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Consultant presents ‘Trolley’ and ‘Heights’ name concepts for South Broadway revitalization in Englewood
Summary
A branding working group led by consultant Anne Gillespie proposed three destination-name concepts for the South Broadway corridor — including ‘Trolley District’ and ‘Inglewood/Englewood Heights’ — and outlined outreach and next steps before a Sept. 8 presentation to City Council.
At a meeting of the Englewood City Historic Preservation Commission, branding consultant Anne Gillespie said her working group is preparing three name-and-identity concepts for the two-mile South Broadway revitalization corridor.
Gillespie, who leads the branding working group and owns the agency Fix and Form, said the group’s goal is “to give this 2 mile stretch of South Broadway a destination name and then an identity and a story behind that.” She told commissioners the group surveyed businesses and residents, conducted in-person interviews (including with the senior center) and worked with the local historic committee to surface themes and local stories.
The working group narrowed the concepts to three finalists, Gillespie said. Two names that have drawn the most support so far are proposals that highlight the corridor’s history and topography: a Trolley-themed name (presented as “Trolley District” or similar) and a Heights-themed name (presented as “Inglewood/Englewood Heights”). “The word trolley and the word heights have been the most popular votes so far,” she said. The trolley option references local history and a preserved trolley on display at City Hall; Gillespie and commissioners discussed using that story and playful signage to promote arts and small-business activity.
Gillespie said the branding work is one of eight working-group deliverables for the broader revitalization project. The branding group’s immediate schedule calls for a final internal working-group meeting the day after this commission session to select the three concept forms the group will submit. Deliverables for all eight groups are due to city staff in late August; Gillespie said the projects’ combined slide deck will be presented to City Council at its Sept. 8 meeting, when two local business owners from the branding working group will present the concepts on Gillespie’s behalf.
Commissioners and staff asked about emphasis and trade-offs between business-owner preferences and resident sentiment. Gillespie said business owners tend to favor dropping “South Broadway” from a formal destination name and choosing a distinct identity to attract coffee shops, eateries and co‑working space. She said the branding aims to increase “vibrancy” and fill vacant storefronts by improving curb appeal and wayfinding, coordinating with other working groups on signage and public art.
Vice Chair Cash Parker and other commissioners welcomed the trolley idea as a way to create playful signage and a recognizable identity. Gillespie said the final name selection — if the City elects to move forward after the Council presentation — will follow additional City review and possible follow-up working sessions.
Next steps: the branding working group will finalize three concept forms at its last working meeting, submit the deliverable to staff in late August, and two group representatives will present to City Council on Sept. 8. Gillespie said she will not attend the council presentation in person; two local representatives will present in her place.
