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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…
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…
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 The main Evanston Public Library site at 1703 Orrington Ave., is among the sites identified as options to serve as the next permanent home of government operations after the city moves out of 2100 Ridge Avenue to temporary quarters early next year. ”It seems to me the fewer buildings the city is…
By Bob Seidenberg Once again, Evanston city staff is pushing for action backing funding assistance for a protected two-way bike lane running nearly the length of Chicago Avenue rather than spacing out discussion on the issue. Officials are recommending Council action on Monday night’s agenda for grant funds from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency (CMAP) to…
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…