Skokie planners are hoping that a consistent problem with parking on the 8300 block of Christiana Avenue will be solved with a simple solution: Making the street one-way.
The Skokie Village Board Monday approved the change on that block from a two-way street to a one-way street to try to alleviate the parking problems.
“The street is multi-unit residential with commercial at the north end on Main Street,” said Director of Engineering Erik Cook in his report to the Village Board. “The commercial uses at the north end and the high concentration of cars associated with multi-unit housing contribute to the lack of parking on this block.”
The street, Cook said, is narrow at 25 feet, so in order to safely provide two-way traffic, parking until now has been permitted only on the east side of Christiana.
Making the 8300 block of Christiana one-way will allow additional parking since both sides of the street will become available for that purpose, he said.
The street will flow north since the adjacent street to the east — Bennett Avenue — heads one-way south, Cook said. The section of the street near the commercial uses between Main Street and the alley south of Main will remain two-way, he said.
“Traffic will still be able to circulate in the area,” Cook said.
According to the village, the residents of the 8300 block of Christiana were surveyed regarding the change.
In 14 responses — 13 in writing and one in voice mail — 13 were in favor of the change, Cook said.
Twitter: @SKReview_Mike
