City may start recruiting businesses to fill vacant storefronts
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston Economic Development Committee members showed interest last week in a plan to recruit businesses to fill empty storefronts, taking advantage of new search tools that would allow them to find businesses that might be a good fit. “A lot of what drives our concerns about vacancy isn’t really about, ‘Why don’t…
Library officials explore potential cost of separating from the city
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston Public Library officials are continuing to explore different options for managing mounting maintenance costs at the main building on Orrington Avenue, including one path that would entail separating from the city and becoming an independent district. EPL Executive Director Yolande Wilburn briefed the board at its Feb. 19 meeting on a…
Preservation Commission members again question proposed code changes
By Bob Seidenberg Frustration boiled over at times as members of the Evanston Preservation Commission met Feb. 11 for a second review of proposed city zoning code changes encapsulated in Envision Evanston 2045, raising concerns the recommended changes for greater height and bulk may be placing development over maintaining the city’s special character. “I think…
NU contract workers win protections in first-time ordinance supporting retention rights
By Bob Seidenberg Veronica Reyes, a longtime resident of the city, has worked the past 15 years as a cashier in food service for Northwestern University. When the university replaced food service operators Sodexo and Aramark with the Compass Group in 2018, she told members of the city’s Human Services Committee Wednesday night, “there was…
Commission pushes for zoning protections for historic district
By Bob Seidenberg Members of the city’s Preservation Commission raised concerns Tuesday about height and density changes proposed for the Chicago Avenue corridor, leaning toward dividing zoning on the street to blunt the impact on homes in the Lakeshore Historic District, which sits just behind it. No final votes were taken. Boiled down, though, the…
Candidates wage write-in campaigns for city clerk, 4th Ward
By Bob Seidenberg All but one member of the Evanston City Council will now face opposition in the April 1 municipal election, with candidates stepping up to wage write-in campaigns in the city clerk and Fourth Ward races. Vanessa Johnson-McCoy, in the city clerk’s race, and Margaret “Meg” Welch, vying for the Fourth Ward…
Fifth Ward TIF funds may go for property improvements
By Bob Seidenberg The Five-Fifths Tax Increment Financing district, the newest of the city’s five active TIF districts, has already amassed close to $1.4 million in incremental revenues — funds that officials are looking to tap to improve housing quality and maintain affordability within the district. City Council members established the Five-Fifths TIF in October…
Edzo’s Burger Shop to close after 15 years
Owner says a couple of new locations are possibilities By Bob Seidenberg Edzo’s Burger Shop at 1571 Sherman Ave., known for its fresh-made burgers and creative toppings, will be closing this Saturday, Dec. 21st, after 15 years, its founder Eddie Lakin wrote in a Facebook post a short while ago. Lakin said he’s exploring other…
