Re:New DeKalb’s plans for the next five years include strengthening the relationship between NIU and the city’s downtown area.

Re:New DeKalb held an open forum from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at O’Leary’s Restaurant and Pub, 260 East Lincoln Highway, to discuss development plans for the downtown DeKalb area for the next five years.

“What the city charges us of doing is taking a fresh look–the market has changed, the world has changed since 2006 when that plan was written–and to look at some ideas that can be pursued further within a relatively short period in the face of the changing market,” said Ryan Garcia, senior planner for SAA Design Group.

Garcia presented the redevelopment plans with David Schreiber, principal of SAA Design Group. The SAA Design Group and SB Friedman Development Advisors (SBF) presented development opportunities for DeKalb.

“I’m just excited about some of the opportunities for new development,” said Roger Hopkins, economic development consultant for DeKalb. “This is coming at a good time when the economy is on the upswing.”

Some of the proposed plans of development include a partnership with the Huskie Line to establish a free university downtown shuttle and expansion of DeKalb’s on-street bike sharrow network, linking the already existing infrastructure.

“DeKalb City Center will be a regional destination for culture, learning, dining and entertainment, joined with a world class university and surrounded by well-connected desirable neighborhoods,” according to the SAA PowerPoint presentation.

Other proposed plans include partnering with NIU to create a “Communiversity Commons” to establish a neighborhood to link NIU to downtown retailers. SAA and SBF advocate the development of an outdoor public event space.

“We have to start getting a diverse group of businesses downtown that cater to both residents and the college population, and until we do that, I think a lot of these issues are well-intentioned, but they’re not going to solve the problem,”said first ward alderman David Jacobson. SAA and SBF suggested revising DeKalb’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO was implemented in 2007 to promote general welfare for residents through zoning and land use.

“This process was necessary, because when the original revitalization plan was done in 2007, the economy and the market has changed, so it only makes sense to revisit this,” said Derek Hiland, principal planner for DeKalb.

Garcia and Schreiber said there is a need to analyze downtown parking, although Schreiber said he felt parking is not an issue for the downtown area.

Another part of the presentation was the plan to establish a Project Management Team (PMT) to work together and discuss the needs of the downtown area. “I think one of the most exciting things to see is the PMT, where there’s a collaboration between the city and the university,” said Gene Lowery, DeKalb Chief of Police. “To have that collaboration, I think can do things exponentially more than any other.”

There are six proposed areas to be included in this team: Re:New DeKalb, community development organizations, economic development organizations, the city, educational institutions like NIU and Kishwaukee College, civic institutions like the library and park district, and the private sector.

“I think that the two primary focuses for me are the development team, getting those various interests at the table I think is a real opportunity and a major opportunity,” said Mayor-elect John Rey. “I think that connectivity with NIU is a key.”