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The City of Highland Park is thrilled to announce the launch of a planning and design process to develop a Vision and Action Plan for The Lot, The Lot 2.0. Originally introduced as one way to enhance vibrancy in Downtown Highland Park in the summer of 2022, The Lot has already demonstrated its success by hosting a wide range of engaging events such as concerts, fairs, auto shows, and food festivals. Between June and November, the events attracted approximately 22,000 visitors to Downtown Highland Park, and more than 40 Highland Park businesses directly participated. Throughout the year, the City and The Lot event manager, Ripple Public Relations, gathered public and business feedback.
With the goal of attracting a vibrant and diverse crowd, The Lot 2.0 will provide both residents and visitors with an exceptional opportunity to discover and embrace the many offerings of Highland Park. The Vision and Action Plan will explore the creation of outdoor dynamic spaces that facilitate multipurpose events, ultimately enhancing the vibrancy and foot traffic in downtown Highland Park and continuing to positively impact the City’s economic development.
Through this planning and design process, Highland Park seeks to envision and implement innovative ideas that transform The Lot into a dynamic and inclusive destination. This may include the integration of flexible spaces that can adapt to various activities, the incorporation of amenities and facilities to enhance visitor experience, and the curation of a diverse lineup of events that cater to different interests and preferences.
Furthermore, the Vision and Action Plan will address the importance of community engagement and input, ensuring that the development of The Lot aligns with the desires and needs of the Highland Park residents. By involving the community in the decision-making process, the City aims to create a space that truly reflects the unique character and aspirations of Highland Park.
How did The Lot 2.0 originate?
Emerging from the Q3 and Q4 2021 Strategic Plan updates, The Lot 2.0's origins trace back to City-led focus groups via Zoom and community events. These engagements garnered insights from diverse stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and property owners. Their input highlighted a strong desire for a community space hosting special events in Downtown Highland Park.
The core concept of The Lot involves events, entertainment, and strategic marketing to invigorate Highland Park's economy. By drawing in both residents and visitors, it aims to enhance local spending and cultivate a sense of togetherness through thoughtful placemaking. This strategy, recognized for business development, creates unique community spaces fostering vitality and improved quality of life.
The Lot aligns with the City's focus on community vibrancy, nurturing an environment for thriving businesses and attracting future growth and investment.
Was this the only location considered?
Exploring the expansion of the current special events calendar, Highland Park City staff encountered a constraint: the absence of a dedicated event space suitable for accommodating sizable crowds in downtown Highland Park. To address this, the staff assessed various downtown locations that could potentially be transformed into event spaces. Factors taken into account encompassed community and business impact, property redevelopment prospects, financial considerations for the city, comparisons with neighboring initiatives, required planning and development processes, infrastructure requisites (water, electricity, landscaping, seating, safety measures, etc.), sustainability, and accessibility.
Proposals and site plans emerged for the Second Street South Lot and the St. Johns North Lot, with feedback sought from downtown property owners and businesses. The Elm Place/Second Street South Parking Lot proposal was met with 14 objections due to concerns about parking limitations on Second Street and its interference with deliveries and waste services for First Street businesses. No objections arose for the St. Johns Lot proposal. The Downtown Highland Park Alliance also consulted property owners, revealing no objections from their end regarding this location.
The St. Johns lot has the greatest capacity for expansion among the options considered. Its ample space provides a versatile canvas to accommodate a wide range of activities, aligning perfectly with the City's vision for a dynamic and multifunctional space. This choice taps into the site's immense potential, poised to evolve into a thriving hub that caters to diverse community interests and needs.
What about parking?
Regularly monitored by the police, the St. Johns North lot consists of 81 parking spaces in the northern section and 56 in the southern section. Typically, an average of 25-30 vehicles would occupy the combined St. Johns parking lot, which is less than 21% of spaces being utilized. This trend persisted even after the closure of the southern portion in 2022, where we observed a consistent average of 25-30 vehicles utilizing that space. This realization made clear that this asphalt parking lot is extremely underutilized.
In light of this insight, Community Development proposed a review of parking's role as a vital economic development tool for the City. They recommended exploring strategies to accommodate parking needs. The current usage of the North St. Johns Lot clearly shows that it is not operating at its full potential. The regular users of this space could potentially be redirected to a smaller lot on the northern end with a new entrance or directed towards other nearby parking options, including the Central Business District East Lot.
Public feedback expressing a desire to continue events at The Lot, coupled with the aspiration for a permanent park-like event space in Downtown Highland Park, and the understanding of the positive impact The Lot could have on local businesses and occupancy, led the staff to propose the pursuit of a permanent buildout of The Lot.
The Power of Transformation
The potential transformation of the underutilized St. Johns lot envisions a promising opportunity for enhancing the urban fabric of Downtown Highland Park. The Lot 2.0 reimagines this space beyond its current asphalt state, a space that celebrate togetherness.
With a vision rooted in the dynamic integration of Central St., the revitalized version of The Lot could serve as a connector between the east and west, allowing for iconic events to thrive in Downtown Highland Park, much like the community-loved success of Food Truck Thursdays in Ravinia. Through the incorporation of park-like elements, such as inviting shade structures and year-round programming, The Lot can become a vibrant destination that evolves with the seasons.
As the asphalt expanse transforms into a park-like haven, it can cultivate a sense of place, allowing residents and visitors alike to engage, gather, and celebrate. The envisioned transformation not only underscores the power of adaptive placemaking but also showcases the city's commitment to fostering economic vitality, communal unity, and the continuous evolution of its urban identity.
