Judy Fiske knows real estate and developers.
Earlier this month Kendall College sold its property to Chicago-based Smithfield Properties, LLC. Fiske, who has worked in real estate, said Tuesday that it is unlikely that any developer would want to build homes there that will fit in with the family neighborhood around the school known for its culinary program.
“They paid $9 million for this land,” said Fiske, an Evanston resident and member of the Northeast Evanston Historic District Association. “If you’ve got $9 million and you want to spend that on single-family (homes), that’s great. But I don’t think that’s likely.”
Fiske and other residents showed up at the Nov. 10 Planning and Development Committee meeting to stress the importance of keeping any new development in line with the neighborhood’s traditional values. Though residents asked Smithfield to consider their concerns, representatives of the developer said they have no definitive plans for the land.
“It wasn’t until two weeks ago this Friday that our deal was actually closed,” Smithfield principal Bill Smith said at the meeting. “We’re just in the process now of trying to study the land.”
Smithfield representatives could not be reached for additional comment Tuesday.
Aldermen decided to give the developers an opportunity Dec. 15 to present specific plans to the committee and residents. But for Smithfield to move forward on any plans, the council must vote to rezone the university-designated land now occupied by Kendall.
At an October meeting, the Plan Commission recommended that the land be rezoned for residential use — an idea many residents supported.
“Whatever goes on the Kendall property should be absolutely consistent and compatible with a single-family residential area,” said Evanston resident Barbara Janes, who lives near Kendall. “We’ve had tremendous parking problems and traffic problems. We can’t take a lot more people.”
While aldermen gave Smithfield more time to formulate plans, Ald. Steven Bernstein (4th) said the council should not cater to developers.
“You don’t react, you do what’s best for (residents) and let the developers react to you,” he said. “But I think in fairness to everybody, you tell the developer what you think about it so he doesn’t go off and spend the money outright.”
Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th), whose ward includes Kendall, said she had heard Smithfield might bring in townhouses but wasn’t sure. She said she would not support any proposal that would harm her residents.
“I think that the neighbors are wonderful people and that they want to preserve what is a very strong neighborhood,” Tisdahl said. “I promised that I would make sure they have a situation better than what they have now.”
