The Socio-Economical and Environmental Revitalization of
Waukegan, its Lakefront & Superfund Sites

Waukegan is a Suburb of 8 miles south of the Wisconsin boarder and north of Chicago along the lakefront. Waukegan is the 9th largest city in Illinois with a population of 88,826 people. It is the 5th largest city along Lake Michigan’s west shoreline. Waukegan has been known as the “rustbelt” of Lake Michigan. This is due to its history of industry. Through the involvement of Local & Federal Agencies, Companies and the Community Waukegan has made strides in the last 30 years to clean up 3 Superfund Sites, setting a stage for the city to Revitalize and become the “French Rivera of the Midwest” like Mayor Robert Sabonjian had envisioned in 1986.
In 2003 the city of Waukegan created a Master Plan and from that a general implementation of their Master Plan. This includes strengthen the existing Downtown by activating storefronts on Genesee Street to support and respond to the re-opening of the Genesee Theatre and create a parking structure to support the Genesee Theatre (completed). The Harbor front transformation will begin with the reconfiguration of the Amstutz Expressway and rail lines and yards. They will also work to unlock the Lakefront for public use and future private investment.
Next they will work to create new opportunities in Downtown and the South Lakefront by redeveloping three Sheridan Road sites in downtown for a variety of uses ranging from housing to office hospitality or retail. New retail and dining will be encourages as well as attempts to strengthen the governmental, educational and institutional activities in the area. This area will create a network of walkable neighborhoods and ensure public access to the lake front.

The City has plans to consolidate infrastructure and to create new streets that extend the grid of Waukegan’s downtown to