Chicago Avenue high
After several years, eight proposals and countless public meetings, Evanston's Land Use Commission Wednesday night unanimously backed plans for a 12-story, 110-unit version of The Legacy apartment building at 1621 Chicago Ave.
Developers presented the latest plans at Wednesday's meeting, answering questions from commissioners and addressing concerns from some members of the public.
But unlike previous meetings where earlier versions of the project drew mostly criticism , public comment was more mixed Wednesday.
Resident Terry Wendt, an urban designer, praised the project and even questioned why the city isn't working with developers to encourage more units in the project.
A few members of the development team broke into grins at the prospect — the proposal was, at one point, 25-stories tall and included 215 units before it was progressively chipped away due to repeated public pushback and two rejections from City Council.
But developers could sigh with relief Wednesday night, as their project heads to City Council for a final review and vote.
Judson Avenue resident Milton Zimmerman said he's "excited with the prospect of welcoming all these new neighbors, bringing these new businesses to our block."
Commission member Darush Mabadi asked developers if they expect the development to attract students, due to its proximity to Northwestern University and its high volume of one bedroom units.
But developer Jeff Michael said he doesn't anticipate students will be able to afford the price range for a one bedroom — around $2,500 per month.
"It's certainly not targeted toward students," Michael said.
But neighbor Michelle Zimmerman said, "We live in a college town. This college was here before any of us moved in ... You have to expect that students will live there and I think that's fine, I don't have any problem with students living there."
Resident Meg Welsh challenged the idea that increasing housing supply would lower costs for Evanston renters, saying "Evanston would have to look like the slums in Buenos Aires to make rents drop."
Bill Brown, from board of trustees of First United Methodist Church, urged the committee to reject the plan, a position the church has taken for years.
The developers are committing $400,000 to help the city repave and modernize the alley behind the lot.
Some residents were worried about the potential increased traffic, and Commissioner Max Puchtel asked that careful consideration of pedestrian safety and traffic be included in the final proposal to City Council.
The project already brings with it a length list of conditions for approval from City staff, including changing three parking stalls in front of the building to 30-minute spots and barring building residents from residential parking permits for nearby streets.
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) was at Wednesday's meeting, and told Evanston Now she was "very pleased" with the proposal and the ultimate decision by the LUC to approve it.
She said she thinks the form the project finally makes the years of back and forth worth it.
Last summer, the last time the project came before City Council, Ald. Devon Reid (8th) was the only one to support it.
