View my work samples featuring: 1) Neighborhood Quality of Life Plans for LISC/Chicago; 2) Town Center Plan for Richton Park, IL; 3) Downtown Plan for Bourbonnais, IL; and 4) Grove Parc Master Plan for the Woodlawn Community in Chicago, IL This document also features a write-up by Chicago Cares describing my hands-on dedication to community improvement.

1. Work Samples
Dena L. Hicks
1350 N. Lake Shore Dr., #1718
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 420-6347
dena.l.hicks@gmail.com

2. LOCAL
Neighborhood Quality of Life Plans, LISC/Chicago
Challenge: Following several
Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corporation | LISC/Chicago’s New Communities Program QUALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN MAY 2005
successful pilot projects, the Local
WOODLAWN : Rebuilding the Village Initiatives Support Corporation/
Chicago (LISC) established the New
Communities Program (NCP) to support
comprehensive community development
initiatives in Chicago neighborhoods.
Camiros was retained by LISC to guide
the 10 newest local lead agencies as
they worked with local partners to
develop Quality-of-Life Plans for their
neighborhoods.
Outcome: The work program that is the
central element of each plan is designed
to allow stakeholders to work together
to rejuvenate each neighborhood with
a comprehensive set of projects that
address physical improvements and
social needs. The plans address the
STRATEGIES most important aspects of community
STRATEGIES
life ranging from housing and
University of Chicago
Eight Strategies to
Plan and implement
youth activities South Campus Plan
Achieve Our Vision
employment to child care, neighborhood
safety, parks, schools, health care and
Figure 3 Key projects of the plan The Woodlawn Quality-of-Life Planning Task Force developed eight key
This plan calls for programs and projects related to
housing, health, open space, economic development
strategies and 47 projects to help residents and organizations achieve their more. While the plans address common
and education. vision for the community.
Our Strategies:
issues, the approaches to solving
63rd Street Under the “El”
development program
Upgrade Metra station 1. Expand the supply of new housing for a mix of incomes,
and support improvement of existing housing stock.
5. Improve communication and coordination among
organizations, residents and institutions.
problems and vision for the future are as
2. Develop a vibrant retail and business environment and a 6. Plan and implement activities and programs for youth.
central shopping district along Cottage Grove south of
63rd Street.
7. Expand recreational activities for all ages, and develop
new programs around arts and culture.
unique and varied as the communities
Artist work/live at 3. Promote economic opportunity, workforce development 8. Provide professional development resources and other
themselves.
Support improvement old Strand Hotel
of housing stock and improved connections to the job market. support to health and social service agencies.
4. Organize people and resources to make all Woodlawn
schools excellent.
Expand housing supply
for mix of incomes
Woodlawn school network
Every aspect of this process involved neighborhood resi-
dents, businesses and other stakeholders. These methods
Denai cL. gHicks
17
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ranged from interactive mapping to games that. lhelped a i l . c o m
dena .h ks@ m

3. Town Center Plan, Richton Park, Illinois
Challenge: Camiros was retained by
the Village of Richton Park to serve as
Project Manager for the redevelopment
of the Town Center project area. The
Village already had two plans done for
the area and wanted to engage a firm
who could drive the redevelopment
process.
Outcome: Camiros performed a
diagnostic review of existing Town
Center redevelopment documents and
determined that these were insufficient
to attract interest from the development
community. The first year of project
activities focused on establishing
redevelopment documents needed to
engage in a productive dialogue with
developers. These documents included:
1) a specific program of redevelopment;
2) a resubdivision plan; 3) Town Center
design guidelines; 4) a Town Center
PUD ordinance; 5) a compendium of
information on Village-owned properties;
and 6) an illustrative plan depicting the
redevelopment program.
Denai cL. gHicks
dena.l.h ks@ mail.com

4. Downtown Plan, Bourbonnais, Illinois
Implementation Program Excerpt Challenge: The residents of the Village of
Stakeholder Year/Sequence Bourbonnais, have a long-standing desire to
Action Agenda Item Responsibility Comment 1 2 3 4 to 5
Phase I Study for Roundabout Design
Phase I Study for Street Extensions
Village/IDOT
Village
IDOT should approve engineer
create a downtown environment that fosters a
Initial Residential/Commercial Market Studies Village
Obtain Initial Developer/Investor Feedback
Engage in Focused Development Recruitment
Village
Village/Olivet 1st project may be on Olivet property
sense of pride, heritage and excitement. The
Feasibility Study: Traditional Neighborhood Village
Formulate a Financial Plan
Prepare a Summary Report of Year One
Village
Village
downtown has the components to fulfill the
community’s vision for an active urban space.
Adopt Public Financing Mechanisms Village/Prop. Owners
Secure Funding: First Roundabout Construction Village/IDOT
Negotiate First Redevelopment Agreements Village/Prop. Owners
Secure funding for First Street Extension(s)
Construction Plans for First Street Extension(s)
Village
Village
These components include the presence of
Establish Maintenance Structure Village/Prop. Owners
Recruit Local Builders for Traditional Neighborhood
Prepare Main Street Northwest Streetscape Plans
Village
Village
Olivet Nazarene University, which generates a
vibrant image through the existing pedestrian
Prepare a Summary Report of Year Two Village
Complete Construction of First Street Extension(s) Village/Prop. Owners
Construction Plans for First Roundabout(s) Village/IDOT
Plans for streetscape and other design features
Program Second Phase of Street Extensions
Village/IDOT
Village and vehicular activity. The downtown area
Construct Main Street N.W. Streetscape Village/IDOT
Prepare a Summary Report of Year Three
Complete Construction of First Roundabout(s)
Village
Village/IDOT
also includes the intersection of prominent
Construction of First Redevelopment Project(s) Developers
Negotiate 2nd Phase Redevelopment Agreements
Program Construction of Town Square
Village/Prop. Owners
Village
streets and buildings with architectural
Construction of Second Redevelopment Project(s)
Prepare a Summary Report of Year Four/Five
Developers
significance. Major regional attractions such
as the Chicago Bears Training Camp and
Perry Farm also contribute to the role of
Illustrative Bourbonnais as a regional destination.
Redevelopment Plan
Outcome: Camiros proposed a combination
of public improvements to support the
existing land use pattern and a development
strategy that can be implemented over
time to accommodate new uses and future
growth. Key elements of the plan include
proposals for vehicular roundabouts to
improve traffic flow and introduce dramatic
visual elements to downtown Bourbonnais,
redevelopment opportunities that respond
to the roundabouts and begin to introduce
Image provided with permission from FitzGerald Architects. Artist Bondy Studios
mixed-use development within the area,
development standards, links to public open
space including the development of a new
Town Square, and the preservation of older
Figure 17, Core Area Illustrative Redevelopment Plan
buildings to retain as much of the downtown’s
original heritage as possible.
Denai cL. gHicks
dena.l.h ks@ mail.com