Seeking to distinguish itself from the commonplace suburb whose identity is lost in a sea of housing and strip commercial development, Genoa Township initiated action to create a defined Town Center, a mixed-use walkable urban core with a mixture of businesses, upper floor apartments, traditional townhouses and single-family homes.

LSL prepared the urban design plan and accompanying form-based code for the Town Center. In addition to creating an identity for the community, the district’s intense development is expected to serve as a catalyst for redevelopment of nearby older commercial properties.