Community First has received awards from:

• The American Planning Association, Illinois Chapter
  
• The American Institute of Architects, Illinois Chapter and Northeast Illinois Chapter
  
• The American Society of Landscape Architects, Illinois Chapter
  

Community First in the news:

Utne, March-April 2003
10 most enlightened suburbs.
Peter Katz / Jay Walljasper (pgs. 54-55)

Daily Herald, 3/08/03
Naperville backs off plan for wider side yards.
Susan Stevens

Naperville Sun, 3/07/03
City Council maintains uniform requirements for side-yard size.
Meg Dedolph

Chicago Tribune, 3/07/03
Naperville to take new tack to manage teardowns.
Jennifer Taylor

Daily Herald, 3/06/03
Naperville will continue teardown education.
Susan Stevens

Daily Herald, 3/04/03
Naperville realizes there's no formula for attractive homes.
Susan Stevens

Chicago Sun-Times, 3/03/03
Indiana region, Naperville, on 'Most Enlightened' list.
Mark Skertic

Positively Naperville, 3/01/03
Community First recognizes neighborhood-friendly designs.

Chicago Tribune, 2/06/03
Naperville eyes census, state funding.
Pervaiz Shallwani

Positively Naperville, 2/01/03
Six houses receive Community First Choice Design Awards on Feb. 4.

Daily Herald, 1/25/03
Naperville's top housing designs recognized.
Susan Stevens

Naperville Sun, 1/22/03
Two more unique aspects of Naperville.
Tim West

Positively Naperville, 12/01/03
Help select the Community Choice Design Awards.

Chicago Tribune, 11/17/03
Residents demand voice on growth.
Shia Kapos

Dailey Herald, 11/02/03
You be the judge - voting open for home design awards.
Susan Stevens

Positively Naperville, 11/01/03
Vote for Community Choice Design Awards.

Chicago Tribune, 10/04/03
Law called aid to teardowns in Naperville.
Barbara Sherlock

Positively Naperville, 10/01/03
Vote for Community Choice Design Awards

Illinois Planning News, Fall 2002
Community First - A solution to the 'Teardown Dilemma'.
Allison Laff & Lisa Tuttle

Chicago Tribune, 08/07/02
Character counts in teardown trend.
Maria Kantzavelos

The Naperville Sun, 07/31/02
Community First elects leadership.
Bill Bird

Positively Naperville, 08/01/02
Community First elects leadership.

The Naperville Sun, 07/26/02
Other communities taking cue from Naperville's redevelopment plans.
Bill Bird

Daily Herald, 07/26/02
From teardown to dreamhome.
Deborah Donovan

Chicago Tribune, 07/20/02
Teardown controversy wanes, but Naperville still on guard.
Jeffery Steele

Daily Herald, 07/02/02
Community First captures high honors.

Positively Naperville, 07/01/02
Community First receives award from American Planning Association.

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Utica, Illinois-- June 13, 2002,-- Community First receives award for Special Community Initiative from the American Planning Association. Below is an excerpt from the notification received.

"On behalf of the Executive Committee of the State Chapter and this year's Awards Jury, I am pleased to notify you that Naperville Community First, Inc. has received an Award in the Special Community Initiative category for its "Workbook for Successful Redevelopment." The Jury was particularly impressed with the unique manner in which citizens channeled their energy and emotion into a beneficial and successful project; the example it sets in demonstrating what citizens can provide for their communities; its high quality graphics; its transferability and its focus on preserving neighborhood character. The Jury also noted the Workbook's potential for use in schools and was interested in obtaining further information about the experience of the Community in implementing the Workbook's recommendations. The Award will be presented at the Illinois Chapter Annual meeting at Starved Rock Lodge and Convention Center during lunch at Noon on Thursday, June 13, 2002...

