By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com The Evanston City Council cleared the way Monday for a one-year pilot Pathway to Wellness program that aims to improve health outcomes for some of the city’s most vulnerable populations. Council members voted 9-0 in support of Fifth Ward Council Member Bobby Burns’ recommendation to approve the $400 000 funding allocation,…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston’s downtown fountain probably won’t start flowing again until summer of 2026, City Engineer, Lara Biggs told City Council members in a discussion of the issue tonight. The fountain, a centerpiece of downtown, has been off since spring of 2021, when officials observed it was unable to retain water. The city subsequently…
All options are on the table – including moving out – with library’s nearly 30-year old main branch needing an $18.3 million renovation. By Bob Seidenberg Evanston Public Library trustees indicated Wednesday they may press for a new agreement with the city, reacting to a preliminary report that placed costs for renovation of the main…
Shootings may have stemmed from ‘several ongoing disputes’, police say By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston Police are beefing up patrols, particularly in the 1700 block of Dempster St., in the wake of three shooting events that have occurred in the area since Aug. 5, the Department said in release today. Although the incidents occurred close…
Veteran developer Kent Swanson advises committee on strategies used elsewhere to revitalize business districts By Bob Seidenberg Evanston has more in common with Chicago than nearby suburbs that are contending with high office vacancy rates and should consider a variety of solutions such as “Live and Work and Play” and partial conversions from office to…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com A plaza at the intersection of Church Street and Maple Avenue the city is seeking to redesign should have an identity separate from Fountain Square, according to members of the Economic Development Committee and others at the EDC meeting. Other ideas that came up at Wednesday’s meeting included opportunities for local…
Are you ready to take the plunge? By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Candidates interested in running in Evanston’s once-every-four-years municipal election next year can get an earlier start down that road this year with today, Tuesday, July 30, marking the first day they can begin circulating petitions to gather the number of signatures they’ll need to…
By Bob Seidenberg Third Ward City Council member Melissa Wynne, the senior member of the council, announced in her ward newsletter a short time ago that she will not be seeking re-election next year. Wynne, a strong voice on zoning and neighborhood protection issues, said that after 28 years “it is now time to pass…
Council Member Kelly presses for transparency on July 1st fiber optic break By Bob Seidenberg Evanston’s top information security officer provided details to a city committee Monday about the severing of fiber optic cables on July 1 that left many of the city’s major public buildings without internet for three days and also affected Northwestern…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston City Council members decided Monday to stick with the original design put forward by staff to provide wheelchair access to the Dog Beach, despite beach users advocating for a shorter, more direct route than the one proposed. With Mayor Daniel Biss breaking a 4-4 tie after two-hour debate, council voted to…
