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Each month, we’ll delve into topics like:

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Natural Disaster Recovery.

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Let’s collaborate to advance community development best practices, green our planet, create sustainable jobs, and preserve the values of democracy. Join us in shaping a sustainable future for all!

This is understandable, and our business is all about making these complications simple for the clients that we work with. Our urban design planners have a vast wealth of experience to draw from, and we have completed a wealth of projects that tell you a lot about our capabilities. You can take a moment to look through our portfolio to see some of the work that we have done in the past.

If you were to go on a long journey over unmarked terrain, a guide that has traversed the path many times in the past would be of invaluable assistance. Indeed, there is no substitute for experience, and that is exactly what the urban design planners here at Retown bring to the table. We know exactly what it takes to turn an idea into something tangible, and we have a track record of success that speaks volumes.

One element of our company that has been cultivated over the years is our ability to bring in all the right partners to complete any type of assignment that comes our way. We have developed relationships with urban design architects, real estate financing experts, property management companies, landscape architects, land assembly and site acquisition specialists, engineers, and construction professionals.

Over the years that we have been in business, we have also developed a thorough understanding of government regulations of all kinds. We have the ability to coordinate all of these different equally important pieces to the puzzle to make things happen for our clients on schedule and on budget. This is why we are among the most highly sought after urban design planners in our areas of focus.

Get in Touch!

We are here to answer your questions if you would like to have a discussion with one of our knowledgeable urban design planners. You can click this link to send us a message over the internet, and we can be reached by phone at 708-442-4545.

If you were to take this further and conduct a thought experiment with regard to the steps that you would take to revitalize this area that is wrought with potential, you may not get far. There are so many different things to consider the task would naturally seem overwhelming. When it comes to the basic logistics, there will be zoning issues to deal with, and there can be neighborhood associations nearby that have the ability to weigh in when a new project is being proposed.

How do you negotiate this maze of red tape? In addition to this, how about the financing? It may be a genuinely good idea, and you may be aware of the fact that there are government funding programs, tax credits, and private sources of funding out there. But who exactly are they, where are they, and what is the correct way to approach them?

Even if you had all the above in place, what next? You probably have no idea where to find the appropriate design professionals that can help you address the next stage of the process. Of course, if your project is going to involve commercial space rentals, you have to think about management and anchor tenants. Construction professionals will need to be identified and coordinated as well, and there are insurance issues to deal with when you get to this point.

As you can see, if you think about doing all of this on your own, it is truly overwhelming. However, here is the good news: The urban design architects at ReTown know exactly how to handle each and every step of the process that we have been looking at here, and we have partners in place that are experts in all of these respective fields. If you ever find yourself with a “big idea,” give us a call at 708-442-4545 and we will take it to the next level.

One of the areas that we have been focusing on is surprising to many people. If you look at a part of a city that could be revitalized, you may naturally envision housing that is targeted toward young professionals with nearby commercial spaces for shopping and entertainment. This type of thing is definitely in our wheelhouse, but there is another possibility that we have been exploring.

During the postwar years between 1946 to 1964, there were an inordinate number of babies born. This phenomenon is called the “baby boom,” and these people that were once babies are now senior citizens or middle-aged individuals that are nearing their mid-60s. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, most people that reach the age of 65 will need living assistance eventually, and many will reside in assisted living communities.

Clearly, there are going to be countless older folks looking for senior friendly housing during the coming years. A lot of people who face, or will be facing, mobility challenges live in major cities. As a response to this demographic trend, our urban design firm is looking at locations that would be ideal for building homes that are built for aging in place and buildings that can house apartments that are modified to make it easier for seniors to function.

Memory care is another thing that is on our radar. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about 40 percent of people who have reached the age of 85 have contracted the disease. Many of these elders reside in memory care facilities, and there is a shortage in some urban areas. As an urban design firm that genuinely cares, we are taking a long hard look at how we can help in this regard.

Contact ReTown Today!

If you would like to discuss any type of project that you have in mind with our urban design firm, give us a call at 708-442-4545 or send us a message through the contact page on this website.

How much experience do you have in urban design architecture?

Our team is comprised of a number of different professionals, so the combined years in the industry would be close to 100. However, starting at the top, our President and Managing Director is Jim Louthen. He has over 25 years of experience managing all phases of urban redevelopment projects, so if you value deep backgrounds, you will feel comfortable working with ReTown.

Urban design architects play a certain role, but projects can’t get started without the appropriate capital. Do you have the ability to help obtain financing?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Because Jim has so much experience, he has developed relationships with key players like T2 Capital Management, which is a privately held real estate investment firm that can provide financing along the capital stack at multiple different intervals. Plus, we have a thorough understanding of exactly how to obtain public financing through avenues like tax credits, secure grants, and tax increment financing redevelopment agreements.

Have your urban design architects successfully completed many different projects?

We have been able to continually build on our track record of success. If you take a look at the portfolio page on this website, you will get a bird’s eye view of the projects that we have facilitated.

Does ReTown have the resources to take care of every aspect of the redevelopment process?

In addition to our urban design architects and financial connections, we have all other bases covered. We can navigate through zoning issues, government regulations, the demands of community associations, and other types of red tape. Our partners also include contractors of all kinds, landscape designers, and every other piece that is part of a typical redevelopment project.

Contact ReTown Urban Design Architects

Now that you know little bit about what we do, you may want to take the next step. You can get in touch with us by phone at 708-442-4545. There is also a contact form on this website that you can use to get in touch with us electronically.

