensive Plan
Existing Conditions Report
June 2014
Acknowledgements
The Rosemont ComprehensivePlan Existing Conditions Report is the cumulative effort of many individuals, including residents and
stakeholders who participated in surveys, public meetings, and workshops, as well as provided time and expertise to identify community
values and priorities, planning issues, and policies to help successfully complete this report. The project partners would like to thank all of
the people who worked with the project team to identify and address the specific challenges and opportunities that will impact the future
of Rosemont.
Steering Committee
John Aichinger, Public Safety Officer, Village of Rosemont
Grant Bailey, Assistant General Manager, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Ronald Holtman, Building Commissioner, Village of Rosemont
Pat Nagle, Executive Director, Allstate Arena, Rosemont Theatre
Nicholas Peppers, Business Owner and Attorney, Village of Rosemont (Storino, Ramello &Durkin)
Mark Wrzeszcz, Engineer, Village of Rosemont (Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.)
Cover photo: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Purpose of the Existing Conditions Report
Why Does Rosemont Need a Comprehensive Plan?
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
Next Steps
Chapter 2: Historical and Regional Context
History of Rosemont
Regional Setting
Relationship with the GO TO 2040 Regional Comprehensive Plan
Chapter 3: Public and Community Services
5
5
5
6
6
7
8
8
9
11
Governance Structure
Government Services
Community Services
Educational Institutions
Healthcare Services
12
12
12
13
13
Chapter 4: Previous Plans
15
Village Comprehensive Plan
West Central Municipal Conference Bicycle Plan
O’Hare Modernization Program
Rosemont Blue Line Improved Transit Access Study
Des Plaines River Trail Corridor Plan
Chapter 5: Community Engagement
Steering Committee
Key Person Interviews
Business Owners Workshop
Spanish Speakers Workshop
Online Survey
Chapter 6: Land Use and Zoning
Key Findings
Land Use Composition
Zoning Ordinance
Chapter 7: Population and Housing
Key Findings
Demographic Profile and Analysis
Employment
Housing
15
15
15
15
15
17
18
18
18
19
20
23
24
24
25
27
28
28
29
30
Chapter 8: Economic Development
Key Findings
Employment
Existing Retail, Industrial, and Office Development
Village Involvement in Economic Development
Chapter 9: Transportation
Key Findings
Roadways
Transit
Bicycling and Walking
Transportation Improvement Programs and Major Capital Projects
Freight
Transportation, Employment, and Affordability
Chapter 10: Natural Environment
Key Findings
Water Resources
Land Resources
Energy and Emissions
Chapter 11: Looking Forward
31
32
32
33
34
35
36
36
37
39
40
40
41
43
44
44
45
46
47
The Village of Rosemont is creating a new comprehensive plan that will outline the community’s desired development vision for its future, as well as contain actions needed to
accomplish that vision. Having an accurate understanding of existing issues and opportunities is the first step towards developing an appropriate and effective plan.
Figure 1.1. Study Area
Purpose of the Existing Conditions Report
This Existing Conditions Report, representing the accumulation of approximately
four months of research, analysis, and public outreach activities, provides an
overview of the current conditions in Rosemont, and is designed to provide a starting
point to create a shared vision. The Existing Conditions Report is organized into the
following chapters:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Chapter 6: Land Use and Development
Why does Rosemont Need a Comprehensive Plan?
Rosemont has experienced a tremendous amount of
investment and new development in the past decade,
impacting its physical, economic, and social fabric. Proximity
to the expanding O’Hare International Airport has attracted
new tenants and investors, creation of a new entertainment
district is bringing in more visitors, and the recent opening
of an outlet shopping center has more than doubled the
existing retail space in the Village. These investments have
also brought along significant challenges: traffic congestion,
lack of pedestrian safety, increased surface water run-off,
and limited housing options. In response to these challenges,
the Village has identified several strategies that will allow the
local economy to grow at a steady pace. Examples include the
CTA station study to improve pedestrian safety and vehicular
circulation, Entertainment and Lunchtime Circulators to
alleviate traffic congestion, and stormwater management to
reduce flooding.
While these initiatives are in various stages of
implementation, they address specific issues and are limited
in scope. The Village has a strong desire to identify long-term
solutions to challenges associated with current and future
development. The Comprehensive Plan will help create a
consensus-based community wide vision for the future of
Rosemont, addressing issues and topics that either had not
been covered by other studies, or need further evaluation.
Rosemont’s existing Comprehensive Plan was created in
1977. Since then, the Village has successfully seen many of
the goals from the plan through to completion, including
the development of hotel, office, and commercial spaces
and the construction of a Blue Line CTA stop. As Rosemont
continues to begin new and future projects, the existing plan
can no longer be expected to serve as a guiding document
for the Village’s elected and appointed officials. The new
Comprehensive Plan, implemented in conjunction with the
Village’s Action Agenda, will enable the Village to take full
advantage of upcoming opportunities in an effective and
efficient manner.
The Rosemont Comprehensive Plan will specifically benefit
the Village by prioritizing implementation actions in the
short-, mid-, and long-term, allowing Village officials to focus
their efforts on well-defined tasks, as well as improving
implementation by setting realistic and achievable goals.
Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning 2014
VILLAGE OF ROSEMONT EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT
5
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
Next Steps
A Comprehensive Plan outlines the vision of a community’s desired physical
environment as well as the process that will allow it to realize that vision. In addition
to providing a well-defined framework for the community’s development and
investment goals, the Plan seeks to explore and promote new opportunities that
reflect changing community trends.
After the Existing Conditions Report is presented to the Steering Committee and
Village Staff for review and discussion, the next step in the process will be to work
with the community to create a shared vision. Building upon the work that has been
completed to compile the information included in the Existing Conditions Report,
CMAP will work with residents, business owners, elected and appointed officials, and
Village staff to accomplish this. Based upon the results of the public input, and from
the data and information compiled in this Existing Conditions Report, draft plans and
recommendations will be crafted.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Land Use
Economic Development
Housing
Parks and Open Space
Transportation and Circulation
Urban Design
Implementation
In addition, comprehensive plans have also begun to include additional elements,
which either may be unique sections in the plan or may be incorporated as common
themes that run throughout the document. The Rosemont Comprehensive Plan may
include yet to be determined additional elements based on issues and opportunities
identified by stakeholders during analysis of existing conditions.
Under the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS) 5/11-12-5(1), a municipal plan commission
is responsible for preparing and recommending a “comprehensive plan for the
present and future development or redevelopment of the municipality.” The code
continues to say “that the plan may include reasonable requirements with reference
to streets, alleys, public grounds, and other improvements.”
A Comprehensive Plan for Rosemont
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
JAN.
FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
1
2
3
4
5
6
2014
Elements of a Comprehensive Plan
A comprehensive plan is composed of a series of distinct yet interrelated elements
defined by the Illinois Local Planning Assistance Act (Public Act 92-0768). That
statute will be the basis for the Village of Rosemont plan, which will include these
primary elements:
2013
Typically a comprehensive plan is written to provide guidance for a community
to work towards its vision over the next 15 to 20 years. Although the plan should
be viewed as a long-term document, it should also be thought of as a plan to be
used daily by the community to assist in land use and development decisions. The
comprehensive plan should also be considered flexible and one that can adapt
with change. At any time the municipality can update its comprehensive plan to
match local needs, interests, or opportunities. It is typically recommended that a
municipality update its comprehensive plan every five to ten years to keep the plan as
accurate as possible.
1. Project Kick-Off
2. Public Kick-Off Meeting
3. Existing Conditions Report
7
4. Public Visioning
5. Draft Comprehensive Plan
6. Plan Completion and Approval
7. Community Implementation of Plan
Planning Process
The planning process to create the Village’s Comprehensive Plan includes multiple
steps that will last approximately 12 months. The process has been crafted with
assistance from Village staff, and has been designed to include resident and business
owner input throughout.
At the beginning of June 2013, Village and CMAP staff met to develop a Scope of Work
for the project. The work plan sets program tasks, a timeline for the program and
recommends participation by a community steering committee to assist CMAP staff
in developing the final plan and recommendations. The key steps in the planning
process are illustrated below.
6
This section provides a historical overview of Rosemont and situates the community in the greater northeast Illinois region. Charting
Rosemont’s evolution as a community and understanding its relationship to the surrounding region will provide a framework for
creating the community’s future roadmap. Information for this section was derived from research on the Village, Leyden Township,
and the region’s transportation systems in the Encyclopedia of Chicago, the History of Cook County Illinois, the Rosemont Chamber
of Commerce’s Corporate Profile (July 2013), the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and the 1960 US Census.
1983 CTA Blue Line station opens.
1956 Village of Rosemont
is incorporated and Donald
E. Stephens is named mayor.
1933 At the
Century of Progress
World’s
Fair
in
Chicago, land was
sold
to
create
subdivisions along
Thorndale and Scott
Streets in what is
now
Rosemont.
1958 Construction
on
the
Tri-State
Tollway is completed,
allowing greater access
to
Rosemont
and
contributing to the
population growth in
the following decade.
1995 Rosemont decides to
make its primary residential
area a gated community. The
housing stock, as well as the
population remain generally stable
around its present-day count of
approximately 4,000 residents.
2012 The Entertainment
District at MB Financial Park opens.
1970
Population: 4,825
1980
Population: 4,137
2010
2000
1990
Population: 3,995
Population: 4,202
Population: 4,224
1945 Douglas Aircraft Assembly
Plant closes at the end of World War II.
1979 Rosemont Horizon (now Allstate Arena) opens.
1960
Population: 978
2007 Bradley
A. Stephens becomes
Rosemont’s second
mayor.
1950
1940
1930
1960-1970
1949 City of Chicago opens O’Hare Airport
at the former Douglas Aircraft Assembly Plant.
Significant investment in
hotel and commercial development during this
decade causes a population boom in Rosemont,
which grew by over 3,800 people in 10 years.
2004 Rosemont Market Place
shopping
center
opens,
marking
the start of a new period of renewed
commercial development and expansion.
2013 Fashion Outlets of Chicago
mall opens, providing shoppers free
shuttle service to O’Hare Airport. In
partnership with Pace, Rosemont
also begins a free Lunchtime and
Entertainment District circulator to the
outlet mall and Entertainment District.
7
History of Rosemont
The history of Rosemont is closely tied to its natural resources, such as the Des
Plaines River, and its proximity to large transportation infrastructure, such as
O’Hare Airport and a network of expressways. Although Rosemont was formally
incorporated as a Village in 1956, the general area began experiencing European
settlement in the mid-19th Century. In 1857, the Wisconsin Central Railroad built a
railroad line through the area which, along with the establishment of a “milk stop,”
drew farmers to the area. The large American Indian reservation of Alexander
Robinson was located just south of where Rosemont is situated today along the Des
Plaines River.
During Chicago’s Century of Progress World’s Fair in 1933-1934, land in what is now
Rosemont was sold to create subdivisions along Thorndale Road and along Scott
Street. Until 1950 much of the land that is now just east of O’Hare Airport remained
undeveloped swamp land. Starting around this time, major transportation projects
significantly and rapidly affected the Village’s growth. In response to World War II,
the US Government built the Douglas Aircraft Assembly plant in 1942 to build war
planes. At the end of the war, the City of Chicago purchased the plant along with its
accompanying airport, Orchard Field, to create O’Hare Airport in 1949. The City of
Chicago also built water pipelines out to the airport at this time, and because these
pipelines were required to go through Rosemont, drinking water was brought to the
community.
In 1956, the Village of Rosemont incorporated after the surrounding communities
of Des Plaines, Park Ridge, and Schiller Park declined to annex the land that was
Rosemont into their communities. Interestingly, then-Mayor Donald E. Stephens
selected the name of the community by pulling names from a hat. 1956 also saw
the construction of I-294, or the Tri-State Tollway. Construction off the Tri-State
Tollway ended in 1958. I-190, linking I-90 to O’Hare Airport, was completed in 1960.
These two expressways both run through large portions of the community and as
a result, the Thorndale subdivision was torn down and a large portion of the Scott
Street subdivision was cleared for highway development. As of 1960, following the
completion of the expressways and the formation of O’Hare Airport as the Midwest
hub of air traffic, the population of Rosemont was fewer than 1,000 residents. Under
the leadership of Donald E. Stephens, the first mayor, the community saw increased
residential, commercial and hotel development and the construction of the Rosemont
Horizon, which would later become the Allstate Arena, in 1979. In 1983 the CTA Blue
Line stop at Rosemont opened as part of the Blue Line extension between Jefferson
Park and O’Hare airport.
Commercial development has continued at a steady pace in the Village to this
day. The Rosemont Marketplace, which is home to a Target superstore and other
amenities, opened in 2004, and the 22 acre entertainment center, MB Financial Park,
opened in 2012. Most recently, the Fashion Outlets of Chicago opened with 130 stores.
Today, Rosemont has 4,200 residents and is home to a wide variety of commercial
and entertainment venues that remain closely tied to its unique transportation
infrastructure.
Figure 2.1. Regional Context
The following list summarizes the numerous
regional transportation options, destinations
and points of interest located within and in
proximity to Rosemont.
Major Roadways
• Interstate 90 (Jane Addams Tollway)
• Interstate 294 (Tri-State Tollway)
Interstate 190
• Mannheim Road, US Route 12/45
• Higgins Road, IL-72
¦
¨
§
294
Regional Public Transit
• Rosemont CTA Blue Line Station
• Rosemont Metra Station (North
Central Service Line)
• O’Hare Metra Station (North Central
Service Line) – 1.7 miles from Village
Hall
¦
¨
§
90
International Airports
• O’Hare International Airport – 3.5
miles from Village Hall
Other Major Destinations
• City of Chicago Downtown Loop – 16.5
miles from Village Hall
¦
¨
§
190
¦
¨
§
294
Regional Setting
The Village of Rosemont is located in Cook County and lies primarily within Leyden
Township, with a portion of the community falling within Maine Township. Rosemont
is surrounded by the Villages of Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Schiller Park and the City of
Chicago. The western portion of Rosemont abuts O’Hare International Airport and
much of the eastern edge of the community lies adjacent to the Cook County Forest
Preserve along the Des Plaines River.
8
Relationship with the GO TO 2040
Regional Comprehensive Plan
The cumulative choices of 284 municipalities and seven counties determine quality
of life and economic prosperity across our region. Local autonomy over land use
decisions also requires communities to take responsibility for how those decisions
shape a community’s livability, as well as impacts on neighboring communities and
the region as a whole. As part of the larger Chicago metropolitan region, Rosemont
influences and is influenced by the region.
CMAP developed and now guides the implementation of GO TO 2040, metropolitan
Chicago’s first comprehensive regional plan in over 100 years. To address anticipated
population growth of more than 2 million new residents, GO TO 2040 establishes
coordinated strategies that will help the region’s 284 communities address
transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and
other quality of life issues. The GO TO 2040 plan strives to balance the need for local
autonomy and regional cooperation. It provides principles that municipalities and
counties can apply to decide how and where development should happen or which
infrastructure investments to prioritize in their communities. The Plan recommends
supporting local planning through grant programs, infrastructure investments to
implement plans, technical assistance, and collaboration between municipalities on
shared priorities. The Plan contains four themes and 12 major recommendation areas:
The Livable Communities, Efficient Governance, and Regional Mobility chapters
are most relevant to the Rosemont Comprehensive Plan, particularly strategies that
relate to:
• Strategic investments in transit and non-motorized transportation
infrastructure.
• Innovative stormwater management practices.
• Enhanced access to open space and recreation.
• Multijurisdictional coordination on infrastructure investments.
GO TO 2040 states, “municipalities are critical to the success of GO TO 2040 because
of their responsibility for land use decisions, which create the built environment of
the region and determine the livability of its communities. The most important thing
that a municipality can do to implement GO TO 2040 is to take this responsibility very
seriously.” By undertaking this Comprehensive Plan, the Village is taking necessary
steps to make informed land use and development decisions while demonstrating
their commitment to helping shape the future of the region.
Livable communities
1. Achieve greater livability through land use and housing
2. Manage and conserve water and energy resources
3. Expand and improve parks and open space
4. Promote sustainable local food
Human capital
1. Improve education and workforce development
2. Support economic innovation
Efficient governance
1. Reform state and local tax policy
2. Improve access to information
3. Pursue coordinated investments
Regional mobility
1. Invest strategically in transportation
2. Increase commitment to public transit
3. Create a more efficient freight network
9
Chapter Highlights
The Village, Cook County, regional organizations, and private entities provide a range of community and public services for Village residents. The
information in this section was obtained from Village staff, the Institute of Education Sciences, a division of U.S. Department of Education, and
project team research and analysis.
2. Pubilc Safety Department
Rosemont’s Public Safety Department
provides dual services as a joint police
and fire department. With a relatively
low crime rate, the public safety
department focuses on traffic safety.
3. Public Works Department
The Public Works Department
is responsible for Village related
engineering,, street operations, property
maintenance, utility operations, transit
services, and capital projects.
Other Government Services
4. Rosemont Park District
The Rosemont Park District’s main
building is located within the gated
community and shares facilities with the
Rosemont Elementary School. Another
recreation center is located on Barry
Street. Park district boundaries almost
entirely align with Village boundaries, with
the exception of one park in Des Plaines.
5. Rosemont Convention & Tourism Bureau
Housed in the Donald E. Stephens
Convention Center, the Bureau works to
attract visitors and events to the Village.
This includes sales and marketing efforts
to solicit various conventions, concerts,
trade shows, and other events.
Other Community
Services
6. Allstate Arena
Built in 1980, Allstate Arena is the
Chicago region’s largest indoor
entertainment facility. The 18,500-seat
facility serves as a home stadium to a
professional hockey and WNBA team,
while also holding large concerts.
12. Rosemont Chamber of Commerce
The Rosemont Chamber of Commerce
represents and serves about 250
commercial institutions in the Village.
Chamber members convene monthly for
networking and informational events.
7. Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Located on Bryn Mawr Avenue, the
Convention Center provides 840,000
square feet of customizable floor space.
The Convention Center was built in
1975 and is connected to two parking
garages and four nearby hotels through a
pedestrian sky bridge over River Road.
8. MB Financial Park
In 2012, the Village of Rosemont opened
a new entertainment district featuring
many restaurants, bars, a movie theater,
a hotel, outdoor activity area.
9. The Ballpark at Rosemont
Located on Jennie Finch Way, the
Ballpark at Rosemont is home to the
Chicago Bandits, Chicago’s professional
women’s softball team. Built in 2012, the
facility has an outdoor baseball diamond
in addition to the Dome at the Ballpark a 140,000-square foot climate-controlled
inflated indoor arena for baseball and
softball.
10. Rosemont Health and Fitness
This 93,000 square-foot fitness center is
located on Higgins Road near Rosemont’s
primary residential area. The Center
includes facilities and classes for weight
lifting, running, swimming, basketball,
and other athletic activities.
11. Rosemont Theatre
Plays, Broadway musicals, and other
performances are held at the Rosemont
Theatre on River Road. In 2012, the venue
hosted 92 shows that drew over 280,000
visitors to Rosemont.
13. Rosemont Elementary School
Rosemont School District 78 runs one
kindergarten through eighth grade
elementary school in the Village that
serves about 280 students. For high
school, Rosemont residents have access
to Leyden and Maine Township High
Schools in neighboring municipalities.
