Ellen Shubart's release
Veteran preservationist Ellen Shubart of Glencoe has been named manager of the Campaign for Sensible Growth, a regional coalition of government, business and civic leaders.
The Campaign, whose 150 members range from printing giant R. R. Donnelley & Sons to the Lake County Municipal League, works to promote economic development while preserving open space, minimizing the need for new public works and maximizing the livability of communities both new and old.
"Sensible growth is about quality of life, both for us and our children," said Shubart, 58. "I'm excited about working with so many leaders and organizations who share a vision of what that future could be if we plan for it now.
Shubart will coordinate Campaign activities from the Loop offices of the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), which co-leads the Campaign along with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC). One of her immediate tasks will be tracking and shaping the direction of the Illinois Growth Task Force, a blue-ribbon panel created last year by the General Assembly to craft legislation supportive of "smarter" land-use and transportation planning, chaired by Sen. John Maitland (R-Bloomington). The legislative panel compliments recent balanced growth initiatives announced by Gov. George Ryan and is expected to make its recommendations in the coming months. One theme repeated at Task Force hearings around the state is that local governments in Illinois need to bring better tools, incentives, and more planning expertise to produce win-win negotiations with real estate developers and local residents. Shubart brings a wealth of experience to the Campaign Manager's position. She most recently served as a program coordinator with the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. While there, she finished work toward a master's degree in historic preservation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A longtime advocate of historical and architectural preservation, Shubart is chairman of the Glencoe Historic Preservation Commission and president of the Glencoe Historical Society. She has dealt with a broader range of planning issues as a member of the Glencoe Plan Commission She also has an insider's take on publicity and public relations, having worked for nearly a decade earlier in her career as an editor of several Crain's Communications publications, including Franchise Times, Crain's Chicago Business, and City & State. Prior to her positions with Crain's, Shubart was an editor and writer for several Pioneer Press publications, including the Glencoe News, Evanston Review, Highland Park News, and Lake Forester.