(Above) State Street, full of Chicago Marathon runners as they cross the Chicago River on October 9, 2022.

By Steven Dahlman

12-Dec-23 – The Urban Land Institute, dedicated to shaping the future of the built environment, has weighed in with recommendations on how to make State Street even more of a great street.

In its final Elevate State report, based on panel discussions with real estate professionals and cultural leaders, the institute recommends building on what it calls three existing anchors of State Street – arts and culture, retail, and education.

The report reveals ambitious goals for State Street, from Ida B. Wells Drive north to Wacker Drive, such as making it “a place for world-class cultural, learning, and entertainment experiences that are uniquely Chicago.”

“A thriving State Street is essential for the vibrancy and long-term health of the downtown and the city,” said Mark Kelly (left), chairman of the panel for ULI Chicago and former Commissioner of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Photo by Patrick L. Pyszka

Urban Land Institute’s recommendations include:

• Creating a festival space to host special events.

• Reimagining the streetscape to enhance safety and shape visitor experiences.

• Embracing State Street’s centrality and connectivity through public transit, multimodal transportation, and walkability.

• Encouraging adaptive reuse, including new residential.

At a panel discussion in June, ULI recommended redesigning the physical layout of State Street with wider sidewalks for outdoor cafés, flexible seating, public art, and “whimsical play spaces” for children and adults.

ULI says State Street’s biggest challenges include crime and safety, high office vacancy rates, and changing retail trends.

The office vacancy rate in downtown Chicago was nearly 23 percent in June – caused, says ULI, by workers commuting to downtown offices fewer times during the week.

Online shopping, which accelerated during the pandemic, created “a challenging retail environment for State Street,” said the institute, leading to retailers such as DSW and Old Navy to close their stores.

“State Street is an invaluable corridor for Chicago and serves as a representation of the mix of uses available to major throughfares beyond motor vehicles,” said Michael Edwards (right), President/CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance.

“The Elevate State plan provides sufficient evidence that successful, innovative programming like Sundays on State, as well as the dynamic mix of sectors present along State Street, will drive the Loop forward as a world-class downtown,” he said.