A report in Crain’s Chicago Business says developer Thomas Roszak is proposing a 38-story condo and hotel building for the Fountain Square block in downtown Evanston.

The Fountain Square block viewed from the corner of Orrington and Church, with Sherman Plaza in the background.

The project reportedly would include 288 condos and 192 hotel rooms and would involve demolition of the three existing buildings on the site: the seven-story Fountain Square building; the three-story Hahn Building, an Evanston landmark, and the two-story 708 Church St. building. Crain’s says Mr. Roszak is in talks to acquire the three properties from their current owners.

The entire Fountain Square block is zoned D2, or downtown retail core district, which permits a maximum height for planned developments including allowances of 125 feet.

However it is flanked by blocks to the east and west that are zoned D3, or downtown core district, which permit a maximum height for planned developments of up to 220 feet.

Those blocks contain the Chase Building, Evanston’s first skyscraper and its tallest at 22 stories and 277 feet high, and its newest skyscraper, the 25 story, 276-foot tall Sherman Plaza development, which is nearing completion.

Mr. Roszak’s firm, Roszak/ADC, is based in Evanston. Its current project here is the Sienna, a midrise development at 1100 Clark St.

Updated story
Fountain Square tower would preserve landmark facade

Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.

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