The Daily Northwestern

The big day came and went with nothing to show but a chorus of boos from both fans and foes of preservation in Evanston.

Evanston City Council voted Monday to send the Northeast Historic Preservation Ordinance back to the Planning and Development Committee after two aldermen requested to hold discussion until the council’s next meeting.

Ald. Arthur Newman (1st) moved to hold discussion and to refer it back to committee for potential boundary changes.

At a Rules Committee meeting on May 1, Newman said he was considering making a proposal that would change the district’s northern boundary from the Evanston/Wilmette border to Central Street.

“I would have been glad to handle the issue tonight,” Newman said. “It’s one of those situations where you can’t win either way.”

The Planning and Development Committee will meet May 18 to hear public comment about boundary changes and discuss possible amendments.

“If we created a boundary change and didn’t allow people to address it, it wouldn’t be fair,” Newman said. “If anyone has a boundary change to offer, I hope they submit it to the council and we’ll consider it from there.”

While only committee members need to be present at the May 18 meeting, the entire City Council may participate in the discussion.

After the meeting the committee will make recommendations to City Council that could determine the fate of the proposed ordinance.

Ald. Stephen Engelman (7th) disagreed with the decision to hold the vote about the ordinance and was the only alderman to oppose sending the discussion back to the committee.

“I think it should be heard by the (full) council and the council should discuss it and vote on it,” Engelman said. “I think everybody up here recognizes how divisive this issue has been. I only support the hold over because it allows for further dialogue.”

Most of the residents in attendance groaned in protest of Newman’s suggestion that the matter be held. They said the council has heard all sides of the story and has to make a decision.

“I think it’s terrible,” said Ruth Ann Hladish, an Evanston resident who lives in the proposed district. “We’ve been coming to the meetings for months and signing petitions. We want them to take a vote. How long are they going to drag it out? How many times do we have to tell them how we feel?”

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