Englewood Community Wants Residents’ Input For Master Plan
Englewood Community Wants Residents’ Input For Master Plan
By Tia Carol Jones
Englewood Community United is one of several groups that are creating a master plan for the Englewood community.
In October of 2024, there was a request for proposals (RFP) for a master plan for five priority commercial corridor nodes in the community. Teamwork Englewood, Growing Home, The Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce, Grow Greater Englewood and E.G. Woode are leading the master plan efforts. According to the Englewood Master Plan Request for Proposals, the organizations want to leverage the estimated $200M in anticipated investments in the coming years to provide a pathway for community wealth-building.
“Specifically, the goal is to create an opportunity for residents to directly own and control the various developments across Englewood through a community shared ownership model, the Englewood Community Investment Vehicle (CIV).”
There are several developments planned for the Englewood community, which include affordable housing, restaurants, grocery stores, Public Outdoor Plazas (POP!), a streetscape project and the Englewood Nature Trail, as well as rehabbing two community schools and turning them into residences.
Cicely McClennon is the Project Manager for Englewood Community United’s Englewood Master Plan. She said the community, along with its stakeholders, have been working on projects that are part of a revitalization of Englewood. She said the people who live, work and have a stake in Englewood, want to be able to guide how projects are built out in the community. She said the people who are part of Englewood Community United are qualified and include professionals and community advocates.
"This is not just a plan—it’s a move to organize the Englewood community as a force for smart, relevant development that has real and positive impact on our lives," McClennon said in a release. "Together, we’re building a proud legacy for generations to come."
The plan prioritizes economic empowerment, sustainable development, community engagement, education and wellness. The economic empowerment piece focuses on supporting small businesses, manufacturing and attracting investment, as a way to create jobs and more business opportunities. An agricultural piece would create pathways for food accessibility by engaging farms throughout the state of Illinois and connect the community to the world, through what the plan calls an International African Trade Hub.
The education and wellness piece would use local resources to promote education, health and wellness for the entire community, while the sustainable development piece would implement environmentally responsible, as well as community-centered projects.
McClennon said what makes Englewood Community United and their plan the most viable option is that the group is made up of people who are actively engaged with and supporting the community. She said the group also has engaged with the migrant community to find a Venezuelan architect to work with the Black architect they have.
McClennon said the community is already doing the work to address issues including the infant mortality rate and poor health outcomes, and they would like to see funds go to local grassroots organizations to continue the work they have been doing in the community. She said these groups are on the ground working to address these issues.
“Our solution is never going to come from the outside. We’re putting in place the elements we know lead to a thriving community,” she said.
According to Ondrewal Langworthy II, Director of Economic Development at Teamwork Englewood, said the idea for this project is fulfilling community requests for more information on how projects can work together and what future development should look like.
“Data collection, research and recommendations of the best and most productive use of land in the Englewood community to complement the current projects and developments that’s being led by Englewood partners. Some of the data collection will serve as information for future Quality of Life plans. This process will be embedded in the Englewood Quality of Life Community meetings,” wrote in an email.
Englewood Community United submitted their proposal in December and the group is hopeful that it will be chosen. The winning proposal will be selected Jan. 15th, with a start date of Feb. 10th, which is the start date for the firm that is awarded the contract. The next community meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17th, at the Red Shield Salvation Army, 954 W. 69th St. For more information, visit www.teamworkengelwood.org.
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