Submitted by jeffpsmith on Sat, 01/11/2025 - 23:57
While focus in ongoing "Envision Evanston 2045" debate has been on the proposed upzoning of current lower-height residential districts (R1, R2, and R3), eliminating all single-family, 2-flat, or 3-flat zoning to allow 3-story, 4-unit buildings as of right everywhere, all business districts are also quietly targeted for dramatic upzoning to turn our streets into "corridors." What would this look like?
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Fri, 01/10/2025 - 16:38
Documents coming to light through FOIA plus comments by staff show that the “Envision Evanston 2045” planning process has been steered since the bidding phase towards a “Minneapolis model” of rezoning. Proponents claim that Minneapolis has shown that upzoning and increased population density will lower housing costs. Is that true? Research suggests “not really.”
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Fri, 12/20/2024 - 12:15
Two things stand out in the current zeal of some in Evanston, Illinois to villainize if not obsolete the single-family neighborhood. One is the misplaced blame. In Evanston, single-family homes are an atypical (for the suburbs) minority, albeit a key part of the community. So these dwellings don't drive the market, they reflect it. The other is the complete disregard for the popularity of single-family houses. Overlooking that shows disrespect for quaint notions like choice, freedom, empowerment, and personal space. Right: The author's 2200-sf Dutch Colonial of 34 years, built 1922-23.
Submitted by Mary Rosinski on Thu, 01/09/2025 - 00:00
I believe that Evanston residents support affordable housing. I know I do. However, rezoning an entire city, and lifting regulations on height, bulk, and parking, conflicts with other goals, not least of which are our environmental goals. It also negatively impacts the homes and rights of residents who have invested in their homes and neighborhoods. So the affordability benefits need to be substantial to justify that. Would upzoning all our R1, R2, and R3 districts -- most of the residential land area of Evanston -- as well as all the business strips and downtown areas where thousands of renters and condo owners live, really do that?
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Thu, 12/12/2024 - 10:56
On the evening of Nov. 6, as most of Evanston was distracted watching the national political picture, the City released a draft re-zoning of all Evanston, altering both zone boundaries and the definition of how thousands of homes or businesses, and the land next to or behind yours, is zoned.
Pages
Drawing most attention: allowing 35’ three-story apartment or condo buildings of up to 4 units (or more) on all lots in Evanston currently zoned for single-family homes or two-flats; removal of height limits for downtown; and conversion of many business districts, including Central Street’s, to multi-use “corridors” of 65’ or 100’ buildings. What would that really look like?