Batavia River Street

The design for River Street is the beginning of an economic revitalization for downtown Batavia, IL. This street’s historic buildings and central location made it an ideal starting point for downtown redevelopment.  Existing restaurants, cafes and retail provided a major opportunity to assist with creating a real sense of place.

The community wanted to preserve the historic look and feel of the street, while encouraging new and different uses. The design for River Street is a Dutch woonerf, or flexible shared street concept that that re-imagines the street as a multi-use public space. The curbless design and single continuous brick surface prioritize pedestrian uses.  Custom planters, expanded tree pits, benches, LED lighting and permeable paving finish off the street. A contemporary custom designed wood and steel gateway honors the timber construction of the historic building interiors and marks the entrance to the corridor.