Plans to add 35 apartment units to the vacant Varsity Theater building in downtown Evanston moved one step closer to approval Tuesday.
The city’s Design and Project Review Committee recommended approval of a variation to allow the developers to provide two-on-site parking spaces and 16 leased off-site spaces, rather than the 26 total spaces required by the city’s zoning code.
Developer Steven Rogin said he believed 11 off-site speces would be sufficient, given the public transportation options downtown and the number of people who both work and live in Evanston.
“We think the target market for the project is young professionals and couples” before they make the move to a single-family home, Rogin said.
Plans for the project were discussed at a virtual neighborhood meeting last month.
The next stage of the review process for the project is a Land Use Commission meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23. The City Council will have the final word on whether the project is approved.