The "T" in TOD Stands for "Transit"

Last Friday, Village Administrator David Morrison and I met with Mr. Philip Pagano, who is the Executive Director of Metra. We looked at a preliminary budget for a temporary alternative commuter access route. And, we also got a peek at the latest architectural line drawings of the proposed Elburn train station. This summer in Elburn is going to be very interesting with the construction of both the American Bank building and our Metra train station at the same time.

Now that the train station itself seems to be back "on track," it is time to rethink how we want the land around our future Metra facility developed. Over he past few years there have been many developers and several concept plans proposed for the area that would make up our transit-oriented development (TOD). Too many of those concept plans have been of the "plain vanilla" variety, with very little thought to the incredible synergistic potential of transit-oriented design.

In fact, one of those conceptual plans was so unimaginative and boring, we thought perhaps the developer had confused the "T" in TOD to stand for "townhomes," instead of "transit." Their concept plan looked like someone had ink stamped the area around the station with multiple footprints of the exact same townhouse. I'm sorry, but that plan was going nowhere.

Throughout this entire process, Elburn has had one message for developers interested in building around our future Metra facility. We have said repeatedly that we are looking for a "creative" project that has the potential to become a destination, as well as a home for Metra commuters. We want to build a TOD in Elburn so special and irresistible that people will want to invest here, live here, shop here, walk here, bike here, and visit here again and again.

And, in exchange for the freedom to plan "creatively," we are willing to set aside the contentious housing "density" issue, at least in the beginning. I guess we must be asking a lot, because as yet, no one has come close to proposing an inviting TOD concept plan.

Interestingly enough, as in my last blog, the Urban Land Institute has just published an illuminating report that addresses the challenge of planning for TODs. It's called "Ten Principles for Successful Development Around Transit." Here's what the ULI looks for in a successful TOD:

1. Make it better with a flexible realistic vision. (Hmmm,...I like the "better, not just bigger" part already.)
2. Apply the power of public and private partnerships.
3. Think development when thinking about transit.
4. Get the parking right.
5. Build a great community place, not a project.
6. Make retail development market driven, not transit driven.
7. Mix uses, but not necessarily in the same place.
8. Make bus travel more appealing.
9. Encourage every price point to live around transit.
10. Engage corporate attention to locate close to transit.

I understand that there is new player looking to acquire and develop Elburn's TOD property. If they are serious, I hope they can bring some of their most "creative" development ideas to the planning table. I also hope they understand that the "T" in TOD stands for "transit," and not just more townhomes.