Touhy Ave
3
6
Higg
§
¦
¨
294
ins R
d
§
¦
¨
90
1, 2, 12
10
Devon Ave
2
I
O'Hare
14. Healthcare
While there are no large hospitals within
Rosemont, residents are less than 10
miles from one of the largest Chicago-area
hospitals, Advocate Lutheran General
Hospital in Park Ridge. The hospital
provides a full range of services, including
emergency and trauma, surgery, cancer
treatment, orthopedics, outpatient and
inpatient care, home health services, and
physician offices.
4
13
River Rd
1. Village Hall
Housed within a larger office and hotel
complex, the Rosemont Village Hall
houses several municipal services
including the Departments of Public
Safety and Health and Licensing.
Village-Owned
Commercial Institutions
2
Mannheim Rd
Village Services
Figure 3.1. Public and Community Services
b
Æ
9
Bryn Mawr Ave
§
¦
¨
7, 5
190
8
Balmoral Ave
2
I
Rosemont
11
11
Governance Structure
Other Government Services
Village-Owned Commercial Institutions
The Village of Rosemont, an Illinois home rule community, provides a variety
of municipal services that include general governance, public works, economic
development, public safety, public health, and social services. The Village is one of the
largest employers in the community, a distinction that may be attributed to the active
role played by the Village in economic development. The Village owns and operates
some of the largest commercial enterprises including the Allstate Arena, Donald E.
Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont Theater, and the Entertainment District. In
addition, the Village also owns services such as the Rosemont Health and Fitness
Center, a waterworks and sewer facility, and certain commercial buildings, making it
the largest land owner.
Rosemont Park District
The Rosemont Park District works closely with the Village to provide recreational
amenities to its residents. Park district boundaries cover all of the Village, as well as
Stephens Park #2 just across the border in Des Plaines, although all Village residents
can enjoy facilities and recreational programs in Des Plaines due to an Exchange of
Services Agreement signed by both communities.
Allstate Arena
Located in the northwest corner of Rosemont on Mannheim Road, the Allstate Arena
not only serves as a home stadium to the Chicago Wolves (an American Hockey
League professional hockey team) and Chicago Sky (the city’s WNBA team), it also
holds large concerts. Regular shows at Allstate Arena include the Ringling Brothers,
Barnum and Bailey, World Wrestling Entertainment, Harlem Globetrotters, Stars on
Ice, and Disney on Ice. The Arena seats 18,500 people and includes 48 luxury suites.
Over 1 million people attended 165 shows at the Arena in 2012.
Given the significant real estate and services under Village jurisdiction, it is critical
that various local units of government work closely together. The Park District,
School Districts, and Village have formal sharing agreements that allow them to
maximize services provided to residents and visitors. For example, the Park District
uses Rosemont Elementary School’s recreation facilities during evenings and
summers when school is not in session, and the School District and Park District
use Village-owned buses for school routes and senior activities. In addition, these
entities informally share equipment and staff resources on an as needed basis.
Beyond municipal borders, the Rosemont Park District also has an intergovernmental
agreement with the Des Plaines Park District, expanding recreational access for both
communities.
Government Services
Village Services
Village Hall
See page 11.
Public Safety Department
According to Public Safety Department officials, Rosemont is the only municipality in
the region where all public safety employees are cross-trained as policemen, firemen,
and emergency medical technicians, increasing the capacity and versatility of the
department. This policy has been in effect since an ordinance was passed to require
the cross-training in 1975.
With a relatively low crime rate, the main issues handled by public safety officials
relate to traffic safety. Officers routinely direct pedestrian and vehicular traffic at
bottleneck locations such as school pick-ups and drop-offs, before and after events
at the Allstate Arena and Convention Center, and on weekends at the Fashion Outlet
Mall. The department contracts auxiliary police staff to assist in managing traffic flow
during these time periods.
Rosemont Convention and Tourism Bureau
The Bureau leads marketing efforts Rosemont as a destination place for tourists,
as well as sales and outreach efforts to solicit various conventions, concerts, trade
shows, and other events. The Bureau’s offices are located on River Road within the
Convention Center.
Community Services
The Village of Rosemont has the unique distinction of owning and managing several
commercial and entertainment establishments located in the Village. Capitalizing on
its convenient location next to O’Hare International Airport, these establishments
not only provide unique amenities for the community, but also generate revenue and
draw many visitors to the Village for a variety of events.
With a large portion of the Village dedicated to commercial uses and transportation
infrastructure, Rosemont residents must rely upon neighboring municipalities for
other types of community services, including some day-to-day amenities, such as
grocery stores and pharmacies. Accessing these places by public transit, however,
is not always easy. According to feedback from public outreach efforts, many
residents do not own cars. These residents voiced the need to have a library, health
clinics, food pantries, and other social and community services in Rosemont. These
residents noted that when they visit such social service organizations in neighboring
municipalities, they are sometimes turned away because they are not residents of
those villages.
Non-Profit Services
Rosemont Chamber of Commerce
The Rosemont Chamber of Commerce represents a wide range of small and large
commercial establishments in the Village. Chamber members convene monthly to
network, discuss strategies for attracting and retaining businesses, and host guest
speakers to present on a variety of subjects of interest to Rosemont businesses. The
Chamber is also part of a multi-chamber organization that includes Bensenville,
Edison Park, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Franklin Park, and Schiller Park. The coalition
host multi-chamber events throughout the year that range from networking to
educational events.
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Since its establishment in 1975, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center has hosted
a number of conferences, concerts, events, and exhibitions in Rosemont. Located
on Bryn Mawr Avenue across from MB Financial Park, the Convention Center is
one of the nation’s largest convention facilities and provides 840,000 square feet of
customizable floor space. The Convention Center is connected to two parking garages
and four nearby hotels through a pedestrian sky bridge over River Road. The Center
hosted 55 events and over 1 million attendees in 2012.
The MB Financial Park Entertainment District
The Village’s new entertainment district opened in 2012 and is located just south
of Bryn Mawr Avenue. MB Financial Park features many restaurants, bars, a movie
theater, a hotel, outdoor activity area, and headquarters of the Big Ten Conference.
The Park is located one block west of the Convention Center and across the street
from the Fashion Outlet, drawing visitors from both locations.
The Rosemont Dome and Ballpark
The Dome and Ballpark includes both outdoor and indoor facilities for baseball and
softball, as well as practice facilities in its batting cages.
Rosemont Health and Fitness
Although Rosemont Health and Fitness is located next to Rosemont’s primary
residential area, a majority of the center’s members are non-Village residents who
either work in Rosemont or live in nearby municipalities. The facility includes a
1/5-mile running track, cardiovascular and weight lifting equipment, a 20-meter lap
swimming pool, a whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms, tanning beds, and full courts for
basketball, volleyball, tennis, and racquetball. The center also offers over 100 weekly
exercise classes for aquatics, spinning, yoga, pilates, and other sports. Patrons have
access to child care, as well as a hair salon, chiropractor, spa, and café located within
the fitness center. Rosemont residents can enjoy subsidized membership rates.
Rosemont Theatre
The Rosemont Theatre, which can seat 4,400 people, brings many performances to
the Village throughout the year. In 2012, the venue hosted 92 shows that drew over
280,000 visitors to Rosemont.
The Police and Fire Departments are housed in two different locations. The Rosemont
Police Department is housed in Village Hall on Devon Avenue and the Fire Station is
located on River Road across from the CTA Blue Line station.
Public Works Department
See page 11.
12
Educational Institutions
Figure 3.2. School District Boundaries
Rosemont residents have access to one elementary school in Rosemont School
District 78, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. In total, the elementary
school has around 280 students. The original school was built in 1958 and two major
additions have since been added to accommodate the growing student population.
With limited ability to expand in its current location, the school district expects to
soon face space and resource challenges. The current facility only has the capacity for
350 students and the district expects continued growth as more young families move
into Rosemont.
For high school, Rosemont residents have access to three other schools in
neighboring municipalities. Most Rosemont students attend Leyden Community High
School in District 212. Families living in the northern most part of the Village adjacent
to the Allstate Arena, and in the condominiums near Devon and Higgins attend Maine
Township High School in District 207.
Healthcare Services
While there are no large hospitals within Rosemont, residents are less than 10 miles
from one of the largest Chicago-area hospitals, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
in Park Ridge. The state-of-the-art 645-bed hospital is not only a Level I trauma
center, but also a teaching, research, and referral hospital. Lutheran General provides
a full range of services, including emergency and trauma, surgery, cancer treatment,
orthopedics, outpatient and inpatient care, home health services, and physician
offices. Rosemont residents can reach the hospital by car in 15 minutes or by Pace Bus
Route 250, which runs along Manheim Road seven days a week.
13
This section provides a summary and analysis of existing Village plans, studies, and initiatives that will inform the Comprehensive Plan recommendations. The documents have
been reviewed to build upon current or relevant findings and plans.
Previously completed plans, studies, and reports reviewed in this section include the 1977 Village Comprehensive Plan and the current O’Hare Modernization Program. In addition
to these completed plans and initiatives, the Village is also in process of undertaking a Rosemont/Blue Line Improved Transit Access Study and a Village-wide re-branding and
marketing strategy.
Village Comprehensive Plan (1977)
West Central Municipal Conference Bicycle Plan (2012)
Rosemont Blue Line Improved Transit Access Study (ongoing)
Prepared by the Village of Rosemont with assistance from Barton-Aschman Associates,
Inc.
Prepared by the Active Transportation Alliance
Initiated in 2013, conducted by the Regional Transportation Authority
The Village of Rosemont’s first Comprehensive Plan dates back to 1977, before the
CTA Blue Line was extended through Rosemont, before the construction of what is
now the Allstate Arena, and at a time when approximately 20% of land in the Village
was vacant. The plan set forth a number of goals relating to commercial/industrial
development, community facilities, housing and transportation. The plan included
five general goals:
The West Central Municipal Conference (WCMC) released a Bicycle Plan in 2012 that
provides recommendations regarding the creation of a regional bicycle network. The
proposed network specifically calls for a bike lane along the 25th Street Corridor that
would run through Rosemont and then turn east to connect with the Des Plaines
River Trail. This route is labeled as a Tier One Corridor in the plan meaning that it
has a large percentage of existing and planned bicycle facilities along the route, good
connectivity and no major barriers to implementation. In addition, the plan identifies
the Des Plaines River Trail as a Tier One Corridor and calls for some re-routing of
this existing trail. Lastly, the plan also recommends additional bicycle facilities along
Mannheim Road south of Rosemont from the Milawukee District West line in Franklin
Park to Joliet Road in Countryside.
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is leading a planning effort to improve
transit access at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line Rosemont Station.
This station has approximately 6,000 weekday boardings and is a major multimodal
transfer location for Pace buses, taxis, local shuttle buses, automobiles and
pedestrians. The station was identified as the location with the 4th highest number
(4,562) of weekday interagency transfers (CTA rail and Pace bus). The project will
involve developing a plan for:
• An overall development pattern which created a balanced system of land-use
activities and capitalized on Rosemont’s unique locational assets.
• A system of commercial development which provided local residents with needed
goods and services, and capitalized on the Village’s strategic regional location.
• A system of industrial development which maintained a diversified economic
base and complemented other types of local development.
• A housing stock and living environment which supported the local population
•
and maintained overall quality and character of the Village.
A park and open space system which satisfied the recreational needs of Village
residents.
The Village has made significant progress on a number of land use and transportation
objectives, most importantly that the Village will be a “regional center for office, hotel,
commercial and conventions.” The land use plan specifically calls for hotel and office
development at three sites that have become hotel and office developments – the
current location of the Westin Hotel, the area north of Bryn Mawr and west of River
Road and the area north of Higgins and west of River Road. The Plan also called for
commercial development on the southwest corner of Higgins and River Road, which
currently exists.
The Plan also recommended a commercial development at the current site of the
MB Financial Office Park. This area was developed, as encouraged by the 1977
Plan, although it was not for commercial use. Other areas the plan points to as
opportunities for development include the current site of the Allstate Arena, the site
of the Market Place Shopping Center southwest of Touhy and Mannheim Road, the
current location of the Fashion Outlets of Chicago and Rosemont Field.
The Plan also addresses flooding concerns, particularly at River Road and Willow
Creek, Mannheim Road and Willow Creek, and Higgins Road at the intersection with
the rail line. Traffic is another concern highlighted, with a focus on congestion along
River Road and Higgins Road and challenges that come with connecting the Village’s
land uses to the major thoroughfares. Interestingly, the Plan specifically suggests
connecting Balmoral Avenue with Mannheim Road to relieve traffic on River Road and
Higgins Road, a project which is currently underway.
O’Hare Modernization Program (ongoing)
Announced in 2011, initiated by the City of Chicago, Department of Aviation
The O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP) is one of the largest transportation
projects undertaken nationally. The project’s primary goal is to modernize the
existing and outdated runway system at one of the busiest international airports.
A series of projects are part of the OMP that include modernization of the airfield,
a potential new western terminal campus, and various supporting infrastructure
projects such as the Elgin O’Hare Western Access (EOWA) project. Rosemont, similar
to other communities immediately surrounding the airport, will face short-term
challenges while enjoying unique long-term opportunities as a result of this project.
While the OMP will not impact Rosemont’s development potential, the newly
configured runways will cause noise concerns for residents in the flight path. To
resolve this issue, the Chicago Department of Aviation has been insulating homes
with high noise levels in communities surrounding the airport. Through 2010,
Rosemont has had 338 homes noise insulated as a part of the Residential Sound
Insulation Program.
•
•
•
•
Improving Pace bus access to/from the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Improving pedestrian connectivity to the surrounding area
Improving multimodal connections at the station
Increasing transit ridership through site redevelopment
A Steering Committee consisting of the RTA, CTA, Pace, Illinois State Toll Highway
Authority (ISTHA), Cook County, the Village of Rosemont and other appropriate
agencies will provide guidance and direction to the consultant team. The public and
local employers will be engaged during the project to better access the needs of users
at site. The project is anticipated to kick off in March 2014 and last approximately one
year.
Des Plaines River Trail Corridor Plan (ongoing)
Prepared by the Northwest Municipal Conference with assistance from Houseal
Lavigne Associates, Inc.
The Des Plaines River Trail is a multi-use trail that follows the Des Plaines River
through portions of Lake County and Cook County. The Trail Plan will create
a blueprint for improving access to one of region’s unique environmental and
recreational resources. The project focuses on the portion of the trail between
Higgins Road and Lake Cook Road, therefore including the Village of Rosemont. The
Plan will identify actions to be undertaken by surrounding communities, IDOT, and
other stakeholders to make access easier and safer, and what the Forest Preserve
District of Cook County may do to improve the quality of the trail and the amenities it
serves.
The planning effort is being led by the Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC),
and is paid for through a grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
(CMAP). The Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC) represents 42 communities
and 1 township in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties.
15
Chapter Highlights
A primary goal of the Rosemont Comprehensive Plan is to encourage community engagement throughout the planning and decisionmaking process. In this manner, the project can gather input from the community about existing concerns and opportunities
and define a shared vision for the future of Rosemont. To ensure a broad and diverse stakeholder representation, the community
engagement process has entailed close coordination with the Steering Committee, and other stakeholders.
Top Issues to Address at the Neighborhood Level
Kiosk and Online Survey
Business Owners Workshop
In addition to reaching community stakeholders through
public meetings and key person interviews, CMAP
developed an interactive survey to engage a wider range
of stakeholders. The survey was open from November
15, 2013 through January 15, 2014. With over 1,000
responses, the survey provided a wealth of information
about community needs and priorities. The findings
from the survey are summarized in the charts and maps
to the right. A few main themes that emerged from the
survey results included significant interest in reducing
congestion, enhancing pedestrian access throughout the
Village, improving roadway maintenance, and improving
flooding.
In order to understand current and future needs of
Rosemont’s business community, CMAP and the
Rosemont Chamber of Commerce organized a workshop
for 13 businesses on November 26, 2013. Participants
represented many sectors, from the hotel industry
to corporate headquarters to retail. The group noted
significant Village efforts to promote Rosemont
as a destination and cultivate a business-friendly
environment. They were generally concerned about
traffic congestion, flooding, pedestrian accessibility to
local businesses, and the potential oversaturation of
commercial establishments with continued economic
growth in the Village.
400
Number of Responses
Overview of Outreach Activities
300
200
100
Walkability
Access to
commercial
areas
Flooding
Parks and
recreation
Housing
quality
Housing
variety
N DE
S PL
AIN
ES
RIV
ER
RD
TAL
COT
T RD
Areas that Need Improvement
D
§
¨
¦
294
§
¦
¨
294
Key Person Interviews
b
Æ
b
Æ
b
Æ
On November 5 and 6, 2013, CMAP staff conducted
one-on-one interviews with 11 stakeholders
representing a variety of interests in Rosemont. Overall,
stakeholders identified a strong working relationship
amongst the entertainment industry, commercial
businesses, and various units of government. The top
issues highlighted by stakeholders included traffic
congestion near entertainment venues, a need for more
access points into Rosemont, and a lack of safe and
accessible walkways for pedestrians throughout the
Village. Priority projects included upgrades to aging
infrastructure, better connection between the central
and northern parts of town, and improved streetscaping
for safer pedestrian environments.
On December 13, CMAP organized a workshop to better
understand the needs of Rosemont’s Latino residents,
who constitute over 41% of the Village’s population.
Residents participated in an interactive mapping
activity to identify areas that could use improvement
and brainstorm opportunities for addressing those
challenges. Participants expressed the need for
improving public transit access, particularly for
residents near Allstate Arena, and increasing number
and accessibility of community services, such as
health clinics and libraries, in the Village.
!
§
¨
¦
190
b
Æ
b
Æ
b
Æ
!
§
¨
¦
190
!
Rosemont
D
§
¨
¦
§
¨
¦
294
294
Walking
Transit
Flooding
Walkability issues made
up 24% of total comments.
Respondents were
most interested in more
sidewalks and crosswalks,
particularly around the
Entertainment District.
Many people expressed
the need for increasing the
frequency of transit and
adding additional stations
near Allstate Arena.
Survey respondents
indicated issues with
flooding throughout the
Village, concentrated most
heavily along River Road.
!
Driving
Over a third of total
comments pertained to
driving conditions. Main
isues included congestion
along River Road and
improving east-west
circulation.
17
Steering Committee
Key person interviews
The Steering Committee for the Rosemont Comprehensive Plan is tasked with
providing assistance and guidance in the development of the plan, providing input
on existing issues and opportunities based on their institutional knowledge, and
reviewing plan documents.
On November 5 and 6, 2013, CMAP staff conducted one-on-one interviews with 11
stakeholders representing a variety of interests in Rosemont. Interviews questions
were designed to understand the unique set of issues faced by each stakeholder and
identify opportunities to capitalize upon in the near and long term.
