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City seeks input on Pearl Street Neighborhood Plan
The city has asked for input on the new Pearl Street Neighborhood Plan.
The City of DeKalb held a community meeting to present its plan to renovate the Pearl Street neighborhood. A roomful of DeKalb residents came Thursday to express their interest and problems with the plan.
Paul Rasmussen, economic development and policy administrator for DeKalb, said the plan came forth when the city sent out a survey three years ago and asked how satisfied the residents were in several aspects of DeKalb. The results showed the residents did not feel very good about the community.
Chris Lannert of The Lannert Group said the area from Pearl to First streets and Gurler Street to the train tracks is the target zone for the renovation.
The goal would be to change the old area to create new single-family homes, condos, apartments and commercial areas that would be used as offices, businesses and urban lofts, Lannert said.
Lannert stressed that the plan can always be changed and nothing is set in stone. He also said they would want to save a lot of the existing structures in the area.
“There is still time to input these plans as we move on,” Lannert said. “Even though some of the buildings are 100 years old, they are still in good shape. We would also want to save any existing vegetation.”
Mahender Vasandani, of M Square | Urban Design, said this development could create a lot of opportunities for the community. He said NIU could hold art classes west of Pearl Street to encourage more of an art community to develop.
Vasandani also said that in a survey conducted in the Pearl Street community, many residents expressed interest in the plan.
“A majority of residents say they are moving anyways,” Vasandani said.
Lannert said the timeline for this project could be anywhere from five to 20 years. He said with the housing market struggling right now, developers will be reluctant to come into the neighborhood.
“There’s no market now,” Lannert said. “This won’t happen this year.”
Rasmussen said there is a strong market for retirees and young professionals in this community.
DeKalb resident Carshon Evans said she did not know why they were considering renovating the Pearl Street neighborhood.
“There are many other neighborhoods that need improvements,” Evans said. “I just don’t understand.”
Rasmussen, Lannert and Vasadani stressed throughout the meeting that nothing is set in stone and changes will continually be made to the plan based on residents’ needs.
The plan will be presented to DeKalb City Council in late April or early May.
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