Evanston City Council members voted this month to adopt new zoning standards that will limit the building height for future development on part of Main Street.
The aldermen voted unanimously on Sept. 13 to limit buildings to a maximum height of 45 feet on Main Street between Hinman and Sherman avenues.
One controversial building in the matter was the Evanston Bank building, located at 603 Main St.
The aldermen voted to keep the building at its current height of 67 feet, rather than allowing future developers to build higher when the bank moves across the street later this year.
Council members also voted on Sept. 13 to increase taxicab rates from $1.40 to $1.90 per mile.
The increase was proposed by Evanston’s four taxicab companies to cover growing operational costs. Gas prices, insurance costs and city taxes have risen since the last rate increase in 1994.
“Gas went up sky-high,” said Albert Bowie, owner of Better Cab Association. “Everything went up but we were still working for the same money. It’s never enough, but something is better than nothing.”
Flagpole fees, the initial rates charged before a cab trip begins, will also increase by 50 cents to $1.90.
During July, council members also discussed a proposal from Robinson Bus Company to use an area parking lot for commercial purposes.
The company proposed changing the lot located at the Mayfair right-of-way between Foster and Emerson streets from a public lot to a commercial lot, which would allow the bus company to park buses and cars there.
Robinson officials pulled the proposal from the council’s agenda after it met with strong opposition from Fifth Ward residents.
The council’s latest zoning issue is a developer’s proposal to build a 220-unit rental building on the site of the former Whole Foods grocery store at 1930 Ridge Ave. Aldermen met Thursday to discuss the controversial proposal.
Some area businesses support the development because of the added business an apartment building would help create.
“There’s not a local business that doesn’t support this,” said Shawn Ryan, owner of Hyde Park Computers of Evanston.
“It is becoming continually harder and harder to stay in business in this city,” Ryan said.
“We want our businesses to thrive. This development would mean 220 new families who are going to need to eat, shop and live here.”
Alderman Joe Kent (5th) and some Evanston residents are opposed to the development because as many as 40 percent of the tenants of the new building would be Northwestern students.
But for NU students who struggle to find affordable housing each year, an extra housing development could make the living situation in Evanston easier.
“Due to the circumstances of events, it was impossible to find anything remotely affordable by April for this year,” said Jeff Quinto, a Music senior. “More affordable off-campus housing is necessary for students.”
