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Committee to begin steering 5th Avenue toward redevelopment in Naperville

A committee of advisers to help with redevelopment ideas for 5th Avenue in Naperville is preparing for its first meeting next month.

The 15-member 5th Avenue steering committee will provide input and direction as consultant Ryan Companies works on what should be built at eight city-owned or leased sites totaling 13 acres near the Metra station.

Meetings of the steering committee will be open to the public and are expected to be scheduled soon, said Amy Emery, strategic projects supervisor for the city.

Formation of the committee comes nearly a year after the city sought qualifications from developers to re-imagine the sites, which include four parking lots, a former public works building, a water tower, an office building and the DuPage Children's Museum.

Residents on the steering committee will help guide progress toward redevelopment and also serve as a conduit between Ryan and interested neighbors. Emery said one of the committee's responsibilities will be choosing topics to be discussed further by a set of working groups, which are yet to form.

Each working group is expected to include three or four members who will meet at least twice a month to consult with experts and make recommendations.

Working groups could address top issues such as land use and traffic, as well as another frequent concern, stormwater management.

Leaders of Ryan Companies have been working with the city to form the steering committee since late last fall.

Committee members represent a variety of groups with interest in the project such as commuters, neighbors and seniors.

Involved on the committee are: residents Bob Buchman, Patrick Kelly, Thom Higgins, Laura Stellwagen Zeman, Marybeth Box and Jim Ruhl; commuter Katie Sowa; senior task force member Jim Hill; Mayor Emeritus George Pradel; Ryan Companies staff members Jim McDonald and Clare Scott; city staff members Marcie Schatz and Allison Laff; and city council members Rebecca Boyd-Obarski and Judith Brodhead.

Members now are completing Open Meetings Act training before the meetings start.

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