A Daily Northwestern reporter learns what life is like inside the Jeep with the folks who try to bring order to Evanston’s parking maze.
Posted inBusiness
Community garden plots available
If you don’t have enough room for a garden this summer, the Evanston Ecology Center has the answer. The Center maintains four community gardens with plots available for rent. Useful for growing flowers, herbs or fresh vegetables, the four community garden locations are: James Park Gardens, south of Oakton between McCormick Blvd. and Dodge Ave.; […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Burglar hits Buffalo Joe’s
Evanston police report a burglar broke into Buffalo Joe’s restaurant at 812 Clark St. early Monday morning, broke into a safe and made off with $18,000. Details from the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Northwestern.
Posted inGovernment
Council adopts strategic plan
The Evanston City Council adopted a strategic plan for the city Monday that has been under development for nearly a year. Aldermen also approved: A $230,000 contract for architectural consulting work on the proposed remodeling of the youth services area of the public library. A $634,000 contract for phase two renovations to Mason Park. An […]
Posted inGovernment
Ethics panel dismisses complaint against Wollin
Evanston’s Board of Ethics voted unanimously tonight to reject claims that Ald. Cheryl Wollin, 1st Ward, acted improperly in accepting post-election campaign contributions. In moving to reject the complaint, board member Ruth Lipschutz said the contributions were properly disclosed and lawful under the state election code and therefore don’t constitute a violation of the city […]
Posted inReal Estate
Darrow debate: Who’s a stakeholder?
A decision on the Darrow Corners affordable housing project could turn on who aldermen consider a stakeholder in Evanston. Mary McAuley, an owner of the rental lofts building across the street from the project site at the intersection of Church Street and Darrow Avenue, said at Monday’s Planning and Development Committee meeting, “the big issue […]
Posted inReal Estate
Church Street Village moves closer to approval
Evanston aldermen Monday moved toward approving a modified version of the Church Street Village townhouses proposal for the former Hines lumberyard at 1613 Church St. The aldermen introduced the proposal at the city council meeting and then referred it back to committee for further review at a special meeting Tuesday, April 4. The modifications, worked […]
Posted inEducation
NU to offer doctorate in African American studies
Northwestern University plans to launch a doctoral program in Aferican American studies this fall. The Daily Northwestern reports it would be the first in a major metro area on only the seventh in the nation.
Posted inReal Estate
Aldermen move to impose west side development moratorium
Evanston aldermen are moving to impose a 120-day moratorium on consideration of new development projects for the industrial land along the old Mayfair railroad corridor. The Robinson bus property on Emerson Street is among those that would be affected by the moratorium. Faced with objections from some residents to two development proposals already pending in […]
Posted inEducation
NAACP says school board violated open meetings act
The Evanston NAACP says District 65 school board members violated the state’s Open Meetings Act when they crafted an alternative to the superintendent’s African-centered curriculum proposal in a series of e-mail messages. Details from the Chicago Tribune.
Posted inGovernment
Olympian Shani Davis honored at City Council
Evanston’s City Council proclaimed April Shani Davis month when the Olympic speed skating champion made an appearance before the council this evening. Shani Davis poses in the City Council chamber with youngsters from the skating program at Evanston’s Robert Crown Center, where he trained. To his right are his coach at the Crown Center, Sanders […]
Posted inGovernment
Street cleaning parking rules start next week
It must be spring! Evanston’s on-street parking regulations shift gears from concern about shoveling to sweeping next week. Most streets have signs banning parking one night or day per week. But the city only sweeps most streets every other week and only tickets on days it actually cleans. So you can either follow the signs, […]
Posted inBusiness, Government
City seeks businesses to hire teens
The city is seeking businesses and non-profit organizations to participate in the mahyor’s Summer Youth Job Fair. Businesses interested in participating in the Job Fair and Summer Youth Employment Program should complete Job Specification Forms and return them to the Human Relations Commission no later than April 10. Forms are available by calling the Human […]
Posted inReal Estate
Aldermen get affordable housing hot potato
Evanston aldermen Monday night will face a challenging decision about affordable housing. The affordable housing project would occupy this vacant corner lot that once housed a gas station, and the two aging apartment buildings behind it to the right. The Planning and Development Committee is scheduled to review a proposal for 27 rent-to-own affordable housing […]
Posted inGovernment
Council to vote on strategic plan Monday
Evanston aldermen are scheduled to vote on a strategic plan for the city when they meet Monday night. The plan, a major goal for City Manager Julia Carroll’s first year in office, has been in the works almost since she started the job in February 2005. The aldermen and city department heads spent Saturday morning, […]
Posted inReal Estate
Compromise sought on Hines redevelopment
Neighbors, the developers and city officials struggled tonight to reach a compromise on plans to redevelop the former Hines lumberyard on Church Street. The Hines lumberyard has been closed for nearly a year. Some neighbors, who for the most part live east of the site, think the proposal for 41 townhouses on 1.5 acres is […]