Downtown Master Plan: (2) West Shoreline Multi-Family

• Editor's Note: On June 27, the city of Geneva held a meeting to unveil the first draft of its . The plan identifies seven site opportunities for development. This series spotlights each opportunity site and says what present structures would be replaced.

Development Concept Overview

The development concept for this opportunity site is to provide new multi-family and single-family attached residential development in the Downtown in a manner that is sensitive to the established residential neighborhood while taking advantage of the proximity to the Fox River and the opportunities for increased building height provided by the elevation change between the river and First Street.

What's There Now

A former bottling company occupies the corner of Stevens Street and River Lane. There are older homes and apartments along River Lane, with an undeveloped area along the riverbank.

Desired Use

The desired use for this development opportunity site is multi-family and single-family attached residential. Ideally it would consist of row houses (2-1⁄2- to 3-story single-family attached) along First Street with multi-story condominium/apartment developments along River Lane. Residential uses are best suited for this area, as commercial uses at this location would likely not be market viable or desired by the nearby residential neighborhood. Additional residential development in the Downtown was noted throughout the planning process as being desirable, and this location is very accommodating. The larger condominium/multi- family buildings could accommodate a variety of residential types, including owner-occupied, rental, senior housing, and more.

Potential Adaptive Re-Use

This opportunity site recognizes the potential and desirability of adaptively reusing the existing commercial bottling building on Site 3. Consideration should be given to reusing the structure for a new appropriate commercial use if the opportunity arises. Any redevelopment of the area should accommodate such an adaptive reuse if one is proposed that is compatible with the surrounding uses.

Development Pattern

The desired development pattern for this site takes into consideration existing uses and maximizes the benefit of grade change and proximity to the river. The general pattern of development that is recommended is to locate the rowhouses along First Street, adjacent and across from existing single-family homes, and then strategically use the change in elevation for increased density. Heading east, the opportunity exists for more intense multi-family residential 1 development along the river in a manner consistent with the existing multi-family residential development along River Lane between Peyton Street and Ford Street.

Parking, Access, and Circulation

Parking for the development concept has been designed to minimize the visual impact of the parking lots, allowing the building architecture to be showcased instead. Enclosed, attached parking for the rowhouses is accessed via a rear alley and parking for the larger multi-family buildings is provided in enclosed structured parking located in the bottom portions of the buildings. No curb cuts are proposed along River Lane or 1st Street for any portion of the development. Alleys and parking area driving aisles run parallel to River Lane and 1st Street, with access provided from Ford Street, Stevens Street, and North Street extended.

SOURCE: City of Geneva Downtown/Station Area Master Plan prepared by Houseal Lavigne Associates