Hometown: Marion
Family: Husband, Adam Brown
Occupation: Urban planner for the city of Decatur
Education: Bachelor’s degree in geography, Augustana College; master’s degree in urban and regional planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
My “I’d rather be …” bumper sticker would read, “I’d rather be traveling.” I love to travel and see what other cities and cultures have done to make their cities great and interesting places. Plus, I love to eat and the food is always amazing.
Hobbies/interests: I am a crafter. I love to craft! I also enjoy reading, exercising, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
My first job: I worked the counter at a floral and gift shop.
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Personal approaches to challenges: I tend to sit back and observe before tackling a challenge. As planners, we try to look at things from all possible angles to ensure a quality, inclusive and well-rounded final product.
Why I do what I do: Who wouldn’t want to do what a planner does? We have the opportunity to make our lives and communities fun, beautiful, safe, entertaining and livable. We can shape and re-shape our built environment while working with great residents and businesses.
Community involvement: I am very involved with the Junior Welfare Association and our mission of helping women and children in Macon County.
What exactly is a development planner? What are some of the local projects you’ve had a hand in? Development planner is an all inclusive title which means I am involved in new development in the area, as well as the redevelopment of buildings and areas throughout the city. The redevelopment of West Main Street is an ongoing project in which I have had a hand. The Downtown Streetscape Enhancement is the largest project of which I have had the fortune of working. But I very much also enjoy my charge of helping with the Historical and Architectural Sites Commission. Decatur has a rich heritage which is fun to discover and celebrate.
What does the city hope to achieve with the downtown improvement project? First and foremost, it will enhance the safety by eliminating trip hazards, ensuring compliance with ADA standards, adding pedestrian lighting and reducing through traffic. Additionally, it will reroute the heavy truck traffic around the downtown reducing noise and dust for a more pleasant outdoor experience. Moreover, our downtown has steadily grown over the past 10 years and we are hoping to continue that trend with this much needed facelift.
Why is downtown so important? Trends have shown that a healthy downtown makes for a healthy community. Downtowns are accessible, convenient, locally owned and operated and provide for a unique experience that cannot be duplicated. Downtowns provide a sense of pride for a community, and we are certain the improvements will give yet another reason for us to call Decatur our home.
How is the project being funded? The enhancements are mostly being funded through the Olde Towne Tax Increment Finance District which was set up a decade ago. However, of the $14 million dollars being spent, approximately
$4 million are from state and federal sources.
How did the city go about deciding on what the project would include? The city has been gathering input from the public since the TIF District was formed. However, the last two years, we have held many public open houses to gather information and ideas from all users of downtown and even potential users. The public helped to shape the traffic patterns, the increase in parking, the outdoor gathering spaces and the location of all the elements within the sidewalks.
What were some of the biggest wants, concerns? The biggest concerns were being able to remove the heavy truck traffic and the need for more parking spaces.
What is the biggest change(s) people will notice after it is all done? That downtown will be more pedestrian friendly; a person trying to cross North Main Street will no longer have to play Frogger. The sidewalks will be level with an increase of sidewalk space. And, there will be many, many more on-street parking spaces.
Speaking of all done, what is the timeline for the project? 2013 is the projected completion date. But the bulk of the construction will be done this year.
