Downtown Plan

**Please email procurement contact Jessica Erickson at jerickson@woodstockil.gov to receive full RFP and supporting documentation.**

The City of Woodstock, IL, combines historic charm, cultural richness, and a thriving community spirit, offering a unique destination for both residents and visitors. Nestled in McHenry County, Woodstock is renowned for its picturesque downtown area, commonly known as "The Square". This historic district is a vibrant hub featuring architectural landmarks, such as the Woodstock Opera House and the Old Courthouse Center, which are key to the city's identity and appeal.

Woodstock is committed to fostering economic growth while preserving its character and sense of place. The city offers a dynamic setting for businesses of all sizes and is recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit. The Square hosts a variety of festivals, events, and a year-round farmers' market, all contributing to a lively community atmosphere that engages residents and attracts visitors.

With strategic focus on planned development, Woodstock aims to balance historic preservation with modern needs, welcoming new opportunities that enhance the quality of life for its residents and the local economy. Through this master plan, Woodstock seeks to further strengthen Downtown Woodstock, ensuring it remains a vital, inclusive, and prosperous area that continues to draw people and investment from across the region and across the nation.

The primary objectives for the Downtown Master Plan project include:

Comprehensive Master Plan: Create a roadmap for the next 10-15 years focusing on Downtown Woodstock's growth, vibrancy, accessibility, and economic sustainability.

Integration with Existing Plans: Ensure alignment with Woodstock's adopted plans (e.g., comprehensive plan, parks master plan, arts plan, etc.) to provide cohesive guidance on land use, zoning, transportation, and infrastructure.

Economic Revitalization & Business Development:

• Identify strategies to attract new businesses, promote entrepreneurship, and support existing businesses, particularly those that enhance Downtown Woodstock's unique character.
• Evaluate opportunities for developing incubator or co-working spaces, aligning with initiatives aimed at nurturing local startups or small businesses.
• Recommend retail, dining, and service sector expansion that complements existing businesses and draws both residents and visitors.

Tourism & Cultural Promotion:

• Develop initiatives to enhance Downtown Woodstock as a cultural destination, drawing on its historic elements and unique attractions.
• Propose event space utilization, tourism marketing tactics, and placemaking strategies to encourage repeat visitation and increase downtown foot traffic.
• Consider options to improve tourism infrastructure, including information centers, and access to visitor amenities.

Housing & Mixed-Use Development

• Assess the feasibility of adding residential or mixed-use developments that incorporate affordable and workforce housing options, contributing to a vibrant, round-the-clock downtown.
• Recommend locations and design standards for new residential units that fit the area's character and support community diversity and accessibility.

Public Spaces & Placemaking

• Propose enhancements for existing public spaces and suggest new opportunities for public gathering spots, green spaces, and pedestrian friendly areas.
• Integrate art installations, sculptures, and other cultural elements that celebrate local heritage and foster a sense of place.
• Address seasonal programming for parks and plazas to make them attractive year-round.

Historic Preservation & Adaptive Reuse

• Provide guidelines for preserving and adapting historic structures while supporting new uses that respect the heritage and character of the downtown area.
• Suggest policy updates or incentives to encourage adaptive reuse of historic buildings by private sector developers or local businesses.

Mobility & Accessibility

• Include multi-modal transportation options, emphasizing pedestrian and cyclist safety, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and transit integration.
• Provide strategies to improve connectivity between downtown, neighboring districts, and key community landmarks.
• Explore options to enhance the user experience in downtown parking areas, and potential technology for parking management.

Digital Infrastructure & Smart City Applications

• Recommend digital infrastructure enhancements, such as public Wi-Fi, smart lighting, and information kiosks to support a modern, accessible downtown.
• Consider smart city solutions that align with Downtown Woodstock's development, such as apps for visitor information, parking management, or real-time public transportation updates.

Sustainability, Resilience, & Climate Adaptation

• Propose sustainable building practices, stormwater management solutions, and resilience strategies for climate adaptation, particularly in public spaces and infrastructure.
• Encourage sustainable transportation options, green infrastructure, and low-impact development strategies to support Woodstock's environmental goals.

Schedule

The table below represents a tentative schedule of events. All times are listed in Central Time. All dates listed are subject to change.

Date Issued: 01/07/2025

Intent to Respond: 01/15/2025, 5:00 PM

Pre-Proposal Conference (Virtual): 01/20/2025, 10:30 AM

Questions/Clarifications Due: 01/22/2025, 5:00 PM

Response to Questions/Clarifications: 01/24/2025, Noon

Due Date: 01/31/2025, Noon

Evaluation/Interviews: 02/03/2025-02/07/2025

Award Notification & Contract Negotiation: 02/07/2025-02/12/2025

City Council Approval (Public Meeting): 02/18/2025, 7:00 PM

Proposers are advised that from the date of the release of this solicitation until award of the contract, no contact with City personnel related to this solicitation is permitted other than communications directed to the Procurement Contact listed above. ANY SUCH UNAUTHORIZED CONTACT MAY RESULT IN THE DISQUALIFICATION OF THE PROPOSALS SUBMITTAL.