A deadly construction accident, the unending debate over the future of the Harley Clarke mansion and the tradeoffs in balancing the city’s budget dominated the news in Evanston in October.
Here’s a rundown of the top 10 stories:
- One dead, one hospitalized in construction accident — Oct. 9 — Two workers were hurt when a load of steel being lifted by a crane reportedly slipped and struck them about 8:25 this morning at a construction site on Emerson Street in Evanston. One of the victims later died at Evanston Hospital.
- Two-year wait to build lakefront home is over — Oct. 10 — Two and a half years after buying a vacant lot on Evanston’s lakefront, and despite continuing objections from neighbors, Adam and Susan Sabow finally have Preservation Commission approval to build a home there.
- Viewpoint: The albatross on the lake — Oct. 22 — I’m so tired of Harley Clarke. After seven years of trying to decide what to do with it, Evanstonians still can’t agree.
- Former fire chief blasts planned station closing — Oct. 8 — A former Evanston fire chief, Greg Klaiber, is sharply criticizing plans to close one of the city’s five fire stations as part of broader cuts to balance the city’s 2019 budget.
- Proposed city budget calls for police, fire staff cuts — Oct. 5 — Evanston’s proposed 2019 city budget, released late today, calls for the first sizable layoffs in many years from the city’s fire and police departments.
- Openings: Tag’s, Squeezebox and more — Oct. 20 — New and relocated businesses are holding celebrations in Evanston this weekend.
- Harley Clarke: Should it stay or go? — Oct. 15 — Four Evanston residents debated the future of the Harley Clarke mansion Sunday at a sparsely attended referendum forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
- What you’ll pay Evanston more for in 2019 — Oct. 5 — Evanston residents will see big increases in parking fees and other auto-related costs next year under the proposed budget unveiled by City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz today.
- Preservation panel rejects mansion demolition — Oct. 23 — To no one’s surprise, Evanston’s Preservation Commission this evening voted unanimously to reject the city’s plan to demolish the lakefront Harley Clarke mansion.
- Study: Neighborhoods shape kids for life — Oct. 2 — A new study offers dramatic visual evidence for the impact that living in different neighborhoods has on the adult success of Evanston children who grew up in low income families.
