Lake Forest officials are continuing a review and possible enhancement of Bank Lane in the city’s downtown. However, questions remain on the scope, timing, and costs of any potential upgrade.
For the last few months, the city has engaged the public in an examination of Bank Lane, the approximate half-mile street that runs from Vine Avenue to the south to Wisconsin Avenue to the north in the central business district. While activities exist, there has been a longstanding belief the roadway is underutilized by pedestrians.
“Every time we look at the central business district, people look at Bank Lane and say what an opportunity,” Community Development Director Catherine Czerniak said. “It is such a cool street. Let’s talk about what it could be.”
Czerniak added a refurbishment of Bank Lane has been under discussion for years but never acted on, but that is now changing. Last year, the City Council approved an update of the city’s comprehensive plan listing an enhancement of Bank Lane as one of the goals.
Working with an urban planning group retained for the project, the city has developed two main initial concepts for an overhaul with one more ambitious than the other in terms of reducing vehicular traffic.
Some of the overall ideas for unifying the street include lighting that is more consistent, interesting hardscape materials, the addition of public art, and wider sidewalks.
“In some areas of Bank Lane you almost have to walk single file if you are walking on the sidewalk,” Czerniak said at the September 3 City Council meeting.
She noted the street lends itself as a pedestrian corridor and some of the public input indicated people don’t want Bank Lane to be “too cluttered” and keeping with the character of the central business district.
Another popular idea with the public would be to close off one or more blocks on Bank Lane for special events of outdoor dining.
In response to the city’s review, the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation issued a statement requesting the city take specific actions regarding Bank Lane including on the section from Illinois Road to Deerpath Road with enhanced sidewalks, crossings, paving materials, signage, gateway features and crossings to unite the historic business district on Deerpath.
LFPF also wants to see a “re-imagining” of the street from Wisconsin to Westminster as a pedestrian corridor adding more green space so that it will have features consistent with the nearby Market Square.
LFPF is also calling for development that is consistent with building in the historic business district and staying away from “boxy, monolithic structures with undifferentiated facades and no character.”
As part of the public outreach, the city held a series of public engagement sessions displaying renderings of the two concepts. Attending one of the public session was Linda Serota, an owner of a Bank Lane salon.
Serota liked some of the ideas in the two concepts in terms of greater landscaping but did have some concerns.
“There is not a lot of draw there, there is not a lot of retail,” she said. “I think they need a bigger look at what we are offering there that would draw people.”
Regardless of how the improvements proceed, Czerniak said the overhaul of the street is likely to be completed in phases and each section might have a different approach.
“We recognize each block is very unique and serves at a different function,” she said.
The ongoing Bank Lane review follows a pilot program started last fall, when the city changed the section the stretch of Deerpath to Illinois to one way going south to reduce congestion, improve sightlines and provide additional parking.
It remains unclear if it will remain that way if and when a renovation is finished.
“We don’t know yet,” Czerniak said.
In terms of how much the city would have to pay for the streetscape enhancement, Czerniak said there aren’t any current cost estimates as they could come when has more information on the type of plan the city would pursue.
Finally, Czerniak added whatever changes are selected, some elements could be included in the planned upgrade of Deerpath Road set to start early next year. She said there is no timeline for the larger improvements.
Czerniak said the staff is now in the process of developing final concepts where there will be further opportunities for public input. The concepts will go also go before the Plan Commission and City Council for review, recommendations and approval by council members.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
