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…
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…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston city officials are looking at securing more off-street parking and establishing resident-only parking zones, responding to concerns from some merchants about the spaces that will be lost under the city’s plan for a protected two-way bike lane for Chicago Avenue. Officials went “back to the drawing board,” Sat Nagar, the senior engineer…
By Bob Seidenberg A collection of businesses and individuals in the busy Chicago Avenue area are raising strong objections to city plans for a two-way protected bike lane to run the length of the street, arguing that the project could have a damaging effect on business and urging officials to consider an alternative route. The…
By Bob Seidenberg Bringing a platter of the bakery’s fresh products to the meeting probably didn’t hurt the cause of a couple seeking assistance from the Economic Development Committee Wednesday to establish a bakery at 719 Main St. Sara Rathbun, the co-owner of Button Bakery, brought the platter of scones and pretzels with her to…
By Bob Seidenberg Members of the city’s Preservation Commission at their meeting earlier this month largely agreed that city designs for a protected two-way lane on Church Street west of Dodge Avenue and an expanded shared biking and pedestrian path along McCormick Boulevard pose no adverse effects to the two historic properties in the area…
By Bob Seidenberg With needs far outpacing available funding, members of the city’s Finance & Budget Committee on Tuesday agreed it’s time to address how much debt is acceptable in addressing a growing list of capital projects. Committee members didn’t vote at the end of their discussion, but there was consensus toward developing a policy on…
By Bob Seidenberg A group of Latino city employees has hit out at what they called a “disturbing slander campaign” that suggests favoritism was at play in job promotions they have received. “It seems like whenever a Latino is promoted, instead of being celebrated, we are investigated and devalued, like we can’t possibly be capable…
By Bob Seidenberg An Evanston homeowner’s young elm tree — currently leaning over a neighbor’s garage, and projected to grow in that direction in coming years — will remain in place at least a few months, in the first test of the of the city’s private tree ordinance. At Monday’s Human Services Committee meeting, Council Member…
