Northwestern and Evanston announced Tuesday a settlement in the federal lawsuit over the Northeast Evanston Historic District. Aldermen then unanimously approved the agreement at a special Evanston City Council meeting in a move that ends the four-year battle over the issue.
The university agreed to pay a $700,000 contribution to the city in return for a newly defined historic district that excludes several previously included university properties. This means the case will not proceed to its scheduled March 1 court date.
“There is no question in my mind that this is the right direction to move forward with,” said Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd).
NU sued the city in November 2000 over the creation of the district, which originally included 56 university buildings west of Sheridan Road. NU officials have said they viewed the district as an effort to pressure the university, which is exempt from paying property taxes, into making a financial contribution to the city.
The city argued that the district was necessary to protect single-family homes from being bought and demolished by the university.
Although the decision might not solve the historic conflict between the parties, those involved said it is a step in the right direction.
“We’re very pleased that a settlement was reached,” said Eugene Sunshine, NU’s senior vice president for business and finance. “We’re very glad that the lawsuit is behind us and we can get on to building a better partnership.”
As part of the settlement, 14 NU properties originally included in the district will not be subject to preservation guidelines. The buildings — some of which NU claimed do not have historic value — include Blomquist Recreation Center, Foster-Walker Complex and Searle Student Health Service. Forty-two properties owned by NU will remain in the district and must still conform to regulations.
The settlement also prevents NU from undertaking new projects on the open land north of the Plex for the next 20 years. Vice President for University Relations Alan Cubbage said NU does not have any plans to alter any of the buildings freed from restrictions.
Properties still within historic districts are subject to stricter regulations than other areas in the city, so NU would have to go before the city’s Preservation Commission to make even minor changes to any of those buildings.
Those at Tuesday’s meeting said the decision could smooth friction between the two parties on those and possibly other issues.
“There is an air of solemnity about this evening and an air of significance,” said Ald. Gene Feldman (9th) before the vote. “What I’m hoping for is if this council OKs (the settlement), we will have a moment of time where we might reflect on this very relationship. If not, this might happen over and over and over again.”
Tuesday’s settlement was not the first attempt at reaching an accord between Evanston and NU. University officials and aldermen proposed a settlement in August, but the council voted 5-4 to reject it after discussing the matter with constituents. Two aldermen on the negotiating team — Feldman and Ald. Arthur Newman (1st) — voted against settling the case then.
Newman said only 4 percent of the district will be affected by the settlement, and residents should not view it as a concession to NU.
“If anyone thinks for a second that the city didn’t stand up for what we believe in, they’re wrong,” he said. “I’ve poured my life into this suit and at this point I think it’s right.”
NU and the city will also form a committee with university and community representatives to discuss development and land issues, including future procedure for demolition of university structures.
NU properties east of Sheridan and the excluded properties will be exempt from a “binding appearance review” that allows the city to make the final call on a building’s appearance.
The settlement will become official once District Judge Marvin Aspen and lawyers from both parties sign the agreement later this week.