Finally, in the near future, I will contact you to arrange for a member of the Chapter's Executive Board to formally present the award to the City at a venue of your choice. We use this opportunity to highlight your accomplishments in the community in which the outstanding work has been done. Usually, this is a City Council meeting but could be another meeting of your choice. A press release concerning the award will be provided to you at that time.

Again, congratulations on an outstanding effort."

Sincerely,
Robert B. Ahlberg, AICP
Illinois Chapter Vice President/Awards Jury Chair

---

Positively Naperville, 06/01/02
Community First offers program for builder professionals and homeowners.

The Naperville Sun, 06/12/02
Workbook endeavors to help redeveloping neighborhoods.
Sara Snyder

The Naperville Sun, 05/22/02
Community First group offers programs for builders, homeowners.
Sara Snyder

Community First, 05/20/02
Offers Program for Building Professionals and Homeowners

Positively Naperville, 05/01/02
Community First's workbook now for sale.

The Naperville Sun, 04/05/02
Publication outlining teardowns available.
Sara Snyder

Positively Naperville, 03/01/02
Community First's workbook available at Naperville public library.

Chicago Tribune, 02/22/02
Naperville hopes new workbook will reshape teardown proposals.
Karen Mellen

Daily Herald, 02/20/02
Naperville endorses new teardown guide.
Susan Stevens

Daily Herald, 02/07/02
Group seeks to maintain image despite development in neighborhoods.
Gerry Cassiopi

Daily Herald, 02/05/02
Group hopes Community First idea is catching.
Stephanie Penick

Positively Naperville, 02/01/02
City adopts Community First advisory guidelines.
Stephanie Penick

Daily Herald, 02/01/02
Community First debuts its workbook of redevelopment to council members.
Sara Snyder

The Naperville Sun, 01/25/02
Redevelopment can be done sensitively.
Bill Mego

»Back To Top

The Naperville Sun, 01/16/02
Publication day dawns – Community First ready to present redevelopment.
Bill Byrd

Positively Naperville, 01/01/02
Community First to Report to City Council.
Stephanie Penick

Chicago Tribune, 01/03/02
Naperville group set to offer council study of teardowns.
Karen Mellen

Positively Naperville, 12/01/01
Community First marks one year – debuts on Channel 17 – plans neighborhood.
Stephanie Penick

Daily Herald, 11/29/01
Sarah Mawhorr Column
Sarah Mawhorr

NCTV-17, 9/01
Regular showing of September 2001 Information meeting on local television.

Daily Herald, 11/27/01
Tandem garages growing in popularity.
Stephanie Penick

Daily Herald, 11/28/01
Teardown discussions still air on Channel 17.
Neighborhood Briefs

The Naperville Sun
Letter to the Editor.

The Naperville Sun, 01/27/02
Building guidelines should be tried.
Editorial - Community First Offers Naperville a Solution on Redevelopment.

Positively Naperville, 11/01/01
Community First brewing for informal neighborhood coffees.
Stephanie Penick

Positively Naperville, 10/01/01
Community First receives praise from City Council – begins neighborhood coffees.
Stephanie Penick

The Naperville Sun, 10/10/01
Building a history - kit homes endure as nostalgic favorite.
Sara Snyder

Daily Herald, 09/26/01
Naperville group working up guidelines to address teardowns.
Susan Stevens

Chicago Tribune
Naperville panel offers solution on teardowns.
Patricia Trebe

The Naperville Sun
Community First plan gets rave review.
Bill Byrd

Daily Herald, 09/14/01
Naperville group presents its guidelines to builders.
Susan Stevens

Daily Herald, 08/28/01
Naperville group to unveil proposed redevelopment guide.
Susan Stevens

The Naperville Sun, 09/19/01
Community First workbook takes shape.
Bill Byrd

The Naperville Sun, 08/08/01
Halfway Home Community First team edits city’s first-ever housing workbook.
Bill Byrd

The Naperville Sun, 09/16/01
Redevelopment Caucus: Meeting on reconstruction held. "The Week in Review"

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