THE PREMISE OF THIS SUBURBAN DESIGN MASTER PLAN IS TO EXLORE METHODS OF APPROACH TO PLAN FOR ECONOMIC AND IMAGE REVITALIZATION THROUGH DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO CREATE A NEW IDENTITY FOR MATTESON ON A REGIONAL LEVEL WHILE IMPROVING THE VILLAGE ON A SMALL TOWN COMMUNITY SCALE. IT ULTIMATELY SEEKS TO CHANGE THE EXISTING NEGATIVE IMAGE THAT MATTESON HOLDS DUE TO THE DECLINE OF ITS VILLAGE CENTER AND REDEVELOP IT IN TO WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A DOWNTOWN OR URBAN CENTER. THIS PROJECT UTILIZES THE CURRENT 10 YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN RECENTLY PROVIDED TO THE VILLAGE, OBSERVATIONS FROM VILLAGE MEETINGS AND CASE STUDIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT EACH EXPLORE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO URBAN PLANNING. THE GOAL IS FOR THIS TO BE A THINKING FRAMEWORK FOR OTHER SUBURBS TO USE.
THE PRIMARY CHALENGES MATTESON FACES STEM AGED RETAIL CENTERS AND BUSINESSES MOVING TO MORE AFFLUENT AREAS. THE FEW NEWER DEVELOPMENTS GOING UP HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ATTRACTED TENANTS AND HIGH OCCUPANCY RATES. FROM A MARKET ANALYSIS PERFORMED BY SB FRIEDMAN, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE SHOPPING CENTERS PERFORMING WELL ARE THE MORE RECENT ONES.
MATTESON ALSO CURRENTLY LACKS A STRONG VILLAGE CENTER CURRENTLY DUE TO THE DECLINE OF LINCOLN MALL AND LACK OF STRONG SURROUNDING BUSINESSES. THIS HAS INCREASED THE SEPERATION OF THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THIS AREA AND SUPPORT THE NEED FOR A CATYLIST TO BRING BACK A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY.