Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

28° Evanston, IL
Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Commission makes landlord, tenant input vital

Evanston City Council has amended the membership requirements for its Housing Commission, ensuring Evanston residents will be represented on the commission by both landlords and tenants.

The new amendment requires that the eight-member Housing Commission include one tenant and one landlord. The commission oversees the planning and conservation of property in Evanston.

The previous requirement stated that the commission should include three tenants, with no requirement on the minimum number of landlords.

The council passed the amendment at its Feb. 23 meeting changing the requirement to one tenant and one landlord on the commission. Although this changes the guidelines, it will not alter the current composition of the commission.

Ald. Arthur Newman (1st) first proposed that the City Council change the Housing Commission’s requirements so perspectives of landlords would be represented.

An early amendment called for three landlords and three tenants on the commission. The requirement eventually was scaled back to one tenant and one landlord.

“The Housing Commission’s recommendation was that the membership not be so prescriptive,” said Donna Spicuzza, housing planner for the city’s planning division.

Commission members said they agree that residents should be represented by both landlords and tenants.

“I think that it’s important that we have representatives from all the different aspects or areas of housing,” said Sara Diggs, the sole landlord on the commission. “There is a difference between an owner and a landlord. And there’s a difference between a tenant and an owner. Everybody has different perspectives and different needs.”

The commission is not dealing with any landlord-related issues right now, Diggs said, and she’s concerned the council does not have any on the docket.

The Housing Commission currently is addressing proposals to put a citywide requirement on affordable housing. An affordable-housing requirement could, for example, put a required percentage on the amount of housing reserved for low-income families.

Susan Munro, a commission member, said she has a strong interest in these issues as a condo owner. When the commission does recommend a proposal on affordable housing, she said, all views should be considered.

“To me, the change is to make sure that the commission not only gets people who are committed to the community,” she said, “but also to get people who are willing to speak for those who are not on the board.”

The commission has had difficulty recruiting people who aren’t burdened by other time commitments, Munro said. As long as commission members are committed to their work, she said, positive changes will be brought to the community.

“I want Evanston to remain a place of diversity in terms of race and for people to have opportunities,” she said, adding that she did not want it to become like other North Shore suburbs.

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Commission makes landlord, tenant input vital