The Evanston City Council gave developers the go-ahead Monday to begin preparation for construction of the Sherman Plaza in January.
The development at Sherman Avenue and Church Street has been under negotiation since 1999. Aldermen approved both a resolution and an ordinance at their regular council meeting Monday allowing James Klutznick, a developer at Thomas J. Klutznick Co., to begin the project that will change the look of downtown Evanston.
Developers plan to start the project by demolishing the Sherman Avenue parking garage.
Ald. Edmund Moran (6th) said a revision had to be made to the development because it originally included plans for senior citizen housing. To make the development more profitable for the city, Klutznick announced last month that the plaza would not include senior housing.
Instead, the city will gain an extra $5,000 a year per condominium in real estate tax revenue. This will generate an extra $1 million in revenue to the city.
The added revenue could help counteract the city’s ongoing budget woes. City Manager Roger Crum announced Wednesday that the city will exceed its 2001 budget by $3.7 million, partially because of flat growth in sales tax revenue.
Because plans no longer call for senior housing, changes were made to the parking lots’ design to allow more spaces.
The development will include 212 condominiums, a branch of the Lake Shore Athletic Club, a public parking garage and retail space. Klutznick presented a computerized tour of what the development will look like at Monday’s meeting.
As part of the legislation, the council passed an ordinance recognizing the Kaiser family as partners with Klutznick for the development of the Lake Shore Athletic Club.
Ald. Arthur Newman (1st) said he is proud of the the project because it will lead to the expansion of Evanston’s tax base. Moran agreed that the city could be confident in its investment.
The council passed the resolution and ordinance by a vote of 8-0. Ald. Steven Bernstein (4th) was absent from the meeting.
In other action Monday night, aldermen discussed spending $3.5 million on a software program that eventually will allow citizens to pay their water, sewer and other bills online.
Finance Department Director Bill Stafford proposed that the city buy software from JD Edwards, a national software company, that would allow city staffers to make sure they do not make purchases that exceed the budget.
The proposal was sent back to the Administration and Public Works Committee for further consideration because of further questions from aldermen regarding the cost and purpose of the software.
Newman said he did not want to make the decision Monday night because he is not sure that spending money on a new software program should be a top priority when Evanston needs better street lighting.
Because the city will receive a discount of at least $500,000 if they sign a contract with J.D. Edwards by Oct. 31, the council will hold a special meeting Monday at 7 p.m. to vote on the issue.
Newman added that he thinks the city should not operate like a “bottomless pit.” He said that many First Ward residents are scared to walk in Evanston and cited the Oct. 8 attack of a graduate student on Northwestern’s campus as reasons for needing better lighting.
“They (Northwestern students) want more lighting,” Newman said. “And they are right.”
