Evanston aldermen Monday voted to establish a task force to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with affordable housing issues in the city.
The task-force proposal was offered by Alderman Edmund Moran, 6th Ward, in response to a report by the city’s Housing Commission.
The commisson report, drafted this spring but generally ignoring the turmoil in the housing market since the end of 2006, said that despite the city’s efforts to provide more affordable housing, the proportion of rental and owner-occupied housing in Evanston affordable to moderate income families has declined during this decade.
The composition of the task force and details about its goals were not included in the motion adopted 8-0 by the council’s Planning and Development Committee.
The aldermen also voted Monday to approve spending an additional $15,000 on top of the $99,500 already approved to fund rehab of a single-family home at 2212 Washington St. by the Citizens Lighthouse community Land Trust.
Alderman Elizabeth Tisdahl, 7th Ward, said, “I will vote for this, because we’ve sunk a lot of money into it, and sinking a little more is the correct thing to do. But I’m concerned that in the future we should get more bang for our bucks and be able to help more people.”
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sink more money into the black hole is more like it
OMG-Here’s Tisdahl’s logic – We already GAVE (FREE) 100k and because it hasn’t worked we will GIVE more money (until it works?) That’s bad business. But oh wait, it’s not Tisdahl’s or the Council’s money, so hey, let’s score political points by giving money away. The kicker is that nobody wanted into the deal of a low-income, below-market value home because mainly the house is too SMALL!!!
Yes, the Council SUNK a lot of OUR money into SOMEONE else’s failed project that helped no one. There isn’t enough room here to mention all the city, county, state, federal and religious organizations that have some version of affordable housing programs. Why in the world is Evanston so concerned about affordable housing in a suburb that has the most diverse housing stock based on price anywhere in the STATE?!!!! Word to the Evanston City Council – cut the city’s expenses, especially giving away money, and balance the budget. I doubt VOTERS next year will be ready for another whopper tax increase they got this year. Just you wait when homeowner’s get their tax bill this fall and see the tax increase THEY will have to PAY!!!! And for what? So a family can basically live in a free home. Uh wait, nobody wants the deal anyway.
Maybe if the city offers them lakefront property it might work. What about it Tisdahl? Why not SINK more free money into a program that’s a sure bet – lakefront property.
Anonymous Al
AL you make one mistake – about the voters here
Anonymous Al – you make one mistake about the voters here they are all blaming NU – and the majority of them think these council members actually know what they are doing. Many of these elected officials are very connected here with the special interests who have no interest in our taxes.
By the way when you see former council members coming to the council and representing these groups asking for money – it should be a signal that we have a problem. By the way Al if you do a little research you might find out how wealthly some of these people are who represent our interests – a few extra bucks have no effect on them. Yet they have no problem taxing the poor in this town – and adding fees to their bills ( such as water) – and then turning around and creating affordable housing programs for the poor. Its all very amusing.
Mr Who and a few others – appear to me have not been here too long – since they might realize the same group of people and their friends continue to get elected. Interestingly enough it is getting harder and harder for them to cover up all their screw ups.
special interests
Mr. Who Knows is currently out of town – at an undisclosed location, of course.
Since I am paying by the minute for internet use here, I will keep my comments short.
1. Junad – You have once again made accusations of “elected officials are very connected here with the special interests “. I have requested before, and never received, a list of which elected officials are connected to which special interests. I still haven’t seen that. If you can’t back up your accusations, you shouldn’t make them.
You are right, Junad, about expenses that need to be cut: this affordable housing waste, the north side library, the elm trees. I also happen to believe that the Dawes House should become a private residence or bed & breakfast, so it can be on the tax rolls.
We also need to increase revenue by development. I think that building a Costco on Central Street would bring in a lot of sales tax revenue.
2. Anonymous Al, as usual is correct. Alderman Tisdahl deserves to be voted out for many reasons, the most outragous being her opposition to the beautiful tower, threatening to tax Northwestern. Why do the voters in her ward support her so strongly? She was elected without any serious opposition in 2005.
Mr.Who
You need to start attending the meetings here looking at things much closer –
remember there are lines between legal and illegal – you will need to decide for yourself. I have been around alot longer than you – when I act sometimes it is not disclosed on these pages – I do not tell anyone what I have been told privately. I have many sources of information.
Interestingly enough Bill reported on a former council member and that individual’s issues –
Mr Who – the reason the same people get elected here over and over – is they represent the special interests – you can take that how ever you like it.
Mr Who – you point to some very minor expenses and claim they need to be cut – here again you appear to not have much of a understanding of what is going on here – don’t worry next year you will see a 10% tax increase – on your condo –
Here again you make – comments – that show you have little understanding “We also need to increase revenue by development. I think that building a Costco on Central Street would bring in a lot of sales tax revenue.” please explain to me where on central street you think this should be built? There is no property bigger enough for such a building – nor is the traffic enough to support it.
By the way the Dawes house – has nothing to do with the city – tax situation – and the problems – putting it back on the tax rolls – would have a very minor impact – maybe a few thousand dollars to the city – would not even come close to cover ing the waste that occurs in one council meeting. ( not even cover one council members medical benifits)
You are right, Junad
Junad wrote:
Here again you make – comments – that show you have little understanding “We also need to increase revenue by development. I think that building a Costco on Central Street would bring in a lot of sales tax revenue.” please explain to me where on central street you think this should be built? There is no property bigger enough for such a building – nor is the traffic enough to support it.
Junad – You are absolutely right, there is just no room on Central Street for a Costco. How about the old Civic Center site? As you know, we can’t afford to keep maintaining that dinosaur of a building. That has plenty of land, enough for a Costco and a decent sized parking lot. And then the former Kendall site is close enough to use as an outlot – they could put an IHOP and a Cheesecake Factory there. It would be nice. Of course, we would have to respect the neighborhood and make sure that the buildings are designed by a good architect who can make them match their environment. Can’t have a blue roof on the IHOP or the Costco in that neighborhood. Do you know a good architect?