An auto dealer who’s been pushing for a multi-million dollar tax break to stay in Evanston has floated the possibility he might relocate to Skokie.
But Skokie officials, in emails obtained by Evanston Now through a Freedom of Information Act request, say he isn’t being recruited by the village.
In a Jan. 30 email to the dealership owner, Shawn Kohli, Skokie’s community development director, Johanna Nyden, wrote:
“The Village of Skokie has learned that you presented to the City of Evanston’s Economic Development Commission that the Village of Skokie is actively recruiting your dealership from Evanston. As you and I both know, this is not true. No member of the current Village staff has ever met with you on your potential Skokie project.”
Nyden, who before taking her current job in Skokie had the same position in Evanston, added that “no current Village of Skokie employee made an offer of economic assistance” to the dealership or “has any knowledge of interest in a Skokie location.”
Kohli responded that he has been “actively pursuing a location in Skokie” and “I don’t believe I have said or led anyone to believe something that is not factual.”
Included in the Evanston Economic Development Committee meeting packets for December and January was a listing sheet from a real estate brokerage showing the possible redevelopment of a now-vacant site in the 7300 block of North McCormick Boulevard for three retail outlets.
Kohli told the committee that he was considering that site as a possible new location for his dealership, as well as a location in Chicago.
In December Kohli asked for $2.5 million in sales taxes breaks over a 10-year period to, in part, help cover the cost of an estimated $1.5 million remodeling of the Evanston location that’s being required by Volkswagen.
Turned down then, he returned in January with a request for $2 million in aid, which also was rejected — but with the suggestion that he come back — perhaps to the committee meeting later this month — with a more modest request.
The city’s economic development manager, Paul Zalmezak, told the committee that the city’s guidelines have traditionally called for providing no more than 25% of a commercial renovation project’s cost, which, in this case, would amount to about $375,000.
Auto dealerships are generally considered attractive to communities because of the high sales tax revenue they generate compared to most other retailers.
Chicago Avenue, once known as “auto row” in Evanston, has gradually lost most of its dealerships over the decades.
In one of the more recent departures, over a decade ago, the Evanston Subaru dealership moved to Oakton Avenue in Skokie, while keeping Evanston in its name.
That site was redeveloped to become part of the 287-unit AMLI Evanston apartment complex.
That location on Chicago Ave would is a good one for a couple of apartment buildings, like the AMLI development. It is already a residential area and is within walking distance of retail and mass transit. The City would not have to pay anything at all to have that space redeveloped; they only have to allow a developer to build what it wants.