Although University President Henry Bienen said Wednesday that the Northeast Evanston Historic District could pose a threat to the university’s future development, he declined to say what kind of action NU will take against the city.

“We definitely have a plan, but I’m not going to say right now what that plan is,” said Bienen after a breakfast at the Omni Orrington Hotel that was sponsored by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.

Administrators have said they are displeased with Evanston City Council’s 6-3 approval of a historic district that is bounded by the alley between Colfax and Lincoln streets to the north, Emerson Street to the south, Sheridan Road to the east and Sherman or Ridge avenues to the west.

Bienen expressed concern that the district was not created for historic preservation but rather as a means to restrict renovations on the 50 NU buildings that lie within it.

“As a citizen of Evanston, I find the process scandalous,” Bienen told the audience. “I find the arbitrary carving up of a so-called preservation district to be a process that was unfair and undeliberative.”

The Northeast Evanston Historic District Association presented a proposed historic district to the city’s Preservation Commission in October, but the district approved Monday night does not resemble the original. Its northern boundary has been moved south about seven blocks, which means that about half of the 960 structures that NHEDA deemed historic are no longer included.

Ald. Stephen Engelman (7th) voted against the district on the grounds that about 60 percent of residents living within it did not want it.

At least one alderman, however, voted in favor of the district simply because it could be used as a tool to control NU. Ald. Arthur Newman (1st) said he supported it because it would prevent the university from buying more property west of Sheridan Road.

And Bienen and NU’s Senior Vice President for Business and Finance Eugene Sunshine have said the whole proposal was a political ploy.

“I wouldn’t even call the district a thinly veiled attack on Northwestern,” Bienen said. “That thin veneer was taken off by some of the City Council members awhile ago.”

Although Bienen said creation of the historic district was meant to control NU, he said the issue has nothing to do with the fair-share debate.

For years city officials have said NU should contribute money to Evanston to make up for its tax-exempt status, but administrators have argued that the university already contributes in many ways — both financial and non-financial.

Bienen cited NU’s $670,000 Lighthouse Partnership with District 65, its contribution to E-tropolis, its annual purchase of more than $15 million in goods and services and volunteerism by its students.

Bienen said establishing a strong partnership between the university and the city is very important for both entities and he hopes disputes over fair share or the historic district will not stand in the way.

“Evanston is lucky to have Northwestern in its midst,” Bienen said, “but by the same token, Northwestern is lucky to be physically located in a beautiful area next to a great city. I have always said that we must be good partners.”