Planning Programs and Projects

A new zoning district called the Uptown Transit-Oriented District was created and formally adopted into the City Zoning Ordinance on June 14, 2012. The new regulations can be found here. Additionally the City participated in a ULI Developer Discussion Panel focused on the 119th Street Station area. A summary of this discussion can be found on the Blue Island Developer Discussion Panel RTAMS page.

In June 2015 a boutique hotel opened in Homewood across from the Metra station. This 18-room hotel also consists of a restaurant/bar and the owners are hopeful that the proximity to Metra will attract commuters to visit and stay in the area. For more information please visit "http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-homewood-hotel-st-0612-20150611-story.html". 

In 2013 the SSMMA received assistance from the RTA (with support from ULI) to solicit guidance, advice and input from the development community on ways to attract TOD investment in the Oak Forest TOD area. This discussion took place on December 10, 2013 and a Summary Report of this discussion can be found below under "Related Studies". 

In 2015, Oak Forest received CMAQ program funding for pedestrian improvements in the Oak Forest station area via the RTA's Access to Transit Program. This project will improve multi-modal access to the station, as well as to Pace Route 383. 

In 2016 SSMMA provided additional funding to Homewood and Oak Forest to advance additional implementation efforts. Oak Forest will use the funds to complete a pro forma analysis and conceptual design review for two mixed-use, multi-family sites adjacent to the Rock Island Metra station. Homewood will use the funds to complete architectural, engineering, and environmental work for 28 proposed residential units, as well as a Science Center, on a currently vacant site near the Homewood Metra station. 

In 2018 Homewood began a marketing campaign to promote the affordability and convenience of living in Homewood. Advertisements were targeted to various Chicago neighborhoods.

The City of Oak Forest continues to focus its economic development efforts towards quality placemaking, transit-oriented development around their Metra station by strategically acquiring dormant properties. In 2019 numerous projects were underway with the largest being Cook County releasing an RFP to begin redevelopment plans for the 129-acre Oak Forest Health Center.

The Final Report was completed in December 2014. The Southwest Conference of Mayors approved the plan on March 31, 2015.

The final plan was approved by the City Council in December 2014.

In July 2016, zoning approval was granted for Fox River Crossing, an affordable senior housing development with 60 apartment units, at the northwest corner of Route 31 and Lawrence. In September of 2017 the developers of Fox River Crossing received federal low income tax credits, which are passed on as below market rents for seniors.

The renovation of Elgin's historic Tower Building, a 22-unit apartment building at the corner of E. Chicago Street and N. Grove Avenue in Downtown Elgin was completed at the end of 2017. Apartments units are currently available to rent.

During 2016 and 2017 the City continued with streetscape improvements along Chicago Street including the installation of a pedestrian crosswalk linking the Metra station with the Pace Transportation Center. In addition, in the summer of 2018 RTA interagency signage will be installed within and adjacent to the station areas to assist passengers making bus and train transfer connections.

Two mixed-use developments, Fountain Square on the River (200 residential units) and River Park Place (180 residential units) were recently built. A downtown festival park was also built and a bike path extension is planned.

The Village's TOD plan continues to encourage development adjacent to the Hanover Park Metra station. A 126 unit townhome development was completed in 2014 and is located approximately 1/4 mile north and within convenient walking distances of the Metra station and connecting Pace bus services (route 554). 

Through the RTA Community Planning Program, the Village participated in a RTA/ULI Developer Discussion Panel to solicit guidance and advice from the development community on ways to attract investment in the TOD area. This panel convened in February 2014 and a summary report of the discussion can be found below in the Study Documents.

In June and July of 2025 the Village of Hanover Park approved two major residential developments in proximity to their Metra station. At the northwest corner of Lake Street and Barrington Road the Village approved a 169 unit multi-family residential development with .92 parking spaces per dwelling unit, below the 1.19 spaces in the Village's zoning code, which was updated through the RTA in 2022. The approved parking ratio is aligned with the TOD principle that future residents will utilized transit for some of their daily travel needs . The Village board also approved the development of  199 units of multi-family housing on the Metra stations' south commuter parking lot. The development will include a redesigned station plaza and a new street leading to the train station with a gateway promenade into the downtown.