Evanston Athletic Club owner Pat Cunningham has a dream: to create a world-class athletic facility in Evanston.
“I’d always dreamt of putting a world-class facility in Evanston,” Cunningham said.
But before construction can begin on Cunningham’s $3 million project to expand EAC by 25,000 square feet, the club must provide 89 parking spaces in crowded downtown Evanston.
The first step toward building the new facility will be the demolition of the old Stirfire Grill building, which EAC already owns, and the creation of a new four-story building that will connect with the current EAC facility, Cunningham said.
Construction will include putting new elevators and stairwells into four stories of unused space above the existing club to make the entire building wheelchair accessible.
EAC will add several swimming pools, including an outside pool and snack bar, a new climbing wall geared toward children, several new studios for exercise classes and a spa facility for massage and other body treatments.
Cunningham said EAC’s rapidly increasing membership has created concerns about crowding in the club.
“The industry right now has a lot of variety in the classes you run, from boxing to tai chi to dance, and everybody wants to do those all at the same time,” he said.
“You have to build a facility that is capable of handling your membership and the variety of classes and programs that you run.”
Renovations also will expand locker rooms to almost double their existing size, but EAC employees say they don’t think the expansion will increase a recurring locker-room theft problem.
“It is a consistent problem,” said Rachel Rosenblit, a Medill sophomore and EAC employee. “If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It doesn’t matter how small or large the space is, they’re going to get away with it.”
Already satisfied EAC members said they are excited about the expansion plans.
“After working out in places like Blomquist on campus, EAC seems like a palace,” said Lindsay Roth, a Speech sophomore. “But after belonging for two years, I can see the amount of people there starting to increase. More room would be nice.”
But before construction on Cunningham’s dream club can get underway, EAC must meet the city’s parking requirements.
“Talks with the city are moving along,” Cunningham said, “but it is not something that has been decided yet.
“We’re working with the city, we’ve met with the council and staff and we’re trying to work out a solution. Basically we’re trying to get our members into the two (city) lots and the club paying for it.”
EAC is one of many Evanston businesses dealing with limited parking spaces. Leasing all 89 required parking spaces from nearby city garages would cost EAC $78,000 a year, said Arthur Alterson, Evanston’s zoning administrator.
But leasing would be much cheaper than building a new parking structure, he said.
“EAC needs to do something to fix its parking problems,” Alterson said. “There is a standing problem with parking on Benson Avenue.”
The health club currently provides no parking for its more than 5,000 members, said Jean Baucom, Evanston parking system manager.
EAC moved into its current building on Benson Avenue in 1995, before zoning ordinances required businesses to provide parking for customers.
“We have gotten complaints from other businesses in the area that EAC customers take up all the parking,” Baucom said. “It’s a competition of people wanting to park as close as possible to the place where they’re going.”
But Cunningham said he is optimistic about talks with the city.
“I’ve got a good relationship with the city,” he said. “So we’re working with them, not against them. We’re trying to come up with the best plan for the city and for us.”
