Downtown Master Plan: (7) Metra Station Area Opportunity Concept

• 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 additional parking for commuters, additional commercial/retail along Third Street, and new residential development opportunities along South Street and Fourth Street, all in a manner that maintains the overall desired character of the area while providing for the future increase in Metra ridership and the better utilization of key sites near the station.

What's There Now

A few gas stations along First Street, parking behind the new multi-use building on the west side of Third Street, and older commercial businesses are in this area now. 

Retail Development/Southern Gateway

An objective of this concept is to provide new retail development integrated into the new parking structure south of the tracks in the area bounded by Third Street, Illinois 31 and the railroad tracks. The intention is to provide an extension of the retail “streetwall” along Third Street and the corner at Illinois 31. This new retail development, together with the potential for distinctive streetscape and right-of-way improvements (possibly including a roundabout) will create an attractive gateway, welcoming visitors into Downtown Geneva as they travel northbound on Illinois 31.

Roundabout and Pedestrian Overpass

Two new ideas represented in this concept are a roundabout at the intersection of Third Street and Illinois 31 and a pedestrian overpass crossing over Illinois 31 providing safe pedestrian connectivity from any future parking deck located east of Illinois 31. Both ideas will require further engineering study at a later date, but both ideas could significantly improve the circulation and mobility of the area as well as provide opportunities for designs that would make each a contributing component to the area’s unique character and identity.

Structured Parking

Because of the close proximity to the Geneva Metra Station, several properties within this opportunity concept area are recommended for parking decks to accommodate the increasing demand for commuter parking and the overall planned Metra ridership. In addition to the already planned expansion of the existing parking deck, three new deck locations are illustrated in this concept – two south of the tracks flanking both sides of Illinois 31, and another deck south of South Street, behind the retail/mixed-use building fronting on the west side of Third Street. Although the proposed structure north of the station would be a parking structure only, the deck south of the tracks would be integrated into a structure that provided ground floor commercial fronting along Third Street and wrapping around the corner to Illinois 31. Additionally, another deck location is indicated east of Illinois 31 at the location of the existing commuter lot. A pedestrian overpass could also provide a new option for safe passage over Illinois 31 for commuters. For the three new deck concepts shown, the one north of the Metra station is intended for employees, customers, and shoppers, while the two decks south of the tracks are intended to be designated for commuters.

New Residential Development

New residential development opportunities are provided along the south side of South Street between Second Street and First Street, and along the west side of Fourth Street just north of the railroad tracks. In both of these locations the concept illustrates rowhouses, although higher densities could be achieved through the development of appropriately designed multi-family condominium or apartment buildings, providing a wider range of residential options within close proximity of the Metra station and nearby shopping and amenities. Finally, the existing one-story commercial building along the east side of Third Street between Crescent and South, and including the surface lot to the east, are shown as potential for new three-to-four story mixed-use development, including multi-family residential on the upper floors.

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