NIU faculty, staff and students are invited to review and comment on a proposed revitalization plan for the northwest quadrant of DeKalb known as the Annie Glidden North neighborhood, or AGN.
Several meetings have been scheduled at which citizens may voice their opinions or ask questions in person: Oct. 5 at 8:30 a.m. at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth Street; Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in the University Village Apartment Complex Community Room, 722 N. Annie Glidden Road; and Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at the DeKalb Municipal Building.
In addition, interested parties may read and/or download the plan online.
NIU President Lisa Freeman has spoken about the importance of the AGN neighborhood to NIU, most recently during her State of the City Address on Oct. 3.
“AGN is critically important to NIU,” Freeman said. “It is where the majority of our students live; it houses many of our Greek programs; it is located on the border of our campus; and it is deteriorating. Nearly 25 percent of DeKalb’s total population lives in the AGN area, and it is time to reintegrate this neighborhood into our community.”
Last year, DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith commissioned a 30-member task force to work with the city’s consultant on a plan to address the neighborhood’s most pressing issues. After nearly a year of work, the task force last week approved a final version of the plan, which includes a “top ten” list of projects ranging from safety improvements and improved transportation to a food hub and walk-in health clinic.
A final version of the plan will go before the City Council in November for approval.