This dynamic is very interesting, and if you have lived in a particular city for a number of years, you understand the history of your town. You may remember when a certain area that is now mostly empty was full of vibrant activity, with merchants, restaurants, and movie theaters thriving. In another area there may be a long-abandoned factory that once employed hundreds of people, workers that bought homes and raised children while they actively lived the American Dream.

These memories evoke emotions, and commercial urban design architects that work with partners within a given community understand what these projects mean on that heartfelt level. Bringing something that was once very special back to life is an enriching endeavor, and this is what drives many urban design architects. Yes, profitability is important if you want to be able to complete projects on an ongoing basis, but there is this other type of intangible motivation as well.

The commercial urban design architects here at ReTown have had the opportunity to undertake many projects like these over the years, and it has indeed been gratifying. We have the ability to bring together all of the moving parts as it were, and it is challenging to coordinate all aspects of these rather large scale projects. However, due to our experience and the relationships that we have built with our partners, we deliver results on a consistent basis.

Contact ReTown Today!

If the picture that we have painted here strikes a chord, we would be more than glad to discuss any project that you have in mind with you. As we have stated, we have a thorough understanding of all aspects of the process, including complex funding issues. You can get in touch with one our commercial urban design architects through the contact page on this website, and we can also be reached by phone at 708-442-4545.

Jim Louthen is the President and Managing Director of ReTown. He has over a quarter of a century of experience in the real estate development field, and he has worked in all facets. He has developed an impressive portfolio over the years, and one of his great strengths is the ability to obtain funding. He has a thorough understanding of private funding resources and public forms of funding like TIF redevelopment agreements and secured grants.

T2 Capital Management is a very valuable ReTown Partner. This is an innovative, forward thinking real estate company that is privately held. They provide financing in a quick and efficient manner when the right opportunity is there, and they also look for acquisitions. T2 Capital Management has an attention getting record of success. When you combine the accomplishments of their managers, you are looking at over a billion dollars invested in commercial real estate deals.

Most of the urban design firms Jim has worked with over the years have been in or around the city of Chicago, so he has a thorough understanding of this area. Chicagoland Realty Services is another greatly valued ReTown partner. In many cases, the master planned developments that we work on involve residential and commercial property that will be on the market after the project has been completed. Chicagoland Realty Services is always ready step up to the plate when our urban design firm is ready put newly minted units up for sale or lease.

Bondy Studio is a ReTown partner that provides the visuals. It is hard to get people excited about a proposed urban development project if they cannot see what it would like. Bondy Studio produces extraordinary architectural illustrations that are invaluable to us when we are putting a project together.

Get in Touch!

If you would like to reach out to our urban design firm, you can get in touch with us by phone at 708-442-4545.

Do you consider the impact your projects will have on the surrounding areas?

Our urban design planners master-plan projects at the outset with the intention of integrating the new development into the existing neighborhood. We definitely take the impact that the new construction will have on the outlying area into account. Our urban design planners actually endeavor to fill voids in an effort make the lives of residents and local business people more fruitful.

What about financing?

We have a great deal of experience and expertise when it comes to securing the financing that is necessary to fund our projects. Since we have so much experience, we understand how to partner with the private and public sectors as we take advantage of things like tax increment financing and secured grants.

Can you cut through the red tape?

Our urban design planners are very knowledgeable when it comes to government regulations, zoning laws, environmental rules, and special interest groups. In fact, since we have completed many of our projects in Illinois, we have existing relationships with many relevant officials throughout the state.

Do you orchestrate the actual construction process?

When the plan and the logistics are in order, we partner with architects, engineers, landscape designers, construction contractors, and others to bring the concept to life in the real world.

Contact Retown Urban Design Planners Today!

As you can see when you digest the answers to these questions, we provide comprehensive, turnkey assistance from start to finish. If you would like to learn more about what our urban design planners can do for you, we would be more than glad to discuss things in person. You can set the wheels in motion if you give us a call at 708-442-4545, and we also have a contact form that you can fill out right here on this website.

After we identify a piece of property within a community that can be enriched through the completion of a master planned commercial urban design architecture project, we consider the ideal way to integrate our vision into the existing framework. Our intention is to make significant improvements without doing anything to disrupt the surrounding areas. Integration is key, and we have been very successful on this level.

Our real estate planners understand how to address all the details, including the zoning and building regulations, and we work closely with government officials. These relationships can be invaluable when we are planning new projects in certain areas. We have affiliations with engineers, contractors, landscape designers, and other professionals and tradespeople who do the hands on work to bring the commercial urban design architecture to life. These pieces come together to create extraordinary structures and landscapes, but we keep our costs under control, and we always stay right on schedule.

Of course, none of it is possible without the appropriate level of financing. This is another area of expertise for our company. We have vast experience partnering with the public and the private sector to bring these projects to fruition. Funding sources can include tax increment financing, which is a public financing method that is in place to subsidize development, secured grants, and tax credits.

Over the years that we have been revitalizing communities, we have built a portfolio that includes projects that are collectively valued at over $100 million. That figure tells you a lot about our ability to obtain financing for our projects.

Get in Touch!

We would be more than glad to arrange a meeting if you would like to discuss a potential commercial urban design architecture project with us. Jim Louthen is the President and Managing Director of ReTown, and you can send him an e-mail if you would like to set up an appointment or ask some questions. There is a contact form on this website, and you can get in touch with us by phone at 708-442-4545.