River Grove, Illinois
Grand Avenue Village Center Plan

River Grove, Illinois is a small inner-ring suburb of 10,000 residents located west of Chicago’s loop. The heart of the community lies at the historic crossroads of Grand Avenue and Thatcher Avenue, both of which have grown into regional arterials bringing over 64,000 cars a day through the village center. With two large cemeteries to the north and the Des Plaines River and forest preserve to the west and south, Grand Avenue forms a narrow corridor lined with a mix of commercial and multi-family residential uses surrounded by single-family homes. At present, commercial service uses line Grand Avenue is predominately heavier services leaving the corridor without any real storefront shopping district. However, the potential for change and the construction of new mixed-use infill and higher density residential is real because of the village’s main asset, a Metra commuter rail station.

Planning for Grand Avenue focused on creating a pedestrian shopping district on those blocks adjacent to the commuter rail station, and on encouraging residential infill that will support the commercial market. A concept plan identifies potential redevelopment sites, which were then tested for the feasibility of mixed-use development with measured drawings. Rendered sketches bring Camiros’ urban design and place-making recommendations to life for a larger audience. The village is working to implement the plan’s recommendations which won an Illinois American Planning Association planning award in 2005.