The Steering Committee comprises a wide variety of interests and perspectives,
ranging from business owners, marketing professionals, and various Village
department staff. The Steering Committee members include:
Interviews were conducted with the following stakeholders:
• John Aichinger, Commander, Rosemont Public Safety Department
• William Anderson, General Manger, Rosemont Convention & Tourism
Bureau
• Kevin Anderson, Superintendent, School District 78
• Grant Bailey, Assistant General Manager, Donald E. Stephens Convention
Center
• Pamela Hogan, Executive Director, Rosemont Chamber of Commerce
• Ronald Holtman, Building Commissioner, Village of Rosemont
• Roger Minale, Trustee, Village of Rosemont
• Pat Nagle, Executive Director, Allstate Arena, Rosemont Theatre
• Jonathan O’Connell, Project Manager, Christopher Burke Engineering
• Nicholas Peppers, Business Owner and Attorney, Village of Rosemont
• Karen Stephens, Director, Rosemont Parks & Recreation
• John Aichinger, Public Safety Officer, Village of Rosemont
• Grant Bailey, Assistant General Manager, Donald E. Stephens Convention
•
•
•
•
Center
Ronald Holtman, Building Commissioner, Village of Rosemont
Pat Nagle, Executive Director, Allstate Arena, Rosemont Theatre
Nicholas Peppers, Municipal Attorney, Village of Rosemont
Mark Wrzeszcz, Village Engineer, Village of Rosemont
The first Steering Committee meeting was held on October 7, 2013 at Village Hall to
introduce the project. During the meeting, attendees participated in a discussion
regarding issues that need to be addressed in the Plan and opportunities that need to
be built upon. The following are some of the highlights from the meeting:
Strengths of the community:
• Successful recent development projects, e.g. the Fashion Outlet Mall and
Rosemont Market Place
• Community viewed as a destination by visitors and investors
• Transit connectivity available throughout Rosemont and to major attractions
• Well maintained streetscape conditions throughout the Village
Issues that need to be addressed:
• Lack of pedestrian access to public transportation and major venues
• Traffic congestion at entertainment venues, especially Allstate Arena,
Convention Center
• Aging infrastructure unable to keep up with growing demands
• Limited highway access as well as limited roadway connections
• Underutilized parks and open spaces
• Areas north of Higgins Road are significantly different from the south
Opportunities to capitalize upon:
• Better connectivity between Rosemont’s subareas and attractions
• Revitalization along the Higgins Road corridor
• Some underutilized and vacant properties available for development
Overall, there was a general consensus on the strong relationship between the
entertainment industry, commercial businesses, various units of government, and the
community as a whole. The top issues highlighted by stakeholders included traffic
congestion near entertainment venues, a need for more access points into Rosemont,
and a lack of safe and accessible walkways for pedestrians throughout the Village.
Common ideas for improvement included upgrades to aging infrastructure, better
connection between central and northern parts of town, and improved streetscaping
to make pedestrian movement safer.
Top Strengths:
• Strong working relationship between School Districts, Park District, and
Village
• Strong tourism and business industry
• The shuttle service connecting various attractions to train station
• Low crime rate and safe residential neighborhoods
Top Issues:
• Lack of bike trails and safe pedestrian walkways
• Traffic congestion due to multiple large venues such as the Allstate Arena,
Convention Center, Rosemont Theater in close proximity
• Flooding along Willow Creek and Des Plaines River impacting some homes
and businesses
• Lack of street lighting along River Road and Devon Avenue
• Lack of shuttle and transit service in the northwest area of Rosemont
• Rosemont Metra Station is underutilized due to its hidden location and lack
of weekend service
• Zoning ordinance is outdated
Top Priorities:
• Upgrades to existing infrastructure
• Improve bike-train connectivity and trail conditions by the Forest Preserve
• Connect Rosemont’s venues more easily to O’Hare International Airport
• Connect north and central parts of the Village. Increase coordination with
neighboring communities to share services
• Better signage to avoid confusion for visitors walking and driving within
Rosemont
Business owners workshop
Commercial businesses are the primary drivers of Rosemont’s economy. In order to
understand their current and future needs, a business owners workshop was held
on November 26, 2013 at Café Zalute, organized courtesy of the Rosemont Chamber
of Commerce. At the workshop, CMAP staff introduced the project and engaged
participants in a group discussion about issues faced by businesses and unmet needs
that, if fulfilled, would help businesses thrive in Rosemont. There were 13 business
owners and stakeholders in attendance, representing the following businesses:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago O’Hare
Rosemont Mobile Gas Station
US Foods
Horizon Cab
Touchquest Digital Minds, Inc.
Hyatt Regency O’Hare
MB Financial Bank
Fashion Outlets of Chicago
CB Richard Ellis
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Morton’s Steak House
Tommy Hilfiger
Collectively, the group agreed that Rosemont is a hub for the business industry
because of the large flow of visitors that come to town for the Rosemont Convention
Center, O’Hare International Airport and stay at the hotels. Also, Rosemont’s transit
access to Chicago and the airport via public transportation and expressways are
major advantages for the businesses.
In terms of issues, there is a common concern of oversaturation of new businesses
and the need to keep a balance with the demand. Another major concern is the
amount of traffic congestion that occurs near the Convention Center and Allstate
Arena. There are not too many alternative routes to avoid traffic and it is dangerous
for pedestrians to cross the streets during these high volume times. Improvements
have been made to control the flooding throughout town but it is still a major concern
and impacts local businesses.
Participants noted significant improvements have been made in the recent past to
enhance Rosemont and take advantage of the growing business and entertainment
industry. Some felt the need to build on this new identity and promote Rosemont as
a destination, separate from Chicago. Promoting the various modes of transportation
to Rosemont and improving the connectivity throughout town would serve as great
opportunity to draw more people into the community.
18
Figure 5.1. Mapping exercise from the Spanish speakers workshop
The Hispanic or Latino population constitutes over 41% of the population in
Rosemont. To better understand their needs and opportunities as residents of the
Rosemont community, a Spanish-speaking workshop was designed to introduce
Latino stakeholders to the project. The workshop was held on December 13, 2013
during the annual Christmas party hosted by the Barry Recreational Center. During
the workshop, attendees participated in a mapping exercise where they were asked
to place stickers on places they like in Rosemont and areas where there exist bike/
pedestrian issues, flooding issues, and traffic issues. In total, 27 residents provided
input during this interactive engagement activity. Figure 5.1 shows the areas that were
highlighted during the workshop.
Favorite Places:
• Barry Recreational Center and amenities provided at the Center.
• Parks and other open space, i.e. soccer fields
• Lake Opeka in Des Plaines is visited by several Latino or Hispanic residents.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues:
• The majority of the students travel to Orchard Place Elementary School
in the City of Des Plaines, which is not a pedestrian friendly route for the
students because of the railroad tracks
• There is no school bus transportation accessible to the students living in the
northern area of Rosemont
• Sidewalks on West Touhy Avenue near Lake Opeka, Chestnut Street, Barry
Avenue, and Lyndon Avenue need improvement so youth and families can
safely walk or ride their bike
Transportation Issues:
• The majority of residents in the northern part of Rosemont do not own a
car and rely on public transit to get to work, school, etc.; Pace bus routes off
Touhy Avenue and Barry Avenue do not run frequently enough, especially
during the nighttime
• A taxi stand by Lunt Avenue would be very convenient to the community; the
majority of taxis are only available in the Entertainment District
• Limited parking available near the multifamily buildings as patrons of the
Allstate Arena park in residential areas during events
Additional concerns raised included the need for more social service programs such
as food pantries and nearby healthcare clinics along with more commercial and retail
options in Rosemont. Typically, residents in the northern part of the community
travel to surrounding towns for these services and transportation to these areas
is often times difficult. The workshop attendees also expressed a need for a public
library in Rosemont and the lack of single-family affordable housing available in the
community.
19
Online Survey
Figure 5.2. What statement best
describes your relationship to
Rosemont?
Figure 5.3. What is your age?
Figure 5.4. What are the top two issues that need to be addressed at the
neighborhood level?
Figure 5.5. What are the top two issues that need to be addressed in Rosemont’s
commercial areas?
Figure 5.6. How should we improve travel throughout the Village?
Figure 5.7. What would improve your enjoyment of outdoor recreation spaces?
Figure 5.8. What capital projects should the Village undertake?
In addition to reaching community stakeholders through public meetings and key
person interviews, CMAP developed an interactive online survey to engage people
who are harder to reach or people who are not able to attend the workshops. This
online tool serves to educate the community about the purpose of the project and
learn about their priorities for addressing issues in the comprehensive plan. The
online survey was launched on November 15, 2013 and remained active until January
15, 2014. During this time 1,208 people visited the site and 1,003 people gave detailed
feedback on top priorities and areas for improvement in Rosemont.
To make the survey accessible to the broader community, the survey was made
available on a portable iPad kiosk and was placed at several high traffic locations
throughout the Village including the Rosemont Health and Fitness Center, Rosemont
Park District, and Barry Recreational Center.
The majority of participants who submitted the survey identified themselves as
visitors of Rosemont (Figure 5.2) followed by people who live and work in Rosemont.
To get a better understanding of who the user is, participants were asked to provide
information about their demographics and their residency in Rosemont. A majority
of the survey takers where between the ages of 20-34 years. In addition, the results
indicate that many of the survey participants work in Rosemont and have lived in the
community between 0-5 years.
Survey Issue Results
Users were asked to choose their top two issues and rank them in order of
importance. This information will help identify priorities that are most important
to the community and help to develop informed recommendations. Responses are
shown in a series of charts to the right.
20
Survey Map Results
Figure 5.9. Survey Results by Issue
Users were also provided with an interactive map to pinpoint areas that need
improvement in terms of driving, walking, biking, transit, open space, and flooding.
Driving
32% of the markers pinned on the map related to improvements that should be made
to driving. In particular, users would like to see traffic congestion alleviated near the
major attraction sites and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The majority
of respondents indicated that adding more safe walkways would help to reduce the
traffic congestion experienced from pedestrians crossing busy streets and blocking
traffic. Also, strategically placing highway entrance and exit ramps closer to these
major staples would help to redirect and reduce the traffic. Another top opportunity
to improve driving was better signal timing. The users indicated that the traffic
signals don’t seem well synchronized or timed efficiently.
Density of
Comments
High
Walking
24% of the markers discussed improvements to pedestrian infrastructure.
Specifically, users want to see more sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian paths to
and within the entertainment areas—connecting all of the major attraction sites.
There is also a high need for pedestrian bridges or tunnels to get across River Road
and to the CTA Blue Line. Respondents indicated that integrating pedestrian signals
to traffic signs would help make walking safer for pedestrians and drivers.
b
Æ
§
¨
¦
190
!
Biking
16% of the markers indicated that the Village of Rosemont would benefit from
improved biking conditions. The majority of the pins placed on the map showed a
need for bike lanes along River Road and the Forest Preserve. The respondents stated
that the current biking conditions don’t safely accommodate cyclists and vehicles.
There is also a need to add bicycle paths to the entertainment and commercial areas.
b
Æ
§
¨
¦
190
!
§
¨
¦
§
¨
¦
294
Low
294
Driving
RD
TA LC
D
RR
IV E
SR
IN E
P LA
ES
ND
ND
ES
P LA
IN E
SR
IV E
RR
D
TA LC
OTT
Flooding
15% of the markers were placed on areas where flooding is an issue and improvements
can be made. The majority of survey takers identified River Road as a prime location
that experiences major flooding issues during heavy rainfalls. Other roads with
flooding problems include Higgins Road and Glenlake Avenue. These floods often
make major roads impassable and increase traffic congestion, making it harder to
travel through the Village.
OTT
RD
Walking and Biking
D
D
§
¨
¦
§
¨
¦
294
294
§
¦
¨
§
¦
¨
294
294
Transit
8% of the markers identified areas to improve transit in Rosemont. A high amount
of responses showed a need for increased frequency of transit. Adding more PACE
buses during evening rush hour times would help to relieve this issue. Another area
for improvement is adding more bus stops near Allstate Arena and surrounding
neighborhoods, as well as along River Road from Devon Avenue to Balmoral Avenue.
b
Æ
b
Æ
Open space
4% of the markers called for adding more parks and open space. In particular, many
indicated they would like to see added trails and parks along Balmoral Avenue,
Higgins Creek and West Higgins Road, more parks in between Ruby Street and
Mannheim Road, and trails along the Des Plaines River.
b
Æ
b
Æ
!
b
Æ
!
Rosemont
Rosemont
D
Flooding
D
Transit
!
Parks and Open Space
21
Chapter 6: Land Use and Zoning
Chapter Highlights
This section describes the existing land use and development conditions within Rosemont with a focus on types of uses, existing
zoning, and the built environment. The information in this section has been obtained from CMAP’s Geographic Information
System (GIS) database and a visual assessment of the community undertaken by the project team in the fall of 2013.
Land Use
Zoning
¨
§
294
• Rosemont’s land use is dominated by large commercial properties. Commercial use is the leading land use in
Zoning
Acreage
Percentage
A: Single-Family Residential
107
9.5%
C: Multifamily Residential
37
3.3%
D: Commercial
415
37%
§
¨
90
Rosemont, making up nearly 40% of total land area.
2
• Rosemont’s commercial uses are divided into four distinct sub-districts. While Rosemont’s commercial land
is not formally classified into sub-districts, four major commercial areas exist: (1) the retail center near Allstate Arena,
(2) the Higgins Road office corridor, (3) the River Road hotel corridor, and (4) the Entertainment District.
• The large area dedicated to transportation and utility infrastructure in the center of Rosemont segments
and isolates certain areas.
1200
Figure 6.1. Existing Land Use in Rosemont
Institutional
29 acres
2.2%
2.2%
2.6%
36 acres
3.2%
Open Space
46 acres
4.1%
Multifamily Residential
94 acres
8.4%
Single-Family Residential
RD
25 acres
O TT
C
TA L
D
RR
IV E
SR
IN E
E: Industrial
80
7.2%
G: Institutional
466
41.6%
b
Æ
§
¨
¦
190
b
b Æ
Æ
Industrial
2
Vacant
ND
ES
A
PL
1. Allstate
Arena
and retail
center
1.4%
Total Land Uses by Acres and Percent
25 acres
1000
DD: Special Use Commercial 15
D
§
¨
¦
A: Single Family Residential
294
800
¨
§
294
§
¨
90
Encompasses single family
homes and communityoriented uses, such as
libraries and schools.
§
¦
¨
294
C: Multifamily Residential
Includes multifamily
buildings, the non-residential
neighborhood uses permitted in
District A, and larger community
facilities, such as hospitals.
2
2. Higgins Road
office corridor
600
D: Commercial
426 acres
38%
Transportation & Utility
400
E: Services & Light Industrial
Permits any use in District C,
as well as retail. Also includes
a number of special uses,
such as hotels, restaurants,
and commercial parking, that
have been added over time.
Permits the production and
processing of light industry
and includes special uses for
airport landing, and waste
infrastructure.
Æ
b
3. River Road
hotel coridor
§
¨
¦
190
b
b Æ
Æ
Rosemont
G: Government & Institutional
200
4. Entertainment
District
2
D
0
441 acres
39.3%
Commercial
Covers all transportation and utility infrastructure and municipally
owned buildings, including all Village-owned parcels and commercial
establishments. Also includes airport clear zones. This district makes
up the largest area in Rosemont due to the significant presence of land
devoted to the road and railway networks, as well as the Village’s active
acquisition of properties.
23
Key Findings
• Rosemont’s land use is dominated by large commercial properties.
Transportation and Utility
The centralized location of and large acreage dedicated to transportation
infrastructure has played a major role in shaping the Village’s overall land use and
development patterns. These include the three major highways, accompanying
interchanges and access ramps, and the railway spurs near the Rosemont CTA Blue
Line Station. These rights-of-way have segmented the municipality into several
distinct sections and restricted local pedestrian and vehicular circulation.
• Rosemont’s commercial uses are divided into distinct sub-districts. While
Proximity to O’Hare Airport has also cost the Village siginifcant real estate. The
west and northwest areas of the Village contain two dedicated clear zones, required
by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations to ensure safe operation of
aircrafts landing and taking off from the airport. The restrictive guidelines associated
with use of these areas constrain allowable land uses: they must not contain any
built structures, be open to the public for activities, have trees or other features over
a certain height, or attract birdlife. The clear zone west of I-294 and south of Willow
Creek was part of the gated community south of Willow Creek and had to make way
for previous expansion of O’Hare Airport.
Commercial use is the leading land use in Rosemont, making up nearly
40% of total land area. The Village has historically attracted retailers and
employers looking to take advantage of the Village’s proximity to O’Hare
International airport. This trend continues to this day with newer developments
either complementing existing commercial uses or catering to a regional
audience. The average size of commercial office property is 179,213 square feet.
Rosemont’s commercial land is not formally classified into sub-districts, there
are four major commercial areas; the Entertainment District, the River Road
hotel corridor, the Higgins Road office corridor, and the retail center near Allstate
Arena (see Figure 6.1). These sub-districts are strategically located to take
advantage of adjacent complementary uses, e.g. the proximity of the hotels to the
Convention Center.
• The large area dedicated to transportation and utility infrastructure
in the center of Rosemont segments, and to an extent, isolates certain
areas. Comprising 38% of total land area, highways, interchanges, rail
infrastructure, and airport runway clear zones significantly restrict development
in Rosemont. This infrastructure not only limits the amount of available
developable land in the Village, but also serves as major barriers to connectivity.
As a result of this fragmentation, economic development and service provision to
the northern and southern halves of Rosemont remain a challenge for the Village.
Land Use Composition
The table below breaks down Rosemont’s land uses by category. The amount of acres
in each category was calculated using GIS data, which includes internal road area in
the calculations.
Table 6.1. Land Use by Acreage and Percent
Land Use
Area (Acres)
Percentage of Total
Commercial
441
39.3
Transportation/Communications/Utilities
426
38.0
Single Family
94
8.4
Multifamily
46
4.1
Open Space and Water
36
3.2
Vacamt
29
2.6
Industrial
25
2.2
Institutional
25
2.2
Total
1,122
100.0
Source: CMAP 2005 Land Use Inventory and 2013 Field Verification by CMAP staff
*Open space includes properties under the jurisdiction of Village of Rosemont and Rosemont Park District
Because the transportation and utility uses are likely to remain undevelopable in the
future, Rosemont will continue to contend with limited land availability as it seeks
new development opportunities.
Commercial
Commercial properties make up almost 40% of the Village’s total land area. Overall,
Rosemont’s landscape is dominated by large-format commercial properties, mostly
dedicated to office parks and hotels.
Although commercial uses are located throughout the Village, the commercial
developments in different parts of Rosemont are distinct in character. Within
the last three years, major development projects, such as MB Financial Park, the
Fashion Outlet Mall, and the Ballpark and Dome, have been geared toward retail,
dining, nightlife, and recreational activities. These places now comprise the Village’s
Entertainment District, which includes restaurants, bars, the Rosemont Theater,
an ice skating rink, and an indoor skydiving facility. Much of this new development
occured on previously vacant or industrial land in the southern part of the Village
near Balmoral Avenue.
The northwest part of Rosemont generally has older commercial buildings,
including the Allstate Arena and some smaller retail developments. The most recent
development in this neighborhood is the Rosemont Market Place, a strip mall built in
2004 that includes a Target and several other retail and fast food stores.
Residential
Rosemont’s largest residential area is located in the gated community, also the
only single-family subdivision in town. This neighborhood accounts for 8.4% of
Rosemont’s total land area. The Village also has a number of smaller multifamily
residential neighborhoods spread throughout the northern half of the Village, totaling
4.1% of the land area. While the housing stock within the gated community has
remained relatively stable over the last few decades, fluctuations in population have
occurred within the multifamily buildings.
