The Planning & Advocacy Division's
Committees and Task Forces
The GNMAA Planning & Advocacy Division operates under the directives and guidance of our over 150 member volunteers. Over time, these directives and initiatives have been shaped into a variety of committees and task forces, overseeing the variety of physical and social elements the make up North Michigan Avenue.
COMMITTEES
GNMAA P&A Division has eight permanent committees that meet on a monthly basis, 11 months out of the year. These Committees are chaired by two GNMAA member volunteers and generally seat 15-20 committee members.
TASK FORCES
GNMAA Task Forces are instituted for a limited duration and are formed to address specific issues related to urban planning and advocacy in the GNMAA area, as they arise. Task forces pull members from the Division at large who specialize in the areas that the specific task forces address.
The Planning & Advocacy Division's Committees and Task Forces are described in greater detail, below.
COMMITTEES
PROJECT REVIEW COMMITTEE
Michael Csar, Co-Chair
Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP
Lee Golub,Co-Chair
Golub & Company
The GNMAA Project Review Committee is comprised of a hand-selected group of real estate, development, architecture and urban planning professionals responsible for reviewing all new developments in the GNMAA development review area. The boundaries for this area are: Oak Street to the north, Randolph Street to the south, State Street to the west and Lake Michigan to the east, although on occasion the Committee will review projects that fall outside of these boundaries as needed. This group works closely with area developers and the City of Chicago to preserve and enhance area character and encourage creative and innovative developments and projects. Positions on this Committee are by appointment only.
SIGN AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE
Dan Antolak, Co-Chair
FASTSIGNS
Mary Lowe, Co-Chair
Steel Eyed Management Company
The GNMAA Sign & Urban Design Committee (also known as SUD) reviews building renovations (façade modifications, changes to design) and permanent and temporary signage, including construction canopies, banners, and window displays in the GNMAA signage review area. The boundaries for this area are Oak Street to the north, Randolph Street to the south, Rush Street to the west and St. Clair Street to the east. The Committee works closely with businesses, building owners, sign companies and the City of Chicago to encourage creative and innovative signage and design, promoting the unique character of North Michigan Avenue. Positions on this Committee are by appointment only.
PUBLIC WAY COMMITTEE
Mary Ann Rose, Co-Chair
Tamar Productions
Kevin Stanley, Co-Chair
U.S. Equities Realty, LLC
The GNMAA Public Way Committee monitors conditions on the public right-of-way in the GNMAA area, with specific focus on North Michigan Avenue. This Committee encourages quality improvements to the public way, and monitors outdoor cafes, directional signage, bus shelters, newsboxes, etc. This Committee is also responsible for presenting the Annual GNMAA Beautification Awards, given each year to buildings along the Avenue with exceptional parkway plantings and exterior building conditions. This Committee is open to general GNMAA Membership.
TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Michael Werthmann, Co-Chair
KLOA, Inc.
Robert Hann, Co-Chair
GO Airport Express
The GNMAA Traffic & Transportation Committee monitors and evaluates traffic related issues and proposals and looks at the long-term transportation needs of the GNMAA area. This Committee is made up of transportation industry professionals, parking garage and valet owners and operators, and representatives from the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Department of Transportation, METRA, and University of Illinois Urban Transportation Center. This Committee is open to general GNMAA Membership.
SECURITY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE
Mike Lynch, Co-Chair
Neiman Marcus
Ralph McGinnis, Co-Chair
The Shops at North Bridge
The GNMAA Security & Emergency Preparedness Committee works to promote safety and security and to look at long-term security needs and emergency preparedness planning in the GNMAA area. This Committee is made up of GNMAA retail, hotel and building security professionals, GNMAA member security companies, area institutions, and representatives from the Chicago Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Emergency Management and Communications and Cook County State's Attorney's Office. This Committee is open to those GNMAA members specializing in the areas of security and emergency preparedness.
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Grant DePorter, Chair
Harry Caray's Restaurants
The Committee was formed to address the need for formalizing the Association's policy positions on various timely issues and establishing procedures for determining positions that reflect the diverse GNMAA membership.
21ST CENTURY PLANNING COMMITTEE
Ralph Weber, Co-Chair
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Michael Toolis, Co-Chair
VOA Associates, Inc.
This Committee undertakes research, review and analysis of longer-range planning issues including the development of new parks and open space, the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, landmarking of area buildings, and updating GNMAA's Vision 2012 policy document.
MICHIGAN AVENUE 'BY THE NUMBERS' COMMITTEE
Paul Vogel, Co-Chair
Realty Development Research, Inc.
Gail Spreen, Co-Chair
Streeterville Properties
The Michigan Avenue 'By the Numbers' Committee compile economic, physical and social data and information on the greater North Michigan Avenue district and provides periodic updates to the Association's data resource Michigan Avenue 'By the Numbers.'
TASK FORCES
PROTOCOL FOR USE OF THE PUBLIC WAY TASK FORCE
Holly Agra, Chair
Chicago's First Lady Cruises
The GNMAA Protocol for Use of the Public Way Task Force was developed to address the need for a free and clear public way in the GNMAA area, specifically on heavily trafficked North Michigan Avenue. This Task Force seeks to take a closer look at how to manage the numerous uses of the public way along North Michigan Avenue, including advertising, panhandling, street performers, illegal businesses and homelessness. Working with a variety of city departments, including the City of Chicago Department of Law, the Department of Business Affairs and Licensing, the Mayor's Office and the Chicago Police Department the Task Force is working to ensure that North Michigan Avenue provides a safe, open and clear public way. Positions on this Task Force are by appointment only.
SUSTAINABLE GARDENS TASK FORCE
The GNMAA Planning for Sustainable Gardens Task Force was created to explore alternative funding mechanisms for the planting and maintenance of North Michigan Avenue's privately funded median gardens. Positions on this Task Force are by appointment only.
