S. B. Friedman & Company was engaged to assist the City of Park Ridge in soliciting developers for Target Area 2 of its Uptown Master Plan, generally known as the Bredemann/Reservoir Area. The City had purchased two car dealerships, and had determined that its existing reservoir might be moved.

Working with the City, HKM Architects and Planners, and Parsons Transportation Group, we evaluated the development potential of the site. Key issues were the relationship of the site to the Pickwick Theatre, complex traffic patterns, and establishing a walkable downtown environment.

Through a series of studies, the concept of organizing the downtown around a “city commons” that encompassed the library block was introduced, making this site a focal point since it could not be developed. A number of ways to tame traffic at the intersection were also identified.

In 2008, the project won two awards. The Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association chose the redevelopment as a Gold Award winner for its transit-oriented and mixed-use focus. Likewise, the Illinois Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism selected the project as its winner in the "Neighborhood, District and Corridor" category during the 2008 awards ceremony.

The full list of IL-APA 2008 Award winners can be seen here.