The second largest residential area is located adjacent to the Allstate Arena. The
predominantly Latino neighborhood consists of approximately 80 six-flat apartment
buildings compactly laid out just south of Touhy Avenue. In addition to this area,
there are a few multifamily apartments and a condominium complex located off of
Higgins Road.
Open Space and Recreation
Although Rosemont has nine parks located within municipal boundaries, the total
amount of open space is extremely low. Rosemont only has 0.75 acres of open space
per 1,000 people, compared to the National Recreation and Parks Association’s
recommended standard of 10 acres per 1,000 people. Residents do, however, enjoy
access to the nearby Cook County Forest Preserve open areas as well as parks located
in neighboring Des Plaines .
Institutional
About 25 acres, or 2.2% of total land, is used for institutional purposes. These
properties, which include six government properties and one church, are
geographically dispersed around Rosemont.
Industrial
Industrial uses make up only 25 acres, or 2.2% of land in Rosemont. There are two
areas with light industry in the Village: one in the northwest corner near Allstate
Arena and another in the southwest corner by the Rosemont Metra Station. Industrial
land, which has seen some recent conversions to commercial uses in the Village’s
southern end, has been declining in Rosemont over the years. The Village recently
acquired several industrial properties near the Allstate Arena, an area stakeholders
identified as a potential site for near-term redevelopment.
Vacant
Rosemont is a built-out community. After major development projects occurred in the
last decade on formerly vacant land, vacant properties only make up approximately
29 acres, or 2.6% of total land area.
The remaining commercial land uses lie along the Higgins Road and River Road
corridors. 41% of Rosemont’s office properties are located along Higgins Road. These
office complexes tend to be quite large, the average building area of a commercial
office building being 179,213 square feet. River Road is characterized by hotels. Eleven
of Rosemont’s 16 hotels are located along River Road.
24
Zoning Ordinance
Figure 6.2. Existing Zoning
Rosemont has six zoning districts. Most of the land in central Rosemont is zoned for
governmental and institutional uses (41.6%), followed closely by commercial uses
(38.3%). Single- and multifamily residential areas are zoned for the northwest, central,
and eastern parts of the Village, making up a total of only 9.6% of the land area. The
zoning table below outlines the regulations and allowable uses for each classification.
The Rosemont zoning ordinance is typical in its organization. The document,
originally drafted in 1961, includes several uses and standards that are outdated and
do not match the Village’s current conditions. Some districts, which were created
specifically for envisioned developments that were never built or have since been
converted to other uses, are now obsolete. The DD Commercial District, for instance,
was originally created for a special retail district about 15 years ago, but the area today
includes hotels, offices, and minimal retail. While included in the ordinance, the F
Industrial District is not featured in the zoning map.
In particular, the permitted uses for commercial districts are not well-defined.
It has been difficult, for instance, to accommodate local retail uses under the
current zoning regulations. The ordinance also does not accommodate some
uses that were not originally intended, but have since become prevalent in
Rosemont. For example, although the Village has many hotels and a few large
retail malls today, those uses are only allowed through special use permits.
The following tables highlight the key descriptions and regulations for each of
the Village’s zoning ordinance districts.
¨
§
294
§
¨
90
2
Table 6.2. Zoning Regulations by District
Zoning Classification
Intent/Key Permitted Uses
Key Regulations
Height Regulations
Single-family dwellings, parks, community buildings, libraries,
schools, and churches.
•
Setback: 25-35 feet for front yards, at least 10% of the lot frontage or 6
feet, whichever is less, for side yards.
Rear setback: no less than 30 feet or 20% of total lot depth, whichever
is smaller.
No more than 2.5 stories or 30 feet.
Multiple dwellings, group or row houses, institutional buildings,
hospitals, boarding houses, churches, schools, halfway homes.
•
•
•
Setback: 25-35 feet for front yards, at least 8 feet for side yards.
Building area: at least 1,500 square feet per dwelling unit.
Parking: at least 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit.
No more than 3 stories or 45 feet.
Any use permitted in C Multiple Dwelling Districts, retail shops,
banks, offices, limited light repair and cleaning, taxicab stands,
undertaking.
Special uses: hotels, motels, restaurants, car washes, theaters,
gas stations, and commercial parking.
•
Setback: at least 20 feet for front yards and 8 feet for side yards. At
least 20 feet from all highways, and “sufficient setback” for Cook
County Forest Preserve-adjacent properties.
Parking: Adequate supply of appropriately-located off-street shortterm patron and long-term employee parking.
No more than 50 feet, and
otherwise based on maximum
permitted height in accordance
with the Federal Aviation Authority.
Residential
A
C
•
Business
D
•
b
Æ
§
¨
¦
190
b
b Æ
Æ
Additional permitted uses for redevelopment areas: regional
commercial areas, service sector establishments, village
facilities, offices, financial institutions, public open spaces.
DD
Animal hospitals, kennels, and pounds, apartments, banks, and
a variety of grocery, liquor, and retail establishments.
2
Setbacks: at least 20 feet.
No more than 50 feet.
•
•
•
--
Special uses: Hotels, motels, restaurants, car washes,
commercial parking, theaters, gas stations.
Industrial
E
Service and light industrial, including production, processing,
cleaning, service, packaging, repair, wholesaling, and
warehousing.
Setback: at least 15 feet for front yards, 5 feet for side yards.
FAR: no more than 1.0.
Performance: includes specific noise, particulate matter, and toxic
materials restrictions.
Special uses: airport landing fields, landfills, wastewater
treatment plants, stadiums, auditoriums, and arenas.
Table 6.3. Zoning Districts and Acreage
Institutional
G
Zoning
Municipally owned facilities (including arenas, parking garages,
and parks), secondary education buildings, churches, and
transportation and utility infrastructure.
--
--
District classifications included in the Zoning Ordinance (amended in 1993), but not shown in the Zoning Map (2009)
F
Any use permitted in E :Service and Light Industrial District, as
well as heavier industrial and manufacturing operations.
Source: Village of Rosemont Zoning Ordinance
•
•
Setbacks: 15 feet in the front, at least 10% of lot frontage or 6 feet for
side yard only if abutting a dwelling unit.
Parking: one space per employee.
District
Percentage of Total
A
107
Multifamily
C
37
3.3%
Commercial
D
415
37.0%
DD
15
1.4%
Commercial (Special Use)
No more than 3 stories or 50 feet
unless setback is 1 foot from all
required yard lines for each foot of
height above 45 feet.
Acres
Single Family
9.5%
Service and Light Industry
E
80
7.2%
Government and Institutional
G
466
41.6%
1,121
100%
Total
Source: CMAP calculations from Village of Rosemont Zoning Map
25
Chapter Highlights
The population and housing chapter describes the key characteristics of Rosemont’s resident population and its housing stock.
Information for this section was obtained through 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census data, as well as 2008-2012 American Community
Survey data, and Longitudinal Household Employment Dynamics data.
Demographics
Human Capital
Housing
• Rosemont has seen a significant shift in its ethnic and racial makeup
• While employement rates in Rosemont are high, income levels
• A significant amount of the housing is multi-family rental apartments.
while maintaining a stable residential population in the last decade.
remain low.
• Although household income levels are low, housing values are high.
Total Population over Time
Employment Rates and Post-Secondary Degrees, 2008-2012
After a
population spike
during the 1960s,
Rosemont’s
population
has remained
relatively stable,
primarily due to
the fixed supply
of available
housing in the
Village.
Despite lower levels
of post-secondary
education,
Rosemont’s 90.6%
employment rate is
higher than those
of the County
or region. 37.7%
of Rosemont
residents, however,
are not in the labor
force, representing
a slightly larger
share than in the
County or region.
Population Count
5,0005000
4000
4,000
3000
3,000
2000
2,000
1000
1,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
100.0%
100.0%
100%
Employed
Not in
labor force
80.0%
Unemployed
80%
80.0%
60.0%
60%
60.0%
40.0%
40.0%
40%
20.0%
20.0%
20%
0.0%
Post-secondary
degree
0.0%
Cook County
Rosemont
Change in Ethnic and Racial Makeup, 2000-2010
2000
2010
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
The median income
of households
in Cook County
($54,598) is 35%
higher than in
Rosemont ($39,196).
Nearly 60% of
Village households
earn less than
$50,000 per year,
compared to about
45% for the County.
Hispanic or
Latino
Black or
African
American
Asian
Other
Rosemont
Cook County
80.0%
80%
Region
70.0%
60%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
40%
30.0%
20%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Single,
detached
Single,
attached
2 units
3-4 units
5+ units
Housing Value, 2008-2012
Rosemont
Cook County
35.0%
Region
30%
30.0%
25.0%
20%
20.0%
15.0%
10%
10.0%
5.0%
White
The Village’s most
common housing
type is multifamily
buildings, which
make up 78.5% of
the housing stock.
Buildings with five
or more units are
by far the most
common type. This
proportion is about
25% higher than
the County’s and
double that of the
region.
Region
Household Income, 2008-2012
2,500
Population Count
Although total
population has
remained steady
in the last decade,
Rosemont’s ethnic
composition has
changed greatly.
While white
residents still make
up just over half
of Rosemont, the
Latino population
has grown to now
comprise 41% of the
Village.
Housing Type in Rosemont, 2008-2012
0.0%
< $25,000
$25,000 $49,000
$50,000 $74,000
$75,000 $99,000
$100,000 $146,000
> $150,000
Although more than
40% of Rosemont’s
housing stock is
reportedly valued at
less than $250,000,
the proportion of
homes in Rosemont
priced between
$400,000-$750,000
is larger than that
of the County or
region. As a result,
Rosemont’s median
housing value is
higher than the
County’s by over
$50,000, or 17%.
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
45.0%
40.0%
40%
35.0%
30.0%
30%
25.0%
20.0%
20%
15.0%
10.0%
10%
5.0%
0.0%
< $100,000
$100,000 $249,000
$250,000 $399,000
$400,000 $749,000
$750,000 +
Note: Census data is self-reported, and in many communities the Census estimates of housing value are
much higher than recent sales would indicate.
27
Key Findings
• Rosemont’s population remained stable between 2000 and 2010, but
has seen significant growth of Latino residents. Although the Village
experienced a slight decline of only 22 residents, or 0.5% of the population, in
the last decade, the ethnic composition of the population changed greatly. While
white residents still make up just over half of Rosemont, the Latino population
has grown to now comprise 41% of the Village.
• Rosemont’s household income levels are low, but housing values are
high. At $35,461, the median household income of Rosemont is 28% lower than
in Cook County. At the same time, the median housing value is 20% higher in
Rosemont than in the County. The disparity between income and housing values
may in part account for the low rates of homeownership in Rosemont, where over
70% of residents are renters.
• While employement rates in Rosemont are high, income levels remain
low. The Village has a 90.6% employment rate, a figure roughly equivalent to
the County and region. Yet, overall income levels are lower in Rosemont than in
the County or region. This shows that a majority of residents are employed in
moderate income professions in the retail and service sectors.
• A significant amount of Rosemont’s housing stock consists of multi-
family rental apartments. Nearly 80% of Rosemont’s housing is made up of
multi-family units, of which 89% are 5+ family units. Moreover, Rosemont has an
extremely high percentage of renters (71.1%), compared to 41.8% for Cook County
and 34.5% for the region.
Demographic Profile and Analysis
Outside of the Latino population, both Rosemont’s African-American and Asian
populations remain relatively low, making up 1.4% and 3.3% of Rosemont residents
respectively.
The Village experienced a modest 10 person (20%) increase in African Americans,
compared to the 9% decline in Cook County and the 4.7% decline in the region.
Between 2000 and 2010, Asian residents in Rosemont dropped by 26.3%, counter to
the 23.7% increase in the County and 36.6% increase in the region.
Table 7.3. Race and Ethnicity, 2010
Rosemont
Cook County
Table 7.1. Population, Households, and Household Size, 2010
Cook County
Region
Population
4,202
5,194,675
8,431,386
Households
1,652
1,966,356
3,088,156
Average Household Size
2.54
2.60
2.73
Source: 2010 Census
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
White
2,199
52.3%
2,278,358
43.9%
4,486,557
53.2%
Hispanic or Latino*
1,734
41.3%
1,244,762
24.0%
1,823,609
21.6%
Black or African American
60
1.4%
1,265,778
24.4%
1,465,417
17.4%
Asian
137
3.3%
318,869
6.1%
513,694
6.1%
Other**
72
1.7%
86,908
1.7%
142,109
1.7%
Source: 2010 Census
* includes Hispanic or Latino residents of any race
** includes American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or More Races
Rosemont
Cook County
Rosemont has maintained a relatively steady resident population over the past
decade. While Cook County experienced a population decline of 3.4% between 2000
and 2010, Rosemont only lost 0.5% of its population, or 22 residents. In contrast, the
Chicago region grew by 3.5% during the same period.
Table 7.2. Population and Change in Population, 2000 and 2010
Cook County
Region
Population, 2000
4,224
5,376,741
8,146,264
Population, 2010
4,202
5,194,675
8,431,386
-22
-182,066
285,122
-0.5%
-3.4%
3.5%
Change, 2000-10
Percentage Change
Region
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
White
2,445
57.9%
2,558,709
47.6%
4,687,259
57.5%
Hispanic or Latino*
1,493
35.3%
1,071,740
19.9%
1,409,202
17.3%
50
1.2%
1,390,448
25.9%
1,537,534
18.9%
Asian
186
4.4%
257,843
4.8%
375,993
4.6%
Other**
50
1.2%
98,001
1.8%
136,276
1.7%
Source: 2000 Census
Table 7.5. Change in Race and Ethnicity, 2000-2010
Rosemont
Rosemont
Region
Table 7.4. Race and Ethnicity, 2000
With a total of 4,202 residents, Rosemont is ranked 119th among 130 Cook County
municipalities in terms of population count. The Village has 1,651 households with
an average household size of 2.54, comparable to the average household size in Cook
County (2.60) and region (2.73).
Rosemont
Although the total population remained fairly constant, the racial and ethnic makeup
of the Village underwent many changes since 2000. As of 2010, white residents
comprised over half of Rosemont’s population, down 10% from 2000. Rosemont’s
Latino population, on the other hand, grew by 16.1% and now makes up over 41% of
the total population. These shifts closely parallel the greater demographic trends for
whites and Hispanics in Cook County.
Cook County
With half of its residents under 34 years old, the Village has a relatively young
population. The age distribution of Rosemont’s population generally mirrors the
breakdown of age cohorts in the County and region.
Table 7.6. Age Cohorts and Median Age, 2010
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Under 19 years
1,161
27.6%
1,374,096
26.5%
2,346,937
27.8%
20 to 34 years
978
23.3%
1,204,066
23.2%
1,790,049
21.2%
35 to 49 years
923
22.0%
1,067,351
20.5%
1,807,886
21.4%
18.2%
50 to 64 years
573
13.6%
928,833
17.9%
1,534,488
65 to 79 years
415
9.9%
436,799
8.4%
679,470
8.1%
80 years and over
152
3.6%
183,530
3.5%
272,556
3.2%
Median Age (2010)
34.4
35.3
n/a
Source: 2010 Census
The median income of households in Cook County is 35% higher than in Rosemont.
Nearly 60% of Village households earn less than $50,000 per year, compared to about
45% for the County. The proportion of households with annual income less than
$25,000 is higher than the County average, while households with very high incomes
(over $150,000) are significantly more prevalent in the County than in Rosemont.
Table 7.7 Household Income, 2008-2012
Rosemont
Count
Cook County
Percent
Count
Region
Percent
Count
Percent
Less than $25,000
539
33.5%
456,264
23.6%
599,075
19.6%
$25,000 to $49,999
397
24.6%
436,472
22.6%
640,942
21.0%
$50,000 to $74,999
289
17.9%
339,402
17.6%
537,114
17.6%
$75,000 to $99,999
192
11.9%
235,745
12.2%
402,300
13.2%
$100,000 to $149,000
116
7.2%
253,222
13.1%
468,043
15.4%
$150,000 and over
78
4.8%
212,565
11.0%
401,400
Median Income (2011)
$39,196
$54,598
13.2%
n/a
Source: 2008-12 American Community Survey
Rosemont residents have a lower rate of educational attainment than residents in the
County and region. A large majority of people over 25 have high school diplomas. Yet,
only 14.9% have advanced degrees in Rosemont, while over a third of the population
does in both Cook County and the region.
Table 7.8. Education Levels, 2008-2012
Region
Change in
Population
Percent
Change
Change in
Population
Percent
Change
Change in
Population
Percent
Change
White
-246
-10.1%
-280,351
-11.0%
-200,702
-4.3%
Hispanic or Latino*
241
16.1%
173,022
16.1%
414,407
29.4%
10
20.0%
-124,670
-9.0%
-72,117
-4.7%
Asian
-49
-26.3%
61,026
23.7%
137,701
36.6%
Other**
22
44.0%
-11,093
-11.3%
5,833
4.3%
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Population, 25 years and over
2,518
100.0%
3,456,817
100.0%
5,538,499
100.0%
High school diploma or higher
2,187
86.9%
2,906,668
84.1%
4,771,543
86.2%
375
14.9%
1,184,199
34.3%
1,982,346
35.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
Source: 2000 and 2010 Census
Source: 2000 and 2010 Census
28
Employment
Despite the relatively low level of educational attainment in the Village, Rosemont’s
90.6% employment rate is higher than those of the County (88.4%) or region (89.2%).
37.7% of Rosemont residents, however, are not in the labor force, representing a
slightly larger share than in the County or region.
Table 7.9. Employment Status, 2008-2012
Rosemont
Cook County
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Population, 16 years and over
2,917
100.0%
4,112,868
In labor force
1,818
62.3%
2,742,562
Employed
1,647
90.6%
Unemployed
171
Not in labor force
1,099
Region
Table 7.10. Employment of Community Residents by Industry Sector, 2011
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Total Employed Population
1,777
100.0%
2,025,469
100.00%
3,429,307
100.0%
Public Administration
238
13.4%
87,601
4.3%
134,679
3.9%
Health Care and Social Assistance
186
10.5%
279,009
13.8%
436,605
12.7%
Accommodation and Food Services
184
10.4%
154,783
7.6%
244,775
7.1%
Retail Trade
158
8.9%
200,900
9.9%
360,760
10.5%
Count
Percent
100.0%
6,573,191
100.0%
Manufacturing
155
8.7%
176,874
8.7%
338,715
9.9%
66.7%
4,498,245
68.4%
Administration & Support, Waste Management and Remediation
132
7.4%
147,012
7.3%
239,634
7.0%
2,424,917
88.4%
4,013,150
89.2%
Transportation and Warehousing
122
6.9%
92,688
4.6%
148,474
4.3%
9.4%
316,141
11.5%
471,447
10.5%
Educational Services
114
6.4%
204,733
10.1%
338,389
9.9%
37.7%
1,370,306
33.3%
2,074,946
31.6%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
93
5.2%
161,265
8.0%
270,668
7.9%
Wholesale Trade
83
4.7%
101,724
5.0%
201,327
5.9%
Finance and Insurance
73
4.1%
126,620
6.3%
204,871
6.0%
Other Services (excluding Public Administration)
60
3.4%
78,114
3.9%
124,729
3.6%
Construction
44
2.5%
49,633
2.5%
101,639
3.0%
Management of Companies and Enterprises
38
2.1%
38,369
1.9%
72,789
2.1%
1.8%
Given Rosemont’s central and accessible location to Chicago and many northern and
western suburbs, the Village’s labor force is employed in a wide range of industries
with no clear dominant sectors. Public administration, the top employment sector,
employs 13.4% of Rosemont residents. This unusually large percentage of public
administration employees is due to Rosemont’s domicile requirement, which
mandates that all Village employees reside in Rosemont. As Rosemont owns and
operates several large establishments, including the Douglas E. Stephens Convention
Center and the Allstate Arena, the Village offers more employment opportunities
than most other municipalities. In comparison, only 4% of residents work in public
administration County- and region-wide.
