Proposed Milwaukee North Line Stop Would Support Leaning Tower Development

A request for proposals was issued this week for a feasibility study to build a new Metra station along the Milwaukee North line near Touhy and Lehigh avenues in Niles.

Proposals would be due back to the village from interested firms by Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The study aims to discover whether there is enough demand to support a village-funded station between the Morton Grove station on Lehigh near Lincoln Avenue and the Edgebrook station at Lehigh and Devon in Chicago. Metra currently has no plans to build an additional station in that area.

Niles wants to promote “transit-oriented development” that would encourage people working in Chicago to move to the village.

The proposed new station would be located near a large area of development anchored by the Niles Leaning Tower on Touhy between Lehigh and Gross Point Road. A tax increment financing district was recently created for the area.

The village has a long term vision for a large plaza and open green space anchored by the Leaning Tower, where concert venues could hold 4,000 people. The development would also include restaurants, shopping and possible residential units. A Metra station could support the area as one does Ravinia in Highland Park. Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park also has easy access to a Blue Line CTA station.

Village officials said if all were to run smoothly and Metra accepts a new station built and paid for by Niles, it could still be five or six years minimum before a station would be completed. The plaza and greenway might not come to fruition for at 10 years.

Village officials said the possible station and proposed developments would make residential development ideal. Officials are also considering the southern part of Milwaukee Avenue for transit development as work on Pace’s upcoming Milwaukee Avenue Pulse Line service stations continues.

The Milwaukee Pulse Line’s express buses will feature stops every half mile between the Jefferson Park Transit Terminal in Chicago to Golf Mill Shopping Center, with connections to bus, Blue Line CTA and Metra service.