Evanston’s Land Use Commission gave its approval on Sept. 13 for a 60-unit development expected to bring more affordable housing to Evanston. The project, if approved by City Council, could be a step toward Evanston’s affordable housing goals, which was designated as a priority earlier this year.
Land Use Commissioners voted 6-0 to rezone the property from a R4 residential zone to a R5 residential zone to accommodate the project.
“This proposal was in response to increasing Evanston’s affordability,” PIRHL Developers LLC’s Senior Vice President of Development Johanna Casanova said. “We are proposing high quality, affordable family residences.”
The proposed South Boulevard Shores development would replace a city-owned parking lot near the Calvary Catholic Cemetery and a short walk from the South Boulevard Chicago Transit Authority Station.
This development, at 504-514 South Boulevard, will offer its rental units between 30% and 80% of area median income, according to a memorandum prepared by City Planner Cade Sterling.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Development set the area median income at $107,800 for the 2022 fiscal year in the Evanston area.
PIRHL Developers LLC’s project would primarily consist of two and three-bedroom units to provide affordable housing for families, which Sterling’s memo praises for fitting within the city’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The building would consist of 18 three-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units and 30 one-bedroom units. Casanova said the development would have 65 parking spaces, 20 of which would be reserved for leasing by the city. There will also be spaces for parking bicycles.
“This unit mix skews toward providing more two and three bedroom units than typical, and provides a significant need for rental housing adequate for families — an affordable typology often neglected,” Sterling wrote.
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Area residents expressed concerns about the project at a September community meeting. Many worried the complex would impact street parking in the area they said is already difficult and congested. Others, including neighbors to the project Doree Stein and Calvin Lynn, worried about the impact construction could have on the foundation of their homes which they say are already cracking and slipping.
Stein spoke at the Sept. 13 meeting and told the board she has grown up in the neighborhood and lived in her home for 30 years.
She expressed concerns about the three families living in Housing Authority of Cook County townhomes that would be demolished to build the project.
“That green space behind the four townhomes, we’ve had wonderful neighborhood block parties there for years and years. I watched my neighbors children grow up,” Stein said. “That’s all going to be gone.”
City and PIRHL officials said they would work with the families and HACC to relocate them.
Rosemary Armocida said she is all for affordable housing but is concerned about parking and the disruption construction will have on traffic in the area as South Boulevard is a main thoroughfare into the city.
“I think that there needs to be more clarity as far as I’m concerned as a resident,” Armocida said. “The issue is the impact on the people who are currently living in the community.”
Connections for the Homeless Advocacy Manager Sue Loellbach spoke in favor of the project and said even with the potential problems, the city should go forward with the project.
“If you move forward with this, there will be problems that need to be solved,” she said. “Those are all problems that can be address. We do not want to hear from anybody that we are all for affordable housing but we’re not going to do it because of those problems. Those problems need to be addressed and solved so that we can have this housing mission not be an obstacle.”
Larry Donoghue, a nearby resident and former chair of the city’s no longer existent Housing and Homeless Commission, said he was in favor of the project as it brings affordable housing to a ward of Evanston that hasn’t had much compared to other areas.
Sustainability goals for the project include a “low-carbon, all-electric building design” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, two election vehicle charging stations, bicycle storage options and Energy Star appliances, according to the presentation.
Evanston’s Land Use Commission took sustainability matters further and is requiring the building to obtain a LEED Gold Certification to comply with the City of Evanston Green Building Ordinance, according to city documents.
Casanova said efforts were made to incorporate the building into the surrounding community, which is adjacent to the Calvary Catholic Cemetery near Evanston’s southern border — a short walk from South Boulevard Station.
“Our goal was to integrate within the community and make it look like a walk-up style than a typical first-story development,” Casanova said. “We tried to create a townhouse look in the front at South Boulevard.”
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.