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
30
1.7%
34,939
1.7%
61,695
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
29
1.6%
33,084
1.6%
50,602
1.5%
Information
27
1.5%
49,085
2.4%
80,261
2.3%
Utilities
6
0.3%
7,354
0.4%
14,208
0.4%
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
3
0.2%
543
0.0%
1,283
0.0%
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
2
0.1%
1,139
0.1%
3,204
0.1%
Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, 2011
The next highest sectors in Rosemont are healthcare and social assistance and
accommodation and food services, which employ about 10% of the population each.
Although there are no hospitals in Rosemont itself, Lutheran General Hospital, one
of the largest in the region, is located nearby (see Chapter 3 for more information on
community services in the area).
29
Housing
Rosemont’s emphasis on commercial development has limited the available land
for residential uses, which only make up 12.5% of the Village’s land area. Housing
in Rosemont is unique in terms of location, ownership, value, and size. In 1995,
Rosemont residents voted to turn their primary residential neighborhood into a
gated community with guard posts at each of its two entrances. This measure aimed
to increase security for residents of the Village, which experiences a high influx of
visitors for conventions, concerts, and shopping. The gated community is centrally
located south of Higgins Road.
The Village’s most common housing type is multifamily buildings with five or more
units, which make up 78.5% of the housing stock. This proportion is about 25%
higher than the County’s and double that of the region. Single-family detached
homes, which account for 21.5% of the housing, are entirely located within the gated
community. The rest are two- to four-unit buildings. While the percentage of singlefamily homes in Rosemont is lower than the County’s, the multi-family stock is twice
as high. This indicates a greater overall density of housing in the Village as well as a
considerable diversity in terms of housing types and sizes.
Figure 7.1. Existing Residential Areas
In addition to the gated community, Rosemont has a small amount of multi-family
buildings in the northern half of the Village. Most notable is a dense 4-block
neighborhood of six-flats near the Allstate Arena that houses a significant number
of Rosemont’s Latino residents. There are also some apartment and condominium
complexes in the northeast part of the Village.
Table 7.11 Housing Type (Units), 2008-2012
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Rosemont
Count
37.6%
444,707
20.4%
547,556
16%
688,082
31.6%
962,848
29%
3 Bedrooms
321
18.1%
700,183
32.1%
1,136,361
34%
4 Bedrooms
26
1.5%
259,049
11.9%
570,895
16.9%
5 Bedrooms
8
0.5%
86,718
4.0%
152,248
4.5%
1,774
100.0%
2,178,739
100.0%
3,369,908
100.0%
Total Housing
Units
Source: 2008-12 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
Although more than 40% of Rosemont’s housing stock is worth less than $250,000,
a larger percentage of homes in Rosemont are priced between $400,000-750,000
than in the County or region. As a result, Rosemont’s median housing value is higher
than the County’s by over $50,000, or 17%. The significant amount of multifamily
rental apartments and limited supply of single-family housing likely accounts for the
notably low rate of homeownership in the Village.
2,162,542
100.0%
3,342,693
100.0%
21.5%
869,539
40.2%
1,679,254
50.2%
Single, attached
0
0.0%
118,595
5.5%
257,910
7.7%
2 Units
58
3.3%
218,404
10.1%
242,900
7.3%
3 to 4 Units
95
5.4%
252,173
11.7%
286,137
8.6%
Less than $100,000
26.2%
32.5%
876,492
With 71% of its residents as renters, home ownership in Rosemont is significantly
lower than in the County or region. In fact, according to the 2013 Fair Housing
and Equity Assessment for Metropolitan Chicago, Rosemont is one of only 11
municipalities in the metropolitan region with over 50% of housing stock dedicated
to renter-occupied housing. Of those 11, Rosemont has the highest renter rate of any
majority-white municipality. One way the Village encourages homeownership is
by offering yearly property grants. The program, which began 19 years ago in 1994,
offered maximum grants of $3,692 in 2013. Homeowners receive more than $1 million
in total grants each year.
Table 7.12. Housing Occupancy, 2010
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
1,652
93.3%
1,966,356
90.2%
3,088,156
91.6%
Owner-Occupied
477
28.9%
1,143,857
58.2%
2,022,176
65.5%
Renter-Occupied
1,175
71.1%
822,499
41.8%
1,065,980
34.5%
118
6.7%
214,003
9.8%
284,601
8.4%
Occupied
Vacant
Source: 2010 Census
Due to the large number of rental units, Rosemont’s housing stock has more 1 or 2
bedroom apartment housing than the County, which has a larger proportion of 3-5
bedroom homes.
Percent
42.4%
100.0%
703,831
Count
752
382
69.8%
Percent
667
1,774
1,239
Region
Count
0-1 Bedroom
Total
Source: 2008-12 American Community Survey, Census
Cook County
Percent
2 Bedrooms
Single, detached
5+ Units
Table 7.13. Housing Size, 2008-2012
Table 7.14. Housing Value, 2008-2012
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
5
1.1%
107,903
9.5%
158,890
7.9%
$100,000 to $249,999
186
39.8%
478,789
42.0%
852,414
42.3%
$250,000 to $399,999
154
33.0%
323,764
28.4%
594,859
29.5%
$400,000 to $749,999
114
24.4%
171,951
15.1%
312,703
15.5%
8
1.7%
57,728
5.1%
95,014
$750,000 or more
Median value, 2010
$311,500
$244,900
Percent
4.7%
n/a
Note: Census data is self-reported, and in many communities the Census estimates of housing value are much higher than recent sales
would indicate.
Rosemont’s housing stock is slightly younger compared to the County. About twothirds of Rosemont’s homes were built between 1960 and 1979. In contrast, only one
quarter of the County’s housing stock dates back to those decades. While the County
and region experienced more new housing construction during the housing boom in
the early 2000s, Rosemont added few homes and focused development activities in
the retail and entertainment sector instead. As the table below shows, only 0.5% of
the Village’s existing housing stock was built in the past decade.
Table 7.15. Housing Age, 2008-2012
Rosemont
Cook County
Count
Percent
Count
Region
Percent
Count
Percent
Built 2000 and after
8
0.5%
167,141
7.7%
388,157
11.5%
Built 1980 to 1999
90
5.1%
270,579
12.4%
653,018
19.4%
Built 1960 to 1979
1,131
63.8%
538,837
24.7%
867,250
25.7%
Built 1940 to 1959
536
30.2%
516,539
23.7%
671,560
19.9%
9
0.5%
685,643
31.5%
789,923
23.4%
Built 1939 or earlier
Median age, 2010
1964
1957
1964
30
Chapter Highlights
This section examines key economic and market indicators in Rosemont, including employment trends, dominant
industries, equalized property values, and commercial property trends. This analysis was conducted using data from the
Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois Department of Revenue, and CoStar.
Employment
1
• Large corporate offices are the biggest drivers of Rosemont’s economy.
• The Village is one of the largest land owners and plays an
active and direct role in commercial development.
Top 10 Employers in Rosemont
Type
O-Z Gedney Company LLC
Electrical Equipment and Component
Manufacturing
2,000
Capgemini Financial Services International, Inc.
Custom Computer Programming Services
1,200
Hyatt Corporation
Hotels and Motels
1,114
US Foods, Inc.
Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers
912
Lifewatch Services, Inc.
Medical, Dental and Hospital Equipment & Supplies
Merchant Wholesalers
720
Village of Rosemont
Executive Offices
525
Central States Southeast & Southwest Areas Pension
Fund
Pension Funds
515*
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Hotels and Motels
500
Swissport USA, Inc.
Offices of Other Holding Companies
468*
Carpentry Collaborative Inc
Framing Contractors
445
5
Village-owned commercial venues
Count
•
•
•
•
•
•
Allstate Arena (1)
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (2)
MB Financial Park Entertainment District (3)
The Rosemont Dome and Ballpark (4)
Rosemont Health and Fitness (5)
Rosemont Theatre (6)
4
Recent Village Contributions to Economic Development
7
The Dome at the Rosemont Ballpark (4)
Village issued $22 million in bonds
toward the construction of a large
indoor/outdoor sports complex in
2012.
* Indicates information provided by individual company sources
Sources: Dun and Bradstreet, Market Insight, June 2013 and company data.
8
9
3
2
6
Big 10 Conference Headquarters (7)
Village donated 1.43 acres of land
a $1.6 million to relocate the
conference headquarters from Park
Ridge.
Commercial and Industrial Development
• Industrial properties have decreased steadily and are being redeveloped for commercial use.
• Retail is a growing part of Rosemont’s economy. Per capita retail sales in 2013 were 7.4 times
higher than the County’s.
6000000.00
2003
5000000.00 5
Millions of Square Footage
2013
Vacant
4000000.004
Balmoral Tollway Ramp (8)
In April 2011, the Village financed
a new on-ramp to the Tri-State
Tollway at Balmoral Ave. Half of
the toll revenue will go toward
construction cost reimbursements
to the Village. The Tollway paid their
portion of the revenue to the Village
in 2013.
3000000.00 3
2000000.00 2
1000000.00
1
0.00
Commercial uses in Rosemont
Oﬃce 03
Office
Oﬃce 13
Industrial
Industrial Industrial 13
2003
Retail
03
Retail
Parking Garage
Village used $60 million of bonds
to build a new parking structure
and supporting infrastructure for
the Fashion Outlet Mall and MB
Financial Park.
MB Financial Park (3)
Village contributed land and $25
million of bonds for building shells,
tenant improvements, and project
construction.
Fashion Outlet Mall (9)
Village donated 11.8 acres of land
and contributed $17.8 million for a
parking facility for the mall, which
opened in August 2013.
31
Key Findings
Employment
• The Village is one of the largest land owners and plays an active and
Between 2002 and 2011, Rosemont’s public and private sector employment base
declined by over 3,000 jobs, or about 10%. This decrease is largely attributed to the
2001 bankruptcy of Comdisco, a large IT company headquartered in Rosemont.
While the company is still operating in Rosemont, it has undergone liquidation and
significant staff reduction in the last several years. The overall decline of the region’s
industrial sector also factored the employment decrease in Rosemont, where much of
the industrial base has been converted to other commercial uses in the past decade.
direct role in commercial development. The Village owns and operates
some of Rosemont’s largest commercial enterprises, including the Allstate Arena
and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The Village also owns and leases
real estate to third-party users within the Village. These venues draw a large
number of visitors to the Village for special events and in the process support
the hospitality and retail industry. The returns generated from these businesses
account for 42% of the Village’s total revenue and are put toward municipal
services and operations financing.
• Large corporate offices are the biggest drivers of Rosemont’s economy.
In contrast to Cook County where industrial spaces occupy the greatest acreage
and residential properties generate the most tax revenue, Rosemont’s economy
relies much more on the office and entertainment sector. Nearly two-thirds of
the Village’s equalized assessed value comes from commercial properties, 80%
of which are office spaces. Not only has the amount of available office space
increased in the last decade, occupancy rates are currently at their highest since
2003.
• Industrial properties are declining. Between 2003 and 2013, industrial
properties declined by 24.2% and now only comprise 13.6% of all commercial
space in the Village. Many of these industrial properties have been recently
converted to other commercial uses. This trend is contrary to other O’Hare-area
communities, such as Franklin Park, Bensenville, Elk Grove Village, and Des
Plaines, which are all seeking to maintain a fairly large industrial sector that will
take advantage of the airport expansion and related Elgin-O’Hare Western Access
project. Rosemont’s leadership has chosen to take advantage of the project by
attracting new commercial uses that could replace its older and much smaller
industrial base.
• Rosemont’s per capita retail sales is 7.4 times higher than the County’s.
Due to the Village’s large commercial base and small residential population,
Rosemont generated $70,256 of retail sales per person in 2012—a figure that has
only increased since, with the launch of an entertainment district in MB Financial
Park and the Fashion Outlet Mall.
Rosemont’s employment base is dominated by large companies operating in a range
of sectors. In fact, the top three employers all have over 1,000 employees and all of
the Village’s top ten employers have over 400 employees. Rosemont’s proximity to
O’Hare Airport, multiple highways, and public transit access to the City of Chicago
has attracted headquarters for O-Z Gedney, US Foods, Culligan, Cole Taylor Bank, and
the Big Ten, among others.
Table 8.3. Rosemont’s top ten employers, June 2013
Table 8.1. Public and private sector employment estimates, 2002-2011
Rosemont
Cook County
Region*
Employment, 2002
18,140
2,216,958
3,409,568
Employment, 2011
16,293
2,073,558
3,461,583
Change, 2002-11
-1,847
-143,400
52,015
-10.18%
-6.47%
1.53%
Change as %, 2002-11
Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security
* This data, which is unavailable from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, comes from Longitudinal Employer-Household
Dynamics, U.S. Census Bureau
With 16 hotels and 60 restaurants housed in the Village, it is no surprise that
accommodation and food services account for a quarter of all private sector
employment. This is followed by professional, scientific, and technical services (10%
of the workforce), wholesale trade (8.7% of the workforce), and finance and insurance
services (8.5% of the workforce).
Table 8.2. Employment of private sector workers in Rosemont by industry
sector, 2013
Sector
Count
Percent
Accommodation and Food Services
4,836
27.4%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,807
10.2%
Finance and Insurance
1,668
9.4%
Management of Companies and Enterprises
1,518
8.6%
Wholesale Trade
1,309
7.4%
Administration & Support, Waste Management and
Remediation
1,111
6.3%
Other Services (excluding Public Administration)
907
5.1%
Manufacturing
728
4.1%
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
616
3.5%
Transportation and Warehousing
416
2.4%
Construction
385
2.2%
Retail Trade
382
2.2%
Information
307
1.7%
Educational Services
62
0.4%
Health Care and Social Assistance
Total
*
*
17,668
100.0%
Employer
Sector
O-Z Gedney Company LLC
Electrical Equipment and Component
Manufacturing
Count
2,000
Capgemini Financial Services
International, Inc.
Custom Computer Programming Services
1,200
Hyatt Corporation
Hotels and Motels
1,114
US Foods, Inc.
Grocery and Related Product Merchant
Wholesalers
912
Lifewatch Services, Inc.
Medical, Dental and Hospital Equipment &
Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
720
Village of Rosemont
Executive Offices
525
Central States Southeast & Southwest
Areas Pension Fund
Pension Funds
515*
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide,
Inc.
Hotels and Motels
500
Swissport USA, Inc.
Offices of Other Holding Companies
468*
Carpentry Collaborative Inc
Framing Contractors
445
* Indicates information provided by individual company sources
Sources: Dun and Bradstreet, Market Insight and company data
* Numbers omitted by source to avoid disclosure of individual data
Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security 2013
32
Existing Retail, Industrial, and Office Development
Unlike most suburban communities, the majority of Rosemont’s total equalized
assessed value (EAV) comes from commercial properties, which account for almost
two-thirds of the Village’s total EAV. This breakdown is reversed in Cook County,
where two-thirds of revenue comes from residential EAV and 22.5% comes from
commercial properties.
Table 8.4. Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) by property type, 2011
Rosemont
Property Type
Cook County
Rosemont
Percent
Estimated EAV
Percent
Commercial
$177,314,251
63.7%
$34,168,804,907
22.5%
Residential
$63,534,233
22.8%
$101,103,264,883
66.5%
$37,198,250
13.4%
$16,506,122,399
10.9%
$396,751
0.1%
$286,641,500
0.2%
Farm
n/a
n/a
$4,218,027
0.0%
Total
$278,443,485
100.0%
$152,069,051,716
100.0%
Railroad
Total Rentable
Square Feet
Total Rentable
Square Feet
Vacancy Rate
Region
Total Rentable
Square Feet
Office
5,156,566
14.8%
309,878,277
12.6%
442,771,617
13.3%
1,061,194
2.1%
271,004,799
7.6%
441,407,969
8.2%
Industrial*
872,837
7.2%
545,933,142
9.0%
1,066,974,725
8.8%
7,090,597
12.0%
1,126,816,218
9.7%
2013
% Change
1,155,824
872,837
-24.5%
8.4%
7.2%
--
4,774,827
5,156,566
8.0%
Industrial
Total Rentable Building Area (SF)
Vacancy Rate
Retail
Total
2003
Office
O’Hare Submarket
Vacancy Rate
Table 8.6. Trends in commercial square footage and vacancy in Rosemont,
2013
Vacancy Rate
Table 8.5. Commercial square footage and vacancy, 2013
Estimated EAV
Industrial
In the last decade, Rosemont’s commercial vacancy rates have decreased for
industrial, office, and retail space alike. Today, vacancy rates for Rosemont’s
industrial and retail spaces are markedly lower than in the O’Hare submarket and
region, but its overall commercial vacancy rate is higher due to the high rate of office
vacancy.
1,951,154,311
9.7%
*Includes flex properties.
Source: CMAP analysis of CoStar data
Vacancy Rate
31.7%
14.8%
--
2006
2013
% Change
505,774
1,061,194
109.8%
2.0%
2.1%
--
Retail
Vacancy Rate
*Includes flex properties.
Source: CMAP Analysis of CoStar data
Source: Illinois Department of Revenue 2011
Rosemont has approximately 6.5 million square feet of commercial space. Offices
make up 80% of this square footage, a much larger share than other communities in
the O’Hare submarket where offices are only 27.5% of total commercial space. Within
the commercial sector, Rosemont has a noticeably small share of commercial retail
in comparison to other communities in the submarket and the region. While only
8% of all commercial space is dedicated to retail in Rosemont, retail accounts for
approximately 25% in both the O’Hare submarket and the region. Retail space in the
Village has more than doubled since 2006 due to the completion of MB Financial Park
and Fashion Outlets of Chicago, both large retail establishments. Meanwhile, vacancy
rates have remained low and constant, indicating initial success of these two retail
establishments in bringing more retail to the Village.
Overall, industrial properties have been declining in the Village. Since 2003, total
commercial space for industrial uses has decreased by 24.5%. Only two main
industrial areas remain in the Village today, although the light industrial area to the
northwest is likely to be slated for redevelopment according to key stakeholders and
Village financial reports.
The Village generates substantially more revenue from retail sales on a per capita
basis than the County and the region. In 2012, Rosemont generated approximately
$295 million in retail sales, amounting to $70,256 per person, 7.4 times higher than the
per capita retail sales in the County. This stark difference is in part attributed to the
uniquely small size of Rosemont’s residential population.
