Metropolitan Water Reclamation District & Village of Robbins
Vision for Robbins

The Village of Robbins is a historic African-American community located in southern Cook County, Illinois with a rich cultural history that unfortunately collided with increasing flooding impacts as the region became more and more urbanized. Located along Midlothian creek, flooding has been a persistent threat during storm events, eventually impacting over 100 homes and several of the main roadways throughout the Village. Solving the flooding issue is of paramount importance in order to realize the renewal that the Village is primed for.

Working with the mayor and residents through a series of public meetings, the design team identified a list of design principles and a strategic plan that solves the flooding without displacing any of the existing residents.  The vision begins with a stormwater management solution built within a new park that unlocks the potential for a new Transit-Oriented Development District around the local METRA station and a new Energy District located along the Cal-Sag Channel.

The team’s Vision for Robbins has been recognized as both bold and innovative with the potential of serving as a roadmap for other communities in the region.

 

Location:
Robbins, Illinois

Date:
2016 – 2017

Client:
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

Village of Robbins

Team:
SOM: Prime Consultant & Planner

LIVING HABITATS: Planner & Ecological Specialists

Awards:
2017 Illinois American Society of Landscape Architects – Burnham Award for Planning and Analysis

2017 Illinois American Planning Association – Strategic Planning Award