Evanston aldermen and city staff said they hope to decide this year whether it is more economical to repair their Civic Center offices or move the city government to a new site during a meeting about the proposed 2004-05 budget Saturday.
“We have to get moving so we don’t keep putting more money down the rat hole,” said Ald. Arthur Newman (1st) to the council.
The meeting was the second city staff presentation of the proposed 2004-05 budget to the City Council, which must adopt the budget by March 1. The meeting focused on the Capital Improvement Plan, a five-year program for staff to identify and allocate funding for improvements to street lighting, public buildings, parks, transportation, information systems and economic development.
Newman challenged the council to make its decision about the current offices at 2100 Ridge Ave. within six months, and City Manager Roger Crum said the city staff shared the goal. Consultants estimated it would cost $18 million to renovate the building, which has become increasingly expensive to maintain with age.
“Anybody who tells the community we ought to stay in this building is telling the community they need to pay $18 million for us to stay,” Newman said. Instead, he suggested they redevelop the land while the real-estate market is strong.
Newman, whose ward includes the south side of