Total office square footage, on the other hand, has not only increased by 8%, office
occupancy rates have also increased in the last decade, clearly showing an increased
demand for office space. With the completion of MB Financial Park and the Fashion
Outlets of Chicago, retail spaces have more than doubled while maintaining high
occupancy rates.
Table 8.7. General merchandise retail sales, 2012
Retail sales
Retail sales per capita
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
$295,216,015
$49,351,405,982
$88,734,178,389
$70,256
$9,500
$10,524
Source: Illinois Department of Revenue
33
The Village leads a number of economic development efforts aimed at attracting
new businesses and helping retain existing businesses. As of 2012, public works and
economic development activities amounted to $60 million, or about half of total
government expenses. Public safety made up the Village’s second-highest expense,
totaling about $24 million, or 20% of total municipal expenses.
By proactively acquiring properties as they become available, the Village has been
able to shape and contribute land future commercial developments. As a major
landowner, the Village has been able to leverage general obligation bonds to finance
commercial projects on these properties. These commercial businesses, which
include the Allstate Arena, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
Theatre, and MB Financial Park, make up the majority of the Rosemont’s capital
assets according to Village financial reports. Total operating expenses for these
businesses totaled $18.6 million in 2012. The profits generated from these businesses
make up 42% of the Village’s total revenues and help to fund Rosemont’s municipal
services. Recent Village economic development and capital improvement efforts are
described in the following table.
The Village also anticipates new economic development and capital improvement
projects in the pipeline, including some new office parks and hotels. Using recently
purchased land housing light industrial facilities, the Village also intends to construct
surface parking on the north side of the Allstate Arena. These additional spaces will
not only serve as overflow parking during Arena events, they will also be used to
accommodate residential parking for residents living in the multifamily buildings in
that neighborhood.
Tax Increment Financing Districts
The Village also advances economic development through tax increment financing
(TIF). There are five active TIF districts in the Village. These districts have allowed
the Village to undertake significant redevelopment initiatives throughout Rosemont.
Table 8.9. Redevelopment Activities in Rosemont TIF Districts
TIF District
Area
Land
Funds
Description
Fashion Outlets
of Chicago
11.8
acres
$17.8 million for a
parking facility
After two decades of acquiring parcels in southern
Rosemont, the Village contracted a developer to
build the new shopping center. The mall, which
opened in August 2013, has 550,000 square feet
of commercial retail. In addition to the land, the
Village contributed $17.8 million for the mall’s
parking facility.
MB Financial
Park
$25 million
(General
Obligation
Corporate Bonds)
The Village provided land for and completed the
development of MB Financial Park Entertainment
District in 2012. Funding was used for building
shells, tenant improvements, and other aspects
related to project construction. The development
is currently under a five-year sponsorship
agreement with MB Financial Bank.
Parking
$60 million
(General
Obligation
Corporate Bonds)
The Village used nearly $60 million of General
Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds to build
a new parking garage and other supporting
infrastructure for the Fashion Outlet Mall and MB
Financial Park.
Balmoral
Tollway Ramp
$20 million
(General
Obligation
Corporate Purpose
Bonds)
In April 2011,, the Village financed a new onramp
to the Tri-State Tollway at Balmoral Avenue. The
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has agreed to
put 50% of toll revenue toward construction cost
reimbursements for the Village for a period of 25
years.
$1.6 million
In October 2013, the Village contributed land
for the Big Ten Conference to relocate their
headquarters and 40 full-time employees from
Park Ridge to Rosemont.
The Dome at
the Rosemont
Ballpark
$22 million
(General
Obligation
Corporate Purpose
Bonds)
Rosemont constructed large indoor sports dome
in November 2012, located next to the outdoor
home ballpark completed in June 2011 to house
the Chicago Bandits professional softball team.
Both projects were built on Village-owned land.
The funds from this project will also be put toward
road improvements in the Entertainment District.
LED Signage
Agreement
$4.7 million
In 2012, the Village entered into a purchase
commitment to construct LED signage advertising
MB Financial Park, the Rosemont Theatre, and the
Allstate Arena.
Big Ten
Conference
Headquarters
1.43
acres
Projects
Expiration
1/6
Higgins-River Road
In 2013, the Village amended the boundaries TIF
District 1 to create District 6. The Village plans to
build an office park, parking garage, and hotel in
this TIF district.
2036
3
River Road
Funds from TIF districts 3 and 4 were used for
roadway construction, utilities, excavation, and
site improvements for developing the Fashion
Outlet Mall and MB Financial Park for the new
Entertainment District.
2019
4
South River Road
5
Touhy and Mannheim
Road
The Village has recently acquired several light
industrial parcels in this TIF district and plans
to construct additional parking for the Allstate
Arena and the multifamily buildings in the
vicinity.
2022
7
Higgins and
Mannheim Road
Approved in March 2014.
2037
Table 8.8. Village Contributions to Recent Economic Development Projects
Facility
Figure 8.1. TIF Districts
2034
Source: 2011 and 2012 Rosemont Annual Financial Reports and stakeholder interviews
Source: 2011 and 2012 Village of Rosemont Annual Financial Reports
34
Chapter Highlights
This section provides an overview of the existing transportation infrastructure in Rosemont, focusing on the conditions of roadways,
and transit, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The data in this section was obtained from the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT), the Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics (RTAMS), Metra, Pace, the Center for Neighborhood Technology
(CNT), the US Census Bureau, and a visual assessment of existing conditions in the Village of Rosemont.
Roadway Network
Bicycle and Pedestrian Network
Transit Network
• Rosemont’s geographic constraints and limited roadway network are
• Pedestrian safety and pedestrian crossings are of concern in Rosemont.
• The CTA Blue Line is a major asset to the community and is used by a
the source of periodic traffic congestion along major roadways.
• Although the Des Plaines River Trail is a great regional asset located along
Average Daily Traffic Counts, 2012
large number of employees, visitors, and residents.
Rosemont’s eastern border, the Village has no bicycle connections to the trail,•
or elsewhere in the community.
Rosemont residents and workers have access to two Metra stations,
but they are both underutilized.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes 2005-2012
Rosemont Public Transit System
Touhy Ave
"
)
221
40
145500
0
0
70
¬
«
12
72
14900
23
"
)
250
Touhy Ave
"
)
63600
00
¦
¨
§
294
00
00
297
00
gin
d
2200
0
0
00
sR
90
74
14
Hig
12
72
"
)
00
50
0
d
River R
23000
183900
190
000
19300
198
155
150
2
I
100
50
Improve
sidewalks
Sidewalks
Improve road
Roadconditions
Conditions
Expand bus
Busservice
Service
Add parking
Parking
Source: CMAP
Mode of Transportation
300
Transit
Other
2
I
Carpool
80%
80%
Walk
70%
332
"
)
"
)
895
§
¦
¨
294
3000
"
)
326
"
)
303
2000
1000
60%
60%
50%
40%
40%
30%
20%
20%
Drive alone
10%
0%
2
I
45
350
150
330
£
¤
100%
100%
Balmoral Ave
"
)
4000
90%
175
190
74500
400
Rosemont
Metra
§
¦
¨
2
I
0
320
0
70
74
2
I
45
Bryn Mawr Ave
5000
Pedestrian crashes
£
¤
228
b
Æ
Bicycle crashes
98
190
5801
Balmoral Ave
Bicycle path
b
Æ
CTA Blue
Line
190
31500
104
0
0
12100
50
132
20
0
"
Rosemont
" )
)
b
Æ
Bryn Mawr Ave
¦
¨
§
23500
00
¦
¨
§
Lanes/Trails
£
¤
895
6000
Comparison of Transit Ridership:
North Central Service Line and CTA Blue Line
72
443
Congestion
"«
)
¬
616
10400
Devon Ave
¬
«
500
Outreach Survey Response:
How to Improve Transportation
2
I
250
d
2
I
12
More bicycle
lanes/trails
Bicycle
294
606
80
Reduce
congestion
Reduce
Devon Ave
§
¦
¨
610
9400
20
0
d
294
1 - 10,000
200
sR
¦
¨
§
00
£
¤
250
gin
"
)
7000
255
10 - 25,000
450
223
90
25 - 50,000
b
Æ
Hig
"
)
¦
¨
§
16
50 - 200,000
230
O’Hare
Metra
Devon Ave
River R
Average number
of cars per day
d
2
I
250
0
Mannheim Rd
72
sR
1608
¬
«
90
00
20
¦
¨
§
gin
112
173
¬
«
72
Hig
"
)
Mannheim Rd
Mannheim Rd
600
1610
Rosemont
Cook County
25
29
23
106
306
245
0
Rosemont
Rosemont
CTA
CTA Blue
Blue
Line
Line
Belmont
Belmont
Avenue
Avenue
Metra
Metra
Station
Union Station
Shiller
Park
Schiller
Metra
Park
Metra
Station
Rosemont
Rosemont
Metra
Metra
Station
O'Hare
O’Hare
Metra
Metra
Station
North Central Service Metra Line
Prospect
Prospect
Heights
Heights
Metra
Metra
Station
Wheeling
Wheeling
Metra
Metra
Station
Antioch
Region
Source: RTAMS
Source: RTAMS
35
Key Findings
Roadways
• Rosemont’s geographic constraints and limited roadway network are
Functional Classification and Thoroughfare Type
The following is a breakdown of thoroughfares in Rosemont based on IDOT’s
functional classification of the roads and further analysis of their context and design.
the source of periodic traffic congestion along major roadways. With over
50,000 people visiting Rosemont daily, the issue is further exacerbated during
events held at locations such as the All State Arena, Convention Center, and MB
Financial Park. O’Hare Airport and the Cook County Forest Preserve restrict eastwest movement whereas north-south access is limited with a lack of northbound
entrances onto Interstate 294.
• Pedestrian safety and pedestrian crossings are of concern in Rosemont.
In addition to major roadways having high traffic volumes and vehicular speeds,
they also act as gateways into the Village’s entertainment and retail destinations.
This results in several points of conflict between pedestrians and vehicles. The
lack of consistent crosswalks and buffered sidewalks is of concern to visitors and
residents alike, a relatively high percentage of whom walk to work.
• Rosemont residents and workers have access to the CTA Blue Line,
which has high ridership, and two underutilized Metra stations. With a
CTA station, two Metra stations, and several Pace Bus routes, Rosemont is well
served by transportation. In fact, the Rosemont Blue Line Station has the largest
number of transfers of all the stations in CTA’s transit system. While about 5,800
people board the CTA Blue Line station at Rosemont daily, Metra ridership is very
low. The Rosemont Metra Station and the O’Hare Transfer Station on the North
Central Service line are located near employment and entertainment centers
respectively, but are difficult to locate due to the lack of appropriate signage and
wayfinding signs.
• Although the Des Plaines River Trail is a great regional asset located
along Rosemont’s eastern border, the Village has no bicycle connections
to the trail, or elsewhere in the community. There are currently no bike lanes
or trails in the Village of Rosemont. Stakeholders identified the need for improved
bike connectivity to local destinations as well as regional recreational amenities
as key for employers and visitors alike.
Interstates
Rosemont has access to three major interstates – Interstate 90 (the Jane Addams
Memorial Tollway), Interstate 294 (the Tristate Tollway) and Interstate 190 (the
Kennedy Expressway), which provides access to O’Hare airport. These three
expressways not only significantly impact the flow of local traffic within Rosemont,
but also provide a significant advantage in terms of easy access from the surrounding
region. On the flip side, almost 40% of the Village’s land is occupied by these
roadway rights-of-way, dictating the Village’s day to day operations as well as future
development potential.
Arterials
Rosemont has four arterial roads - River Road, Devon Avenue, Mannheim Road (major
arterial) and Higgins Road between Devon Avenue and Touhy Road. These roads are
designed to accommodate higher speed travel over longer distances and have limited
access and fewer pedestrian facilities.
Collectors
Rosemont has only two collector roads – Higgins Road east of Devon Avenue and
Balmoral Avenue. This type of roadway is designed to funnel traffic from local roads
to the arterials and highways.
Local Roads
All remaining streets in Rosemont are classified as local roads. Local roads generally
have low travel speeds, trips lengths, and traffic volumes and often provide access to
private property.
Table 9.1. Non-Local Roads
Road Name
Jurisdiction
Right-of-Way (feet)
Traffic Count (ADT)
Truck Volume (ADT)
Jane Addams Memorial
Tollway (I-90)
Illinois Tollway (ISTHA)
375
132,500
10,800
Tri State Tollway (I-294)
Illinois Tollway (ISTHA)
250
121,000
18,300
Kennedy Expressway
(I-190)
IDOT
900
87,600
n/a
Manheim Road
IDOT
200
41,900
2,625
North River Rd
IDOT
66
31,500
n/a
W Higgins Road
IDOT
100
28,300
750
Devon Avenue
IDOT
66
9,400
n/a
Source: IDOT
Table 9.2 shows that Rosemont residents drive nearly 3,000 more miles than the
average Chicago resident and approximately 1,000 more miles per year than the
average Cook County resident. Residents surveyed stated taking frequent vehicular
trips both within town as well as to neighboring communities to shop for their daily
needs. Rosemont residents do, however, drive fewer miles than the average resident
of the region. This figure includes the use of a vehicle to commute to work and to
conduct other activities.
Table 9.2. Total Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per Household
Annual VMT per
household
Rosemont
City of Chicago
Cook County
Chicago Region (MSA)
16,705
13,650
15,780
18,272
Connectivity
Connectivity and roadway access are a concern in Rosemont. There are a number of
factors that play a role in limiting vehicular as well as non-motorized transportation
in the Village. These include:
• Interstate Network: The three interstates with their accompanying on and off
ramps divide the community in several parts. River Road and Mannheim Road
are the only major streets that cut across the network of interstates to connect
the community north-south. Similarly, Devon Avenue, Higgins Road, and to
some extent Balmoral Avenue are the only east-west streets that connect the
Village. This limited grid is one of the foremost reasons for traffic congestion and
pedestrian- vehicle conflicts. A number of stakeholders mentioned the lack of
entrances and exits on the northbound side of Interstate-294 (Tristate Tollway)
and believe that this contributed to congestion.
• Local Street Network: With the exception of the single-family subdivision,
there is a virtually non-existent local street network in the Village. Local streets
either connect into larger retail and office complexes or dead-end at physical
constraints such as Willow Creek or the interstates. The single family residential
area only has two access points and the multifamily area in the northwest corner
has little roadway and pedestrian access to the rest of Rosemont.
• Physical Profile: The hourglass shape of the community divides Rosemont
into two distinct halves. Access to the area north of Higgins Road is limited to
Mannheim Road and Higgins Road. With the Allstate Arena located in this area,
ingress and egress for vehicles during special events is challenging, and the
Village relies on auxiliary public safety officers to manage traffic at these times.
• Regional Location: In addition to its own geography, the Village is also bound
by O’Hare airport on the west and the Cook County Forest Preserve on the east.
These uses restrict the Village’s ability to extend east-west in a manner that
would improve connectivity and alleviate traffic congestion.
In light of the challenges Rosemont faces regarding connectivity, Village officials
have also worked with other jurisdictions to improve access to their community. For
example, a new exit ramp at Balmoral Avenue was just added to the northbound lanes
of I-294 in order to provide access to the new Fashion Outlets of Chicago and MB
Financial Park. Other improvements are listed further in this chapter.
Upcoming Roadway and Infrastructure Projects
Widening and Reconstruction of Mannheim Road
This project includes the widening and reconstruction of Mannheim Road from
just north of Irving Park Road to just north of Higgins Road. Construction includes
widening the road from two lanes to three lanes. This project includes the Balmoral
underpass which will connect southbound traffic on Mannheim to eastbound
Balmoral Avenue.
Lee Street Interchange
This project includes an entrance ramp onto eastbound I-90 (Jane Addams Tollway)
and a westbound I-90 exit ramp onto Lee Street at Rosemont’s western border. The
project also includes rebuilding the Lee Street bridge to accommodate the widening
of I-90. There is discussion at this stage of including an additional exit ramp for
easbound 1-90 at Lee Street just west of Rosemont’s border. The project is funded by
the Tollway’s Capital Program, Move Illinois. Work began on the project in early 2014
and is slated to be complete in 2015.
Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, “H+T Affordability Index” http://htaindex.cnt.org/map/
36
Transit
Rosemont is served by many public transit options, including the CTA Blue Line,
Metra and Pace bus services.
Figure 9.1. Rosemont Lunchtime Circulator Routes
"
)
72
"
)
¬
«
72
"
)
223
Sunday
5,801
3,735
2,802
221 Wolf Road
767
n/a
n/a
223 Elk Grove Rosemont Station
1,754
521
337
433
n/a
n/a
250 Dempster Street
2,893
1,749
1,173
303 Madison-19th Ave
1,320
437
295
n/a
225
n/a
330 Mannheim-LaGrange Road
1,347
612
n/a
332 River -York Roads
620
298
259
600 Northwest Express
258
n/a
n/a
606 Northwest Limited
1,855
1,038
679
610 River Road -Prairie Stone Express
445
n/a
n/a
616 The Chancellory Connection
229
n/a
n/a
n/a
811 Entertainment Circulator
895 95th Street - Rosemont - Shaumburg Express
Source: RTAMS
*Ridership is averaged over the course of the year
n/a
197
n/a
§
¦
¨
294
2
I
"«
)
¬
606
"
)
250
£
¤
12
72
"
)
610
"
" )
)
895
616
b
Æ
190
Saturday
810 Lunchtime Circulator
230
§
¦
¨
Weekday
326 West Irving Park
"
)
600
Table 9.3: Transit service and non-motorized transportation in the
community
230 South Des Plaines
221
¬
«
Pace Bus
Rosemont has 15 Pace bus routes that provide an array of services, including routes
from the Rosemont Blue Line station to other parts of the Village and to adjacent
communities. The table below shows available ridership data for the CTA station
and the various Pace bus routes. The most heavily used routes include Route 250
which runs along Mannheim Road to O’Hare airport, and Route 606 and Route 223,
which run from the Rosemont Blue Line Station north along River Road and west
along Higgins Road. Some stakeholders expressed concern about the frequency and
schedule of buses acting as a barrier to good transit access, particularly for those who
do not own cars. Residents in the northwest portion of the Village specifically cited
the inadequate frequency of the Route 221 bus along Touhy Avenue. For large events
at the Allstate Arena, Pace also provides one or two shuttle buses to pick up eventgoers at the Rosemont Blue Line CTA station.
Rosemont CTA Blue Line Station (2013)
"
)
250
CTA
Rosemont has one CTA station, the Rosemont Blue Line Station at the intersection
of River Road and I-190. It is the last station on the Blue Line before O’Hare airport.
Ridership data is provided below in Table 9.3. Given that the Rosemont station is an
important intermodal transfer point and is critical for many reverse commutes, the
RTA has undertaken an improved transit access study of the Rosemont Blue Line
station. In addition to transportation facilities, there are a large number of hotels,
entertainment options and a convention center in close proximity to the station.
With added interest in improving pedestrian access to these amenities, jobs and
transportation hubs, the RTA is investigating how to improve access to the station for
all modes including pedestrians, buses and cyclists. This project is in its early stages
and more information will be obtained as RTA moves forward with its study.
