Dramatic ‘redesign’ of Michigan Avenue by Chicago firm unveiled – NBC Chicago

Amid store closings and efforts to attract more tourists to one of Chicago’s most famous streets, a design firm has unveiled a dramatic “redesign” of Michigan Avenue.

This proposal, created by a team of real estate developers and design firm Gensler, envisions a more pedestrian-friendly stretch of North Michigan Avenue, with improved access to some of Chicago’s most famous landmarks and to Oak Street Beach north of DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

While the city has not allocated any money for such a redesign, the series of renderings released by Gensler shows the largest transformation of the section of Michigan Avenue between Chicago Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive in decades.

According to officials, the designs will be exhibited at the Chicago Architecture Center this summer.

Changes include eliminating a lane north of Chicago Avenue to improve pedestrian access to the area around the Chicago Water Tower. The design calls for a restaurant within the structure, as well as improved green space, interactive water features and cafe kiosks that will encourage dining and “lingering,” according to the plans.

Immediately east of the water tower, the proposal calls for reduced parking near the Looking Glass Theater, located next to the pumping station on Michigan Avenue.

The proposal also calls for a stronger restaurant presence along East Pearson Street to encourage pedestrian traffic and a redesigned parking area around Seneca Park to attract pedestrians to the Museum of Contemporary Art, located at the corner of Miles Van Der Rohe Way and Chicago Avenue.

Finally, one proposal would provide improved pedestrian access to a renovated Oak Street Beach, located at the curve of DuSable Lake Shore Drive at the northern end of the Magnificent Mile.

To achieve this, improving pedestrian connections beneath the roadway would be desirable, and LED art in the tunnels would make the experience even more beautiful for visitors.

Once at the beach, visitors would find fresh sand, cabanas, lounges and a restaurant, as well as parasailing and other activities, according to the design.

The improved vision of Michigan Avenue comes at a time when the city is grappling with retail vacancies and concerns about crime on the famous stretch of road. Companies like Verizon, AT&T and the Grand Lux ​​Café have all vacated their spaces along Michigan Avenue, as have Banana Republic and other clothing stores.

The city, the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Magnificent Mile Association recently joined forces to install a series of granite bollards and planters to prevent a number of so-called crash-and-grab thefts, in which thieves drive their cars into business doors and steal merchandise from inside.

According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker recently signed a bill that would create a commercial district along Michigan Avenue and allow property owners to levy a tax to fund safety and sanitation improvements in the area.

The news comes at a time when vacancy rates along the Magnificent Mile exceed 30%, according to The Real Deal, and landlords are trying to attract new tenants to fill the spaces vacated by numerous major companies.