Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

No Big Business Boost On Argyle Yet, But Residents Feel Much More Safe

By Josh McGhee | November 15, 2016 9:47am
 The mayor officially announced the opening of the streetscape at the beginning of November.
The mayor officially announced the opening of the streetscape at the beginning of November.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Josh McGhee

UPTOWN — In the months since the new Argyle streetscape was finished, businesses are not seeing much in terms of economic gains — but it sure is easier to get around.  

The city's first shared street, a plaza-like area that stretches three blocks from Broadway to Sheridan Road, has been open since the end of August and had an official opening ceremony led by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in November.

"It's better than before, but November is still slow [with] not too much traffic," said Hien Ngo, owner of Haiyen Vietnamese Cuisine at 1055 W. Argyle St. "The street looks much better though. I love it."

Ruong Nguyen, owner of VN Tofu and Fast Food, 1024 W. Argyle St., said "nothing has changed."

"It's still the same," Nguyen said.

At Cafe Hoang, 1020 W. Argyle St., they've seen about a small increase in new customers.

"We definitely wanted to have more customers, but with the winter coming we don't know" if it'll keep up, said owner Sinh Doan, adding that they've seen about a two percent boost.

While the traffic increase is welcome, resolving the quality-of-life issues has been huge, Doan said.

"The street is better than before because the police stand around it," Doan said. "The homeless and panhandlers are almost gone."

It's been over three years since the city first placed signs along the portion of Uptown introducing the city's first shared street.

The project orchestrated by the Chicago Department of Transportation involved raising the roadway, eliminating curbs, adding decorative pavement and creating a plaza-like effect making the street ADA accessible, according to a news release for the opening.

"This project creates an area that is more walkable, more sustainable and has a greater sense of place for the community. Whether you are walking, biking, driving or using public transit, we want all modes of transportation to be safe to use and accessible for all Chicagoans," Emanuel said.

When the street reopened to two-way traffic in September, the parking situation confused many, to the point CDOT decided to make an instructional video.

It also includes a number of green elements and updating infrastructure with more efficient streetlights, the use of permeable pavers (which allow liquids to pass through) and "infiltration planters that are designed to soak up rainwater," the release said.

Argyle Street is also now one of four streets in Chicago using pilot programs sensors provided to monitor the performance of the green infrastructure. The sensors provide real time information about water management capabilities, the release said.

"Incorporating the green technologies that we see here benefits our residents today, and provides a model for future sustainable collaborations," said Barrett Murphy, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Water Management.

"The partnership created on this project helps all of us better understand how working together we can resolver problems with integrated solutions," he said.

The project involved local merchants and residents coming together through "an extensive community engagement process." And the streetscape has spurred more visitors and also encouraged business owners like Ngo to "spruce up" their storefronts exteriors, said Ald. Harry Osterman (48th).

"We have already seen broader use of the streets as a gathering place and the new streetscape is spurring local businesses to spruce up their storefronts," he said.

One thing still missing from the streetscape is balanced parking, which would add to traffic on the east side of Argyle, Ngo said. One of the only parking lots for the area is located at 5026 N. Broadway.

"Traffic is only looking west," she said, adding some of storefronts on east side have been vacant for years and could be used to create parking for the businesses. "That's very important to me and everyone says it's a good idea."

The project builds on Argyle's strengths as a retail and transit hub, said CDOT commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld.

Its design "prioritizes safety [and] lays the foundation for economic development and enhances quality of life," she said.

While the area "looks safer than before, but nothing is for sure," Ngo said.

Sinh Doa and Huang Do, owners of Cafe Hoang at 1020 W. Argyle St. [Courtesy of Axis Lab]

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.