News Updates

Austin’s Central Avenue Action Plan released, reimagining a vibrant corridor at the heart of Austin

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), in partnership with Austin Coming Together (ACT), are excited to announce the release of the Austin’s Central Avenue Action Plan for the Austin neighborhood in Chicago.  

The new plan focuses on actionable ways to improve the Central Avenue corridor, re-imagining it as Austin’s main street and unifying the community by connecting commercial corridors, transit stations, schools, and major community assets.   

The Austin’s Central Avenue Action Plan goals include: 

• Creating an attractive, safe public realm for residents and visitors that helps unlock the neighborhood’s development potential.  

• Encouraging development that enhances quality of life and increases opportunities for residents. 

• Building community support and partnerships, identify funding sources, and secure other resources to advance community priorities. 

ACT was awarded CMAP’s 2018 call for projects for technical assistance support to help implement the Austin Forward. Together quality of life plan. The planning assistance specifically focused on the Central Avenue Corridor from Grand Avenue to Roosevelt Road. 

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) was instrumental in the development of the plan’s goals, strategies, and recommendations via their Technical Assistance Panel process, which brought expert voices to the table. To create the final action plan, CMAP conducted robust community engagement, developed clear next steps, identified funding sources, and prioritized the final recommendations and actions to best position ACT for successful implementation of the plan. 

The plan also advances goals from ON TO 2050, the region’s comprehensive plan, including to:  

• Leverage the transportation network to promote inclusive growth for a system that works better for everyone. 

• Improve travel safety for a system that works better for everyone. 

• Invest in disinvested areas for strategic and sustainable development. 

• Build organizational and local government capacity to provide a strong quality of life. 

CMAP thanks the many volunteers, residents, and partners who contributed their time, experience, inspiration, and wisdom, including ACT, the Urban Land Institute, Alderperson Emma Mitts (37^th ward) and her staff, and Alderman Christopher Taliaferro (29^th ward) and his staff.