By Bob Seidenberg and Mary Gavin
Evanston Economic Development Committee members backed allocating some of the city’s remaining federal pandemic recovery funds to a number of key business initiatives at their April 24 meeting, including $500,000 for the Maple/Church/Davis plaza area where the city is scheduled to move Civic Center offices this summer.
Officials face a “ticking clock” for using $3 million in remaining American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) money allotted to the committee to fund initiatives in the Evanston Thrives plan to enhance the city’s business districts.
The committee has already allocated $900,000, including for public murals by Art Encounter ($61,000); place-making and kit planning by All Together Evanston($41,280); All Together Evanston’s communications plan ($78,200); a dining terrace at Independence Park ($500,000) and a new Small Business Recovery Fund ($250,000).
U.S. Treasury regulations specify that projects funded through ARPA either be completed or scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Short of that, funding recipients must have a plan and a timeline submitted to the Treasury by July 31.
Economic Development Manager Paul Zalmezak stressed he was “not trying to cause panic.” But “we’ve got 14 more Council meetings [left in the year], so there’s not a lot of time to do it.”
Asked what would happen if the projects were not approved until December, Zalmezak said it would be “horrifying.”
Theater/Civic Plaza
Staff’s list of recommendations included stepping up ARPA funding from $100,000 to $500,000 for the Theater/Civic Plaza project at Maple Avenue, Church Street and Davis Street. The $100,000 funding was proposed well before City Council voted to move out of the city’s longtime base of operations at 2100 Ridge Ave. and into the 909 Davis St. office building which sits right off the plaza in downtown Evanston.
In a memo to the committee, Zalmezak noted that the “project aims to transform the space bound by CTA, Church Street, Metra, and Davis Street into a vibrant and inviting hub for community gatherings, outdoor dining, cultural events, and placemaking initiatives. The selected firm will be responsible for creating a plan that incorporates outdoor dining furniture, festoon/festival lighting, gateway signage, intersection paint, train viaduct murals, and other exciting placemaking infrastructure.”
Staff has already sent out a Request for Proposals on the project, Zalmezak told the committee, receiving ideas from interested companies last week.
He indicated that the response was strong. Until city officials determine the cost of buying furniture and commissioning other work to enhance the plaza, he added, which sits across from a dilapidated CTA station entrance, they won’t know if the full $500,000 is needed.
Council Member Clare Kelly (1st Ward) asked whether that amount could be reduced and the “surplus” allocated to the Small Business Recovery Fund.
Angela Pennisi, who represents the city’s Minority, Women, Disadvantaged Evanston Business Enterprise (M/W/D/EBE) Committee, said she wasn’t in favor of the motion.
“I would prefer that we see what comes in for $500,000,” Pennisi said.
New downtown trash cans
“While garbage cans may not be viewed as a catalytic investment, their ubiquity (cans at every intersection) elevates the importance of a high-quality appearance. A majority of the existing cans are rusted and are open at the top, allowing overflowing, wind-blown trash and easy access by rats,” Zalmezak wrote in a memo to the committee.
“The blue lids on the recycling cans are often blown off in windy conditions. Public Works Agency reports there is a limited budget for cans, and a replacement schedule would take several years. An immediate replacement with ARPA will allow the downtown area to experience an immediate improvement, coupled with planned landscaping improvements.”
Committee member and business owner Cheryl Judice noted the allocation for about 120 new trash receptables was $165,000.
“That’s more than $1,000 per can,” she said. The exact cost broke down to $1,375 per can.
Kelly also added that in the past there have been issues with the frequency of collection schedules. “So is that being reviewed?” she asked. “Or is this request [made] in part to help address that so we can continue with less frequent [trash pickups]?”
Because of the refuse pickup schedules, large containers are necessary to control litter and rodents, as the schedules will likely remain the same, a city official said.
Fountain Square South Plaza improvements
No one disagreed about the poor appearance of the south plaza of Fountain Square. The “permanent” holiday tree died a few months after it was placed there. People who sit there feel like they’re in a wind tunnel, some have said.
Bright new furniture might make the place more attractive, Zalmezak said, though Andy Vick, executive director of Downtown Evanston, suggested going easy on the bright colors.
The estimated cost to replace the tree and improve the plaza is $200,000.
Other allocations
The committee also approved these items for ARPA funding through Evanston Thrives. Phrases below the description of the item summarize some of the committee members’ concerns:
- Downtown placemaking equipment, $200,000
- Clear gateways at the entrance of each district, $500,000
- Items other than banners would be preferable
- Noyes Street furniture, $10,500
- These will be placed in front of Noyes Cultural Arts Center
- Pilot community events fund to support local community to initiate more events in public spaces, $45,000
- Help with security barricades and tables and chairs would be most appreciated
- Arrington Lagoon building, $100,000
- This funding would help launch a food and beverage service; it is not sufficient to make the place operational as a full-scale restaurant
- Callan Plaza (Howard Street), $150,000 (plus an additional $100,000 approved for the implementation of the One Howard plan with Rogers Park)
- Electrical connections for plazas, $50,000
In one motion, these allocations, together with the allocations for the theater/civic plaza, the downtown trash receptacles and improvements for Fountain Square South were approved for recommendation to City Council.
Council could consider the recommendation at its next meeting on Monday, April 29, if there is a quorum.
