The public got a look Tuesday night at three concepts for Uptown Normal's future. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – A future vision of Uptown Normal is starting to take shape.

Consultants from Farr Associates offered the public a look at three concepts for what's being called Uptown 2.0 on Tuesday night. All three involve some type of pedestrian crossing for the railroad tracks. Doug Farr, president of Farr Associates, said one concept places the Normal Public Library at the end of a pedestrian overpass.

"We think this would be a stunning connection," said Farr. "To put the library immediately across the tracks from the children's museum. Those are two things that could really go well together."

Another also has a pedestrian overpass, but would put the library on the north of the tracks on Constitution Boulevard.

"It's large enough for the library – a three story library," said Farr. "It adds a lot of, obviously, foot traffic on Constitution Boulevard. The library estimates that about 1,000 people a day visit the library on average."

A third concept makes use of a pedestrian underpass and would place the library south of the tracks.

"Putting a lot of retail (on) both sides of Constitution Boulevard," said Farr. "In this case, the big move is the library. (It) has been pulled a little bit south of the tracks. You come across the tracks and it is the thing that you see ahead of you, across a park."

All three concepts bring in a lot more retail stores. Farr said Uptown could definitely support more retail.

"There is support for 71,000 square feet of additional retail space," said Farr. "Which would be 25 or 30 new businesses representing $21.5 million in sales."

The three visions also all switch College Avenue and Mulberry Street from one-way to two-way roads. Farr explained this is something which "makes sense."

"All of us appreciate when you're walking north, trying to cross College – and last week's tragic accident reminded us that people do drive fast on those streets – that it feels a little less pedestrian friendly to cross college," said Farr. "And it comes again at Mulberry where pretty high speed cars are coming at you."

The public had a chance to offer their thoughts during the meeting. The consultants will take those thoughts, refine the concepts, and present the new looks during another meeting sometime in the next month.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].