Transit Line
Figure 9.2. Rosemont Public Transit System
n/a
"
)
332
"
)
330
2
I
£
¤
45
"
)
326
"
)
895
§
¦
¨
294
"
)
303
Circulator Service
The Village of Rosemont recently partnered with Pace to provide two free circulator
buses within the community. The Lunchtime Circulator and the Entertainment
Circulator began operation in May and August of 2013, respectively. The two routes
are 60% funded by Pace and 40% funded by the Village of Rosemont. The Lunchtime
Circulator runs weekdays, every nine minutes, between 11am and 2pm and connects
a number of office complexes on River Road, Devon Avenue and Higgins Road to the
CTA station, the Convention Center, MB Financial Park, and the Fashion Outlets of
Chicago. The Entertainment Circulator runs seven days a week every eight minutes
until midnight during the week and until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. This route
connects the Rosemont CTA station to the MB Financial Park, the Fashion Outlets
and the Convention Center. Neither the Lunchtime Circulator nor the Entertainment
circulator service the northwest portion of the community.
37
Metra
Rosemont is home to one Metra station on the North Central Service line from
Chicago to Antioch. The Rosemont Station, located on Balmoral Avenue, is not readily
accessible to the community and has low ridership. As shown in Table 9.4, half of
all riders at the Rosemont station access the station on foot. The station has two
access points – a pedestrian entrance directly from Balmoral Avenue and a parking
lot situated to the east of the station adjacent to industrial uses along Berwyn Street.
The high rate of walking access suggests that perhaps patrons or employees of the
Fashion Outlets or the MB Financial Park are utilizing this Metra station and entering
along Balmoral Avenue.
The O’Hare Transfer Station, also on the North Central Service line, is located in
Chicago, but is bordered by Rosemont immediately to the east and north. The O’Hare
Transfer station does not have any parking facilities, but is located adjacent to
Remote Parking Lot F at O’Hare Airport and O’Hare’s shuttle bus service connects
Parking Lot F to the Airport Transit Service which brings travelers to the terminals.
It is likely that riders accessing the O’Hare Transfer Station using an “Other” mode
pertains to the use of this shuttle service.
Table 9.4. Metra Boardings and Parking
Metra Station
Rosemont
Rail Line
Weekday Boardings,
2006
Parking Capacity, 2012
Parking Utilization, 2006
23
100
40%
North Central Service
O'Hare Transfer Station
North Central Service
106
0
n/a
Mode Share
Mode share refers to the percent of trips taken using various forms of transportation
such as driving alone, biking or taking transit. The table below focuses specifically
on mode share for trips to work. Although a proportion of Rosemont residents that
walk to work is twice as high than the County and 2.5 times higher than region, a
larger percentage of Rosemont residents drive to work. The transit mode share
seems particularly low given Rosemont’s access to the CTA Blue Line and two Metra
Stations. This information, however, is reinforced by the high number of vehicle
miles traveled by Rosemont residents. The percent of people walking to work is
high in Rosemont, likely because many Rosemont residents work in the Village.
It is important to note that residential stakeholders in the northwest part of the
community indicated that many residents in this portion of the Village do not own
cars, so while transit ridership is low, some of the Rosemont population heavily relies
on transit, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the community.
Figure 9.3. SubregionalTransportation Network
Table 9.6. Mode Share, as Percentage of Work Trips
Rosemont
Cook County
Total Workers
100%
100%
Region
100%
Drive Alone
74.8%
62.6%
69.3%
Carpool
7.6%
9.4%
8.9%
Transit
3.7%
17.7%
12.4%
Walk
8.0%
4.3%
3.3%
Other
5.9%
6.0%
6.1%
Source: 2008-12 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
Source: RTAMS
Table 9.5. Metra Mode Access, 2006
Metra
Station
Rail Line
Walked
Drove
Alone
Dropped
Off
Carpool
Bus
Transit
Bike
Other
Rosemont
North
Central
Service
50%
50%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
O'Hare
Transfer
Station
North
Central
Service
38%
0%
0%
0%
26%
0%
0%
38%
Source: RTAMS
Taxi Services and Car Sharing
Taxi or Dial-a-Ride services can also provide needed transportation services to those
that do not own a car. Stakeholders indicated that taxis are frequently utilized in the
entertainment district, near the Convention Center and for events at the Allstate
Arena. Residents in the northwest part of the Village, however, expressed a desire
for increased taxi presence in this portion of the community, where many residents
do not have access to a car. Leyden Township does operate a Dial-a-Ride service
in partnership with Pace that is available to the general public, but its services are
limited to Leyden Township and a few select shopping and medical destinations
outside the township. In addition, the hours of operation are limited to Monday
through Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm. Maine Township does not provide a Dial-a-Ride
service. Pace also operates an ADA Paratransit service for those with disabilities or
health conditions that are certified with the Regional Transportation Authority. There
are also a total of five car share vehicles located at the Rosemont Blue Line station,
three of which are Zipcars and two of which are Enterprise car share vehicles.
38
Bicycling and Walking
Figure 9.4. Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes, 2005-2012
Figure 9.5. Regional Greenways andTrails
Non-motorized transportation is an important component of mobility and access and
can have a large impact on the health, safety, and character of Rosemont.
Sidewalks and Pedestrian Crossings
A number of local stakeholders indicated that the quality and presence of sidewalks
in the community is a concern. Furthermore, stakeholders mentioned the need for
improved pedestrian crossings, particularly on main arterials such as River Road
and Higgins Road where cars travel at high rates of speed and pedestrians often
run across the street to cross. Police services are often used to facilitate traffic and
pedestrian flows during large events at the Allstate Arena and in congested areas
including along Balmoral Avenue between the MB Financial Park and the Fashion
Outlets of Chicago. As shown in Table 9.7, there are currently plans to build a
pedestrian overpass along Balmoral Avenue to improve pedestrian flow from the
Fashion Outlets of Chicago to parking facilities and the MB Financial Park.
¦
¨
§
294
¦
¨
§
90
2
I
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Figure 9.4 shows the most recent data on pedestrian and bike crashes in Rosemont,
showing that there are a number of areas of concern, including the intersection of
Mannheim Road and Lunt Avenue (near the Allstate Arena), along Devon Avenue,
and Higgins Road. Touhy Avenue, while not entirely within the Village limits, has also
seen a large number of bicycle and pedestrian crashes. Residential areas, including
in the northwest portion of the community and within the single family residential
neighborhood in the central part of the Village, have seen more bicycle crashes than
pedestrian crashes. Arterials and collectors, on the other hand, have seen more
pedestrian crashes.
Trail
¦
¨
§
Plain
es R
iver
190
2
I
Bicycle path
Des
Bike Routes and Trails
There are no existing bike routes in Rosemont. The Forest Preserve District of Cook
County to the east of Rosemont is a recreational asset to Rosemont and contains
the Des Plaines River Trail, a gravel trail. However, the bicycle and pedestrian
connectivity from the Village of Rosemont to the Des Plaines River Trail is lacking.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County, with the help of CMAP, is currently
conducting a Municipal Connections Case Study to identify key connections between
the trail system and adjacent municipalities. The study will include a discussion
of improved access from Rosemont to the Des Plaines River Trail. Additionally, the
2009 CMAP Greenways and Trails Plan calls for a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over
the Des Plaines River at Bryn Mawr Avenue to connect Rosemont to the Des Plaines
River Trail and Catherine Chevalier Woods. This proposal and other information
to be released in the Municipal Connections Case Study may provide Rosemont
with an opportunity to collaborate with the Forest Preserve District of Cook
County to enhance the trails and bike routes in the community. With a multitude of
interstates and major arterials, biking is currently a challenge in Rosemont and bike
infrastructure is an area that the community has expressed interest in improving.
b
Æ
Bicycle crashes
Pedestrian crashes
2
I
39
Transportation Improvement Programs and
Major Capital Projects
Freight
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is metropolitan Chicago’s agenda
of surface transportation projects. The TIP lists all federally funded projects and
regionally significant, non-federally funded projects programmed for implementation
in the next four years. The TIP is updated and amended regularly through the CMAP
Transportation Committee.
The TIP helps both the transportation community and the general public track the
use of local, state, and federal transportation funds. The TIP also helps Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) members, other transportation implementers, and
planning organizations establish a transportation program that implements the goals
of GO TO 2040.
Table 9.7 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Projects near Rosemont
Project Location
Project Type
Programming Agency
Cost Totals
I-190 (I-90 to Bessie
Coleman)
Resurfacing, Improved
Signage
IDOT – District 1
Division of Highways
Project pending award
I-190 O’Hare Access
Roads (Mannheim Rd to
Cumberland Ave)
Improve Overall Road
Corridor
Chicago Department of
Transportation
$311,015,000
I-90 Jane Addams
Additional Lanes, New
Interchange
Illinois State Toll
Highway Authority
$1,281,614,000
Mannheim Road
(Higgins Rd to Irving
Park Ave)
Extension, New Bridge,
New Interchange
IDOT – District 1
Project pending award
Balmoral Avenue
(Bessie Coleman to East
of Mannheim Rd)
Extension, Interchange
access from Mannheim
to Balmoral
IDOT – District 1 Local
Roads
$10,000,000
Balmoral Avenue
New Pedestrian Facility
– elevated pedestrian
bridge
North Central Council
of Mayors
$500,000
River Road (Rand Rd to
Devon Ave)
Reconstruct/Widen
Road, New Traffic
Signal Timing
IDOT – District 1
$32,630,000
Touhy Avenue
Reconstruct/Repair
Bridge
IDOT – District 1
$1,800,000
Figure 9.6. TIP Projects in and around Rosemont
Rosemont is well-situated in a network of
freight transportation infrastructure with
access to two highways, O’Hare airport, the
nation’s second largest international air cargo
gateway, and rail lines. While manufacturing
and other freight related industries do not
account for a sizeable percentage of those
employed in Rosemont, it is important to
recognize that Rosemont is situated in a
sub-regional freight cluster. Rosemont’s zip
code, 60018, which includes the southern
part of Des Plaines, has a large portion of
employment in the freight and manufacturing
sector with over 8,000 employees devoted to
these industries. The areas west and south of
O’Hare airport also have sizeable employment
in these areas and are considered to have a
regional concentration in fabricated metal
production.
Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning TIP Database (www.cmap.illinois.gov/tip-dashboard). Projects listed as “Active” as of
July 2013.
The I-190 TIP project listed above relates to a number of other projects occurring in
and around I-190 between O’Hare Airport and I-90. These projects include the widening
of Mannheim Road, the Balmoral Avenue extension to O’Hare Airport, resurfacing
and improved signage on I-190 and access improvements to I-190 at Mannheim
and Cumberland. These projects are all programmed by IDOT – District 1 Division
of Highways. Figure 9.6 provided for the locations of TIP projects in and around
Rosemont.
40
Transportation, Employment, and Affordability
As shown in Table 9.8 below, nearly 22% of Rosemont residents work in the City of
Chicago. In addition, almost 21% of residents work in the Village of Rosemont itself,
a large portion of the community, particularly since the population of Rosemont is
small compared to surrounding communities. The high percentage of Rosemont
residents working in Rosemont is largely due to the requirement that Village staff
reside in Rosemont. Neighboring Des Plaines is also a community where a significant
number of Rosemont residents work.
Rosemont is connected to an extensive network of roadways and transit that make
jobs from all over the region accessible to its residents. Figure 9.10 shows that
almost 45% of jobs in the region are located within a 45 minute commute by car from
Rosemont and almost 38% of jobs are located within a 75 minute commute by transit
from Rosemont. These figures are much higher than the average percent of jobs
accessible to Cook County and the Chicago region. Mode share data earlier in this
chapter, however, indicated that relatively few people are using transit to commute to
work even though many jobs are accessible by transit.
Table 9.8. Employment Location of Rosemont Residents, 2011
Total Count
Percentage
Table 9.10. Access to Jobs in the Region, by Travel Mode
Rosemont
Cook County
Region
Regional Jobs Accessible by Automobile*
(absolute number of jobs and percentage
of region’s total jobs)
2,191,213 jobs
44.6%
1,347,947 jobs
27.4%
779,935 jobs
15.9%
Regional Jobs Accessible by Transit**
(absolute number of jobs and percentage
of region’s total jobs)
1,853,774 jobs
37.7%
1,530,158 jobs
31.2%
1,024,108 jobs
20.9%
By Municipality
Chicago
388
21.8%
Rosemont
370
20.8%
Des Plaines
104
5.9%
Elk Grove Village
53
3.0%
Schaumburg
47
2.6%
Arlington Heights
36
2.0%
Other Municipalities
779
43.8%
1,388
78.1%
DuPage County, IL
137
7.7%
Lake County, IL
66
3.7%
186
10.5%
1,777
100%
By County
Cook County, IL
In Other Counties
Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, U.S. Census Bureau
Workers in Rosemont come from all over the seven county region. Over 30% of people
who work in Rosemont live in the City of Chicago, emphasizing the importance of the
transportation link between these two communities. Interestingly, only 2% of workers
in Rosemont live in the Village. Approximately two thirds of Rosemont workers reside
in Cook County, though a large portion also reside in DuPage County which is easily
accessible via I-294, the Tri-State Tollway.
Table 9.9. Residence Location of Workers in Rosemont by Municipality, 2011
Count
Percent
Chicago
5,173
30.3%
Des Plaines
450
2.6%
Rosemont
370
2.2%
Arlington Heights
300
1.8%
10,755
63.1%
Cook County, IL
11,568
67.9%
DuPage County, IL
Other Municipalities
Other Locations
1,970
11.6%
Lake County, IL
933
5.5%
Will County, IL
584
3.4%
Kane County, IL
455
2.7%
McHenry County, IL
399
2.4%
In Other Counties
1,139
6.7%
17,048
100.0%
* Accessible by Automobile = commute time of 45 minutes or less by car
** Accessible by Transit = commute time of 75 minutes or less by bus or train
Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2009. Weighted travel model for roadway and public transportation, with the base
number of Total Jobs in the region estimated to be 4,911,389.
The combined cost of housing and transportation in Rosemont is much lower than
that of the City of Chicago, and particularly that of Cook County and the Chicago
region. While annual transportation costs in Rosemont are higher than that of
Chicago and Cook County, the housing costs in Rosemont are dramatically lower
than Chicago, Cook County, and the region. In Rosemont, average monthly housing
costs amount to approximately $750, about 15% of the area median income, while
the City of Chicago’s housing costs are over $1200 per month, the County’s are over
$1300 per month and the region’s over $1400 per month. Note that data in the table
below uses the area median income of the region as a basis by which to compare costs
across geographic areas. Looking at these two costs together, Rosemont’s housing
and transportation costs amount to about 36% of area median income while Chicago,
Cook County and the region’s combined housing and transportation costs are much
higher.
Table 9.11. Housing & Transportation Costs as Percent of Income per
Household
Housing Costs
as percent of income
Average Monthly Housing Cost
$ / month
Transportation Costs
Annual Transportation Cost
$ / year
“H+T” Costs
Rosemont
City of Chicago
Cook County
Chicago MSA
15.0%
25.2%
26.8%
28.2%
$752.32
$1,265.85
$1,343.80
1,414.40
21.2%
17%
19.6%
21.8%
$12,807.52
$10,248.99
$11,799.13
$13,152.74
36.2%
42.2%
46.3%
45.0%
Source: CNT, “H+T Affordability Index”: http://htaindex.cnt.org/map/
Note: Red text indicates that the percentage exceeds the standard threshold of affordability: 30% for housing costs and 45% for housing and
transportation costs combined.
Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, U.S. Census Bureau
41
Chapter Highlights
This chapter provides information on Rosemont’s green infrastructure, which includes parks, open areas, and water resources.
Information was obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR), the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), and the Village of Rosemont.
Water
Land
Energy
• The Village continues to make significant investments in Rosemont’s
• Despite limited land ownership, the Rosemont Park District works closely
• A majority of Rosemont’s energy consumption comes from
stormwater infrastructure that has historically caused and continues
to cause concern for residents and businesses. The Village has spent over
$10 million in the last 20 years on flood control measures, including building a
reservoir at O’Hare Airport and constructing a 5,000-foot flood wall.
Watersheds, Floodplains, and Flood Control Measures
with the Village and Des Plaines Park District to ensure that residents have
access to a great variety of recreational programs, amenities, and facilities.
Parks and Open Space in Rosemont
¤
n
commercial and industrial users.
120 Energy Consumption by Sector
§
¦
¨
294
Weller CreekDes Plaines River
Watershed
$1,400
100
§
¦
¨
$1,200
294
1
80
¤
n
§
¦
¨
95%
IN
90
2
3
92% Commercial
& Industrial
60
40%
71%
008$
006$
40
Willow Creek
004$
Flood wall
O’Hare Reservoir
20
Flood walls along Willow Creek
¤
n
4
0
Willow Creek
Watershed
Pump stations
5
2
I
b
Æ
Rosemont
8%
8
11
7
Des Pl a
in
§
¦
¨
294
¤
n
es
Rosemont
10
R
Cook County
Natural gas
Natural Gas
Electricity
b
Æ
60%
29%
Residential
Cook County
ive
r
190
Bensenville DitchDes Plaines River
Watershed
Village stormwater
intervention
90
5%
9
§
¦
¨
¤
n
100-year floodplain
§
¦
¨
002$
Electricity
6
b
Æ
$1,000
Cost per household
Rosemont
Cook County
Electricity
$973
$828
Natural gas
$314
$1,274
Parks and Facilities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Á
9.
10.
11.
Lake Opeka (Des Plaines; not part
of Rosemont Park District)
Barry Recreation Center
Sunset Park
Stephens Park #2 (Des Plaines)
Stephens Park
Burgermeister Park
Margaret J. Lange Park
Stephens Island
Ruby Street Park
Dunne Park
Monument Park
Á
§
¦
¨
190
2
I
Parks and open space
Undevelopable clear zone
Stephens Island and Burgermeister Park
43
Key Findings
• A significant majority of Rosemont’s energy consumption comes
from the commercial and industrial users. 95% of total electricity
use and 92% of total natural gas use are devoted to commercial and
industrial activities in the Village. In comparison, residential uses
account for a much larger share of the County’s energy consumption,
particularly for natural gas.
Water Resources
Watershed
As part of the greater Des Plaines River Watershed, Rosemont is primarily
located within two sub-watersheds: the Willow Creek Watershed and the
Bensenville Ditch-Des Plaines Watershed. A small portion of northwestern
Rosemont also lies within the Weller Creek-Des Plaines River Watershed.
Rosemont has two water bodies: Willow Creek, which runs from the west
and through the gated community, and the Des Plaines River, which runs
along the Village’s eastern border. Although Willow Creek is channelized in
many places, Rosemont residents can access a walking path along the Creek
within the gated community. The larger Des Plaines River is accessible
through Forest Preserve trails.
Flooding
Several areas in Rosemont lie within the 100-year floodplain of Willow Creek
and Des Plaines River. Several residents and businesses identified flooding
as a key issue, particularly for homes along Willow Creek. Homeowners
reported experiencing flooding in their yards and basements after recent
major storms and using sand bags and basement pumps to minimize water
damage.
Des Plaines
River
Watershed
¦
¨
§
94
¦
¨
§
Des Plaines
39
¤
n
¦
¨
§
90
§
¦
¨
IN
!
