Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish wants to build a six-foot tall fence across the front yard of his new home at 90 Kedzie St. on the Evanston lakefront.
A representative for Darvish will ask the city’s Preservation Commission tonight to approve the fence plans.
Front yard fences have generally been prohibited in Evanston since 1999 and, on the few streets where they are permitted, they’re limited to four feet in height.
Darvish also wants to fence off the adjoining vacant lot he owns at 92 Kedzie.
Darvish bought the home and vacant lot last month for $4.55 million through an LLC.
A view of Darvish’s property and a portion of Clark Square Park across the street (Google Maps)
In the application for the fence, which would also extend around the entire perimeter of the property, Darvish’s representative, zoning consultant Matt Rodgers, says Darvish “is well known nationally and has had security concerns in the past due to his public recognition.”
Rodgers says the extra height of the fence “while not preventing trespass, will serve to better deter persons from being able to approach the house or outdoor living spaces behind the house.”
An existing fence that appears to block off a portion of the front yard is actually located on the public right-of-way, according to the fence variation application.
Pitch Better, Get Exemption
If Darvish can do two quality starts in a row he can get the exemption.
Can his fast ball strike the
Can his fast ball strike the broad side of this fence?
Celebrity Worship
Has a more beautiful view ever been blocked by a Six Foot front and side yard fence since enactment of the 1999 prohibition? Are we talking about a wrought iron fence that at least preserves most of the view, and still enhances safety, or a solid fence?
Fence
Hi Frankie,
As shown in the rendering at the top of the story, the fence is proposed to be wrought iron.
Don’t have any data on the history of any prior exemptions.
— Bill
Looks pretty good to me
I saw the word fence and envisioned a tall, wooden, impenetrable monstrosity. The artist’s rendering is anything but. I think that if the fence is “open” like shown it seems ok to me. The house doesn’t front on the (main) street, and, being so close to a public park, having a boundary seems reasonable. 🙂
Fence
But I thought these celebrities and players were for an open border. ….. oh right, only when it doesn’t apply to them.
Will there ever be another Yu
Will there ever be another Yu?
Good fences keep both baseballs and ivy within Wrigley Field.