The North Fifth Ward Neighborhood Plan was constructed to help improve the area for its residents and surrounding community.

The goal for the plan was to address concerns from the community. The areas of most concern include the appearance of the neighborhood, traffic management, compatibility of single-family and multi-family homes and the possible demolition of older, architecturally interesting structures that would contribute to the character of the neighborhood.

The neighborhood is located east of the Kishwaukee River, west of First Street and north of Lincoln Highway.

The plan dates back to January 2002, when the first meeting was held to discuss the plan. At this meeting, the residents and property owners discussed their likes and dislikes about the plan.

While the plan has yet to be adopted, part of it – the improvement of Miller Avenue – was recommended and finished last year.

“The three main areas are traffic and parking, property maintenance and land use,” said City Planner Ray Keller. “The property maintenance primarily deals with keeping properties well-attended.”

Keller said some examples of property maintenance issues include excessive weekend garbage and weeds. Land use issues involve the community having both single and multi-family homes. Keller said this is how it was intended when DeKalb was first developed 100 years ago.

“Now it has changed because back then, there were no cars and parking wasn’t an issue,” Keller said. “Almost every student has a car now, so there is a parking issue.”

The DeKalb Landmark Commission advises the mayor, city council and residents to make suggestions and offer advice in any matter involving the historic preservation effort.

Donna Gable, chairwoman for the commission, said the neighborhood has connections to the university with having single and multiple-family homes.

“This was the premier place to live a while back when the neighborhood was first developed,” Gable said. “Improvements can be made and property owners and renters can probably agree that they can be made.”

Gable said some residents think the landmark commission will tell residents what to do and how to do it when fixing their residences.

The North Fifth Ward Neighborhood Plan is not the first of its kind. The DeKalb area also had previous plans over the past few years that helped improve Pleasant Street and Greek Row.

The plan will be brought for adoption by the city council at its meeting on Monday.