90
¦
¨
§
290
¦
¨
§
88
¦
¨
§
94
The April storm event did, however, impact commercial businesses adjacent
to the Des Plaines River. A portion of the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Donald
E. Stephens Convention Center, which lie within Des Plaines River’s 100year floodplain, experienced flooding in the hotel’s parking lot. To prevent
such occurrences in the future, the Village is exploring the construction of a
concrete flood wall behind the hotel and portion of the Convention Center.
The planned wall will stretch from the I-90 expressway on the north to the
Convention Center, running along the river. The Village has applied for a
$500,000 state grant to fund the project, and has pledged to cover all costs
over this amount. Similar floodwall projects are being planned or under
construction along other sections of the Des Plaines River in Prospect
Heights and Mount Prospect. Because flood control measures have larger
regional impacts, the Village may want to explore opportunities to cooperate
with other municipalities to effectively mitigate flooding across the
watershed.
Water Quality Reports
While the Village’s drinking water quality meets required standards,
increased urbanization in Rosemont and the sub-region has negatively
impacted the water quality of Willow Creek and the Des Plaines River. Both
waterways are on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of impaired
waterways. The Des Plaines River’s poor water quality is mainly due to runoff
from combined sewer overflows and impervious surfaces such as roadways
and built structures. Factors impairing the water quality of Willow Creek
include the channelization of the stream, increased urbanization, and the
lack of riparian vegetation to help filter pollutants in the runoff that flows
into the Creek.
¦
¨
§
294
¦
¨
§
355
Willow Creek
Flood wall
O’Hare Reservoir
¦
¨
§
80
¦
¨
§
¦
¨
§
57
55
¤
n
O’Hare
International
Airport
Park Ridge
Pump stations
Willow Creek
Watershed
r
works closely with the Village and Des Plaines Park District
to ensure that residents have access to a great variety of
recreational programs, amenities, and facilities. Approximately
50 acres of undeveloped land are devoted to O’Hare Airport’s Runway
Clear Zones, making them unavailable to residents. The Park District
and Village work closely together to manage and operate 28.3 acres
of parks and recreational space in the Village. To overcome this
limited open space issue, Park District officials have entered into
intergovernmental agreements with the School District and Des Plaines
Park District. Shuttle services facilitate transportation to and from
activities, making parks, open spaces, and athletic and recreational
programming more accessible for residents living in and around
Rosemont.
§
¦
¨
Weller CreekDes Plaines River
Watershed
b
Æ
§
¦
¨
90
b
Æ
ive
• Despite limited land ownership, the Rosemont Park District
¤
n
294
in
investments in stormwater, which has historically caused and
continues to cause concern for residents and businesses. The 100year floodplains for Willow Creek and Des Plaines River cover several
commercial and residential properties, with the result that flooding
is a recurring issue. Coupled together with several new large-scale
developments that have increased impervious surfaces communitywide, stormwater management is a priority issue for the Village. The
Village has spent over $10 million in the last 20 years on flood control
measures, which include building a reservoir at O’Hare Airport and
constructing a 5,000-foot floodwall. While these efforts have helped,
additional measures are required at a watershed and regional level.
Figure 10.1. Watersheds, Floodplains, and Flood Control Measures
§
¦
¨
190
b
Æ
es
R
Des Pl a
• The Village continues to make significant infrastructure
The Village has undertaken improvements in excess of $10 million over the
last 20 years to address flooding. In the early 1990s, Rosemont entered into
an agreement with O’Hare Airport to help finance and construct a reservoir
as part of the O’Hare Modernization Program. Although the reservoir was
to be located at the airport, it would help alleviate flooding in surrounding
communities, including Rosemont. The agreement also called for Rosemont
to install a flood wall along Willow Creek as a supplementary flood control
measure. Construction of the flood wall, which stretches for about 5,000
lineal feet from West Higgins Road to the Tri-state Tollway, began in 1992
and ended in 2009. In addition, the Village installed a stormwater pumping
station in 2009 near the Park District’s main facility on Graff Drive. These
measures have alleviated flooding to a certain extent with no recent reports
of residential flooding, including after the major storm event in April 2013.
¤
n
Bensenville DitchDes Plaines River
Watershed
Schiller Park
Norridge
§
¦
¨
294
¤
n
Table 10.1. Water Quality and Impairments in Rosemont
Waterway (Water ID)
Impairment
Sources
Use Attainment
Priority
Des Plaines River
(IL_G-15)
Dissolved oxygen,
polychlorinated
biphenyls,
chloride, mercury,
fecal coliform,
sedimentation/
siltation
CSO, road runoff (nonconstruction related),
municipal point
source discharges,
urban runoff/storm
sewers, atmospheric
deposition – toxics
Does not support
aquatic life, fish
consumption, or
primary contact
Low
Phosphorus, alteration
in stream-side or
littoral vegetative
covers, and loss of
instream cover
Channelization, loss
of riparian habitat,
municipal (urbanized
high density area),
municipal point source
discharge
Does not support
aquatic life. Not
assessed for other
uses.
Willow Creek (IL_GO-01)
100-year floodplain
Village stormwater
intervention
Low
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2014 Total Maximum Daily Load Section 303d List
Water Supply
The Village of Rosemont receives all of its drinking water from Lake Michigan
through a purchase agreement with the City of Chicago.
44
Land Resources
The Rosemont Park District is mostly coterminous with Village boundaries, but
extends slightly larger to include Stephens Park #2, located just across the border
in Des Plaines. The Rosemont Park District offers many recreational and athletic
activities to Village residents. The Park District’s main building is located in the
gated community on Scott Street, although the Park District also uses gym and pool
facilities at the Rosemont Elementary School through a sharing agreement. The gated
community has one central park (Margaret J. Lange Park) and three smaller parks
(Burgermelster, Ruby, and Stephens Park) that provide green spaces, athletic fields,
and walking paths.
Because Rosemont’s other residential neighborhoods outside of the gated community
are spread across the Village, many residents do not have easy pedestrian access
to the main facilities and parks in the gated community. To better serve all of the
residential areas, the Park District has a secondary location at the Barry Recreation
Center that serves the predominantly Latino neighborhood near Allstate Arena
who are otherwise disconnected from the main facility and programs. The Barry
Recreation Center offers residents athletic programs, such as basketball, soccer,
aerobics, and karate, as well as classes for computer skills, English as a second
language (ESL) and general education development (GED) certifications. The Center
also serves as a gathering place for neighborhood seasonal events. During summer
sessions, the Park District runs shuttle buses from the Barry Recreation Center to the
main location for access to the pool and other programming. The Park District also
oversees additional parks (Stephens Island, Dunne Park, and Monument Park) near
the condominiums and apartment complexes off of Devon and Higgins.
The the Rosemont Park District also works closely with the Des Plaines Park District
to coordinate programming and service provision relating to recreation and open
spaces. One example of their cooperative relationship is regarding the municipality’s
land provision for park space. All but one of Rosemont’s parks and recreational
facilities are owned by the Village, but managed by the Park District. Only Ruby Park,
located next to Rosemont Elementary School, and Margaret J. Lange Park, the site of
the main Park District facility, are Park District-owned. Altogether, the Park District
manages 28.8 acres of park and recreational spaces.
Beyond land provision, the Village also permits
the Park District to use school buses and event
equipment from the Allstate Arena and Convention
Center. Beyond coordination within Village
borders, the Park District also has a sharing
agreement with the Des Plaines Park District,
allowing Rosemont residents to enjoy mutual rates
for all Park District programs in the neighboring
Village. These intergovernmental agreements have
allowed the Park District to find creative solutions
to provide a wide range of activities and programs
despite only owning three parcels of park space.
Regional Open Space
In addition to the Park District’s parks and open
space network, the Forest Preserve District of
Cook County has large land holdings adjacent
to the Village along the Des Plaines River Trail.
The following preserves are located within
approximately two miles of Rosemont:
•
•
•
•
•
iver Trail
laines R
Des P
Figure 10.2. Regional Open Space and Trails
Iroquois
Woods
Chippewa
Woods
Dam No.
4 Woods East
Catherine Chevalier Woods
Dam No. 4 Woods - East
Chippewa Woods
Iroquois Woods
Robinson Woods - South
Catherine
Chevalier
Woods
Table 10.2. Acreage and Ownership of Recreational Facilities and Park Spaces
Park/Facility
Acreage
Owner
Barry Recreation Center
1.3
Village of Rosemont
Sunset Park
1.3
Village of Rosemont
Stephens Park
1.6
Village of Rosemont
Stephens Island
0.2
Village of Rosemont
Monument Park
1.0
Village of Rosemont
Dunne Park
8.5
Village of Rosemont
Burgermeister Park
2.2
Village of Rosemont
Margaret J. Lange Park
6.1
Ruby Park
1.5
Stephens Park #2
4.6
Total
28.3
Robinson
Woods South
Source: Village of Rosemont data and CMAP GIS analysis.
45
Energy and Emissions
Growing rates of energy consumption and resulting greenhouse gas emissions have
significant impacts on human and environmental health. Enacting energy efficiency
measures can not only improve the quality of the environment, but also lower energy
costs for residents. The following section provides a breakdown of Rosemont’s energy
consumption in comparison to the surrounding region.
Electricity Usage
In 2007, Rosemont consumed nearly 286 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity,
95% of which came from commercial and industrial uses. Residential uses only
account for 5% of all electricity consumption. In contrast, the proportion of electricity
used for residential purposes is much higher in the County at 29%.
Within the residential sector, an average Rosemont household uses more and spends
more on electricity than an average Cook County household. The price difference
may be attributed to the building square footages or the presence and efficiency of air
conditioning, lighting, and other appliances.
Table 10.3. Electricity Use in Rosemont (kWh), 2007
Rosemont
Percent Total kWh
kWh
Percent Total kWh
Residential Uses
14,265,140
5%
14,915,965,265
29%
Commercial and
Industrial Uses
271,656,287
95%
35,664,503,040
71%
Total
285,921,427
100%
50,580,468,305
100%
Source: CNT, Rosemont Energy Emissions Profile
Table 10.4. Residential Electricity Consumption and Costs, 2007
Average kWh per Household
Average Annual Cost per Household
Source: CNT, Rosemont Energy and Emissions Profile
Transportation
Transportation is typically the second largest source of energy consumption after
buildings. In 2007, the total number of miles traveled by cars on Rosemont roads
amounted to over 29 million miles. On average, households in Rosemont drive more
than those in Cook County, but less than those in the region. The number of vehicle
miles (VMT) traveled varies depending on access to jobs, proximity of businesses
and amenities, access to public transit, and the walkability of the community,
among other factors. Despite the Village’s multimodal transit linkages, Rosemont’s
development is automobile-oriented. The annual VMT in the Village is 22% higher
than in the County.
Despite the fact that 93% of Village’s housing stock was built between 1940 and
1960, which usually means reduced insulation and low energy efficiency, Rosemont
residents consume 3.5 times less and spend 4.5 times less on natural gas bills on
average than Cook County residents. While some of this low cost may be due to the
fact that, in comparison to Cook County, Rosemont has a much higher proportion
of multifamily buildings, which tend to have lower heating needs and costs per
household, CMAP is looking into additional factors contributing to this low cost.
Table 10.7. Total Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled per Household
Cook County
kWh
Number of Households
Natural Gas Consumption
In northeastern Illinois, natural gas is typically used for space heating, water heating,
and cooking. Recent improvements in natural gas extraction technology, along
with the growth of the natural gas sector as a low-emission alternative to coal, have
led nationwide decreases in natural gas prices. In 2007, Rosemont consumed over
six million therms of natural gas. Similar to the Village’s electricity profile, 92% of
natural gas consumption in Rosemont occurred in the commercial and industrial
sectors, while only 8% came from residential uses. These figures are dramatically
different from Cook County, where commercial and industrial uses account for 40%
of consumption.
Rosemont
Cook County
1,578
1,939,190
9,041
$973
7,692
Table 10.5. Natural Gas Use in Rosemont (Therms), 2007
Rosemont
Cook County
Therms
Percent Total Therms
Therms
Percent Total Therms
Residential Uses
495,276
8%
2,191,453,638
60%
Commercial and
Industrial Uses
5,508,990
92%
1,442,823,862
40%
Total
6,004,266
100%
3,634,277,500
100%
Source: CNT, Rosemont Energy Emissions Profile
Table 10.6. Residential Natural Gas Consumption and Costs, 2007
$828
Number of Households
Average kWh per Household
Average Annual Cost per Household
Source: CNT, Rosemont Energy and Emissions Profile
Annual VMT per
household
Rosemont
City of Chicago
Cook County
Chicago MSA
16,705
13,650
15,780
18,272
Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, “H+T Affordability Index” http://htaindex.cnt.org/map/
Emissions
Rosemont’s small resident population and large commercial footprint results in
relatively high per capita emissions. At 64metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
(MT CO2e), Rosemont’s per capita emissions are more than four times higher
than the County’s. The table below shows the breakdown of overall emissions in
Rosemont by source. Electricity, which primarily comes from coal-fired power plants
in this region, is responsible for nearly 80% of Rosemont’s emissions.
Table 10.8. Rosemont’s Emissions by Sector, 2007
Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent
Percent of Total Emissions
Electricity
.200
79%
Natural Gas
.032
13%
Transportation
.015
6%
1%
Rosemont
Cook County
Solid Waste
.003
1,578
1,939,190
Product Use
.002
1%
314
1,130
Waste Water
.001
0%
$279
$1,274
Total
.253
100%
Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology Rosemont Emissions and Energy Profile
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) authored the “MUNICIPALITY Energy and Emissions Profile” that examined energy consumption, vehicle
miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions at a community-wide scale. This report was part of the Municipal Energy Profile Project (MEPP) that included
the development of profiles for over 270 municipalities in the Chicago metropolitan region. The profiles serve as a baseline from which communities can
develop more specific strategies and accurately measure progress in achieving reductions in energy consumption and emissions. The MEPP Guidebook
examined both municipal and community scale best practices for strategies in energy and transportation. The project was funded by the Illinois Clean
Energy Community Foundation, and data partners included ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas and the Illinois Department of Transportation.
46
The existing conditions report has identified key issues and opportunities with respect to Rosemont’s physical and economic environment. The Comprehensive Plan will utilize
this extensive information to formulate recommendations for Rosemont’s sustainable growth. Based on the data compiled, a few key issues emerged. This section identifies those
key topic areas of the Comprehensive Plan, although it should be noted that the following summary does not include all issues that will be addressed in the Plan.
Alleviating Traffic Congestion
Balancing Redevelopment with Infrastructure Capacity
Reducing the Impact of Flooding
Vehicular congestion was identified as the foremost issue by a majority of
stakeholder groups reached out to during the existing conditions analysis. The Plan
will explore, but not be limited to, the following issues and potential solutions:
The Village’s economic success has unfortunately also exacerbated its transportation
and infrastructure concerns. Looking forward, the Comprehensive Plan will
emphasize the need to balance Rosemont’s desire for new development with the
capacity of existing infrastructure and the capability of the Village to upgrade that
infrastructure. Potential recommendations include the following:
Many stakeholders identified flooding as a major concern through the public outreach
process. While the Village has undertaken notable flood control measures that have
helped to alleviate those issues, Rosemont will still have to contend with stormwater
runoff as the community continues to urbanize and as precipitation patterns in the
region are expected to increase significantly. The Comprehensive Plan will include
some key recommendations on addressing flooding and stormwater through policies
and infrastructure alike.
• Improve roadway connectivity: The limited number of local roads that
connect different parts of the community to one another puts significant
pressure on a few rights-of-way. The Plan will explore new roadway connections,
both east-west and north-south, that could relieve traffic congestion by offering
drivers alternative routes to get to their destination.
• Create a safer bicycle and pedestrian environment: A safer non-motorized
transportation environment will allow residents, workers, and visitors to avoid
vehicular trips that are walkable distances, but are unsafe for one reason or
another. The Plan will outline policies that could be implemented Villagewide, highlight potential bicycle connections for residents and businesses
within the Village, recommend physical improvements at major points of
pedestrian-vehicular conflict, and discuss multi-jurisdictional efforts to improve
non-motorized access for employees regularly driving into Rosemont from
neighboring communities.
• Improve transit use and access: The Regional Transportation Authority
(RTA) is undertaking a study to improve transit and pedestrian access to the
CTA Blue Line Rosemont station and multi-modal transfer point. The study will
look at ways to reduce conflicts between different transportation modes, making
circulation in and around the station smoother. In addition to incorporating
recommendations from the study, the Comprehensive Plan will outline
additional Village-wide strategies to increase transit ridership, expand the
network to underserved areas, incentivize public transit use, and reduce traffic
congestion by eliminating some round trips.
• Identify vacant/underutilized sites and evaluate alternative uses: In
order to understand future development potential, the Plan will recommend
the Village begin by identifying vacant and underutilized sites that qualify for
redevelopment. Once this inventory has been completed, the Village should
undertake a feasibility analysis to understand the impact of future development
on infrastructure, traffic, open space, and Rosemont residents. It is critical for the
Village to explore alternative uses for some sites in order to maintain a balance
between economic development and sustainable growth.
• Create Community Investment Plan for infrastructure improvements:
The Plan will recommend the creation of a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) by
the Public Works Department that will outline major infrastructure projects to be
undertaken in the Village in a 5-year timeframe. The CIP will contain information
on how specific improvements will be funded and each project’s phasing.
Creation of a CIP will allow the Village to realistically determine its capability to
service new development and also budget for infrastructure upgrades in a timely
and responsible manner.
• Engaging in multi-jurisdictional collaboration: Rosemont lies on three
watersheds and experiences flooding in both residential and commercial
areas. Given that the flow of water does not align with political boundaries, the
Comprehensive Plan will emphasize addressing flood control through multijurisdiction coordination in cooperation with school districts, park districts,
neighboring communities, and Cook County.
• Enacting regulatory measures: While the Village has invested in several
stormwater control measures, there is a need to revisit existing ordinances
and policies related to stormwater management and new construction. The
Comprehensive Plan will outline innovative practices to improve on-site
stormwater capture based upon best practices in MWRD’s Stormwater
Ordinance.
• Upgrading infrastructure: The creation of a CIP will include upgrades to
stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding in residential areas.
• Increase signage and wayfinding: Stakeholders identified the lack of proper
signage and wayfinding as a contributing factor in traffic congestion. Rosemont
welcomes a large number of visitors on a daily basis for entertainment and
business purposes. Visitors’ limited knowledge of the community, combined with
the irregular and complex network of roadways that can be disorienting, often
results in additional vehicle miles traveled. A signage and wayfinding program
will be outlined in the Plan to help visitors get to their destination in an efficient
manner. Signage types and location, as well as destinations to be highlighted, will
be outlined in this section.
47
Funding Acknowledgement
This project was supported through CMAP’s Local Technical
Assistance (LTA) program, which is funded by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the Chicago Community
Trust. The Village of Rosemont and CMAP would like to thank these
funders for their support for this project.
233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60606
312 454 0400
[email protected]
www.cmap.illinois.gov

Rosemont Comprehensive Plan Existing Conditions Report

Transcription

Similar documents

Zanies $5.00 Coupon (Version 2)

FOOD SCRAP DIVERSION

No Work, All Play!

Read the complaint file - Better Government Association

WOODGROVE FESTIVAL

Offham Parish Council “Our Village” photo competition

VM - Village Market