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October 2, 2007 West Urbana Selected as One of 10 Great Neighborhoods in America Citizen Engagement Enhances Neighborhood's Strengths, Vitality URBANA, IL — The American Planning Association (APA) announced today that West Urbana, located in Urbana, Illinois, has been designated as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2007 through APA's Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.
"We are honored to receive this recognition for West Urbana from APA," said Mayor Laurel Lunt Prussing. "West Urbana is one of our city's special places and its residents take the time to ensure their community continues to hold on to the things that make it attractive." APA selected West Urbana as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods for its sustainable design, alternative forms of commuting such as walking, cycling and public transit, inviting neighborhood spaces, and community focus on enhancing quality of life. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work everyday. America's truly great neighborhoods are defined by many criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes the unique and authentic attributes of essential building blocks of great communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. "We're excited to select West Urbana as one of this year's Great Neighborhoods," said APA Executive Director Paul Farmer, FAICP. "The glamour of West Urbana is in the small but oh-so-important details of community life, like talking to your neighbors, being able to walk or bicycle to school or work, and participating in public meetings." Situated between two dynamic areas — the University of Illinois and downtown Urbana — the West Urbana neighborhood has maintained its unique identity for more than a century, refusing to succumb to the pressures of high-density development or issues surrounding absentee landlords. Many historic properties remain today as a result of engaged residents and sustained planning efforts. Many homes have front porches, which bring people out on summer evenings. Abutting the neighborhood is the Urbana Free Library, which dates back to 1874 and has one of the highest usage rates in the nation. The neighborhood's Carle Park is home to an arboretum, historic pavilion, and the Laredo Taft sculpture of Abraham Lincoln. West Urbana is best experienced on bike or foot given the neighborhood's walkways, narrow streets, and picturesque shade trees and landscaping. On any given day during the school year scores of students from West Urbana walk to school while numerous parents — more than the national average — walk or bicycle to work. Citizens have historically engaged in numerous planning activities to preserve the community's identity. Residents also have gotten involved through the local community association, which recently raised $12,500 to ensure that the city's new street signs featured a historic design. The association also sponsors a listserv and encourages discussion of neighborhood issues. The city's 2005 Comprehensive Plan recommended the creation of a neighborhood conservation district for West Urbana and design guidelines for the Lincoln–Busey corridor. Also in the works is a conservation district ordinance that, if approved, would protect through design review requirements residential areas with unique qualities that do not qualify for historic district status. To ensure West Urbana's sustainability, the city is developing a bike master plan and measures to improve safety and enhance accessibility for those walking and bicycling. Further, the city's zoning ordinance recently was amended to promote the use of permeable pavement; other amendments are being prepared to encourage the use of solar collectors and wind turbines. The nine other APA Great Neighborhoods for 2007 are Chatham Village, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Eastern Market Neighborhood, Washington, D.C.; Elmwood Village, Buffalo, New York; The First Addition Neighborhood, Lake Oswego, Oregon; Hillcrest, San Diego, California; North Beach, San Francisco, California; Old West Austin, Austin, Texas; Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City; and Pike Place Market Neighborhood, Seattle, Washington. For more information about these neighborhoods, and APA's 10 Great Streets for 2007, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces. This year's 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Neighborhoods will be celebrated as part of APA's National Community Planning Month in October 2007, designed to recognize and celebrate the many residents, leaders, officials, and professionals who contribute to making great communities. For more about National Community Planning Month, visit www.planning.org/ncpm. Contacts |
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