Design team: Dakota Black, Team Lead | Austin Black | Zach Carlson | Katherine McCarthy | Anthony Crispin, UIUC School of Urban Planning
Program Summary
On the corner of Madison and Washington, there is a small parking lot with a mural wall and lighting. The parking lot is separated by an alley with trees and string lights attached with small pathways for pedestrians and inventory loading. On Front and Roosevelt, there is a pop-up vendor space surrounding a small, central green space. A centerpiece would be a sculpture by a local artist. The green space would also feature movable benches, tables, and chairs. Stalls are occupied by tents, shopping containers, and low-intensity retail space. At Front and Madison, there is a permanent farmer’s market structure, trash receptacle, public restroom, and a green area for seating and dining. There is a small parking lot to the side.
Aerial view of the new Front N Center campus showing parking. 
Green area for seating and dining next to the public restrooms and market structure. 
Pop-up retail space with tables and chairs in the center (public art not shown). 
Farmers market hall allows for more vendor spaces in our bustling downtown. 
Programming and events will activate this public space. 
Alley of trees and string lights that separate the pop-up retail space and the parking lot to the north.
Benefits to the Surrounding Area and City
This scheme emphasizes one-story, low-intensity structures with trees, green space, seating, and public art. This arrangement will make the space feel open and welcoming. Such a welcoming space should draw people downtown for socializing, shopping and dining. Practical amenities such as a small parking lot, trash receptacles, and public bathroom will facilitate maintenance as well as use. String lighting will increase visibility and safety in the alley. The small-scale, low-rent retail spaces would require only modest investment but will allow for a permanent farmers market, micro-retail space, food trucks and workshops. These facilities would provide start-up businesses and small-scale entrepreneurs with affordable storefronts. This arrangement would also be visible and inviting to people attending events at the nearby coliseum.
Financial Viability
These cost estimates were conducted in consultation with professional local real estate developers. As for the viability of this option, the low-intensity group mostly focused on activating these parcels for the public realm. Compared to their use solely as municipal parking lots, this committee believes that opening this space to low-barrier entrepreneurial projects can and will improve the ecosystem of small businesses in the community. This would lead to increased sales tax revenues and eventual rise in property values and streetlife activation in the vicinity.
