A brick walkway twists along the sidewalk behind the Evanston Civic Center and ends before a tall house perched on the edge of the city’s property.
Metal stickers spell out the address, 1223 Simpson St. The stairs up to the front door are neat and sturdy, the paint and carpet are new, but the house stands empty.
This is the apartment the city is using to address the lack of affordable housing in downtown Evanston.
As property taxes have risen, high land values are driving potential homeowners out of Evanston and into more affordable Chicago suburbs.
The proposals that would require the development of affordable housing in Evanston have been stalled in Evanston City Council debates.
This apartment can house an entire family, said David Cook, assistant director of facilities management at the Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.
“We’re looking to rent to someone making below-median income,” Cook said. “The apartment is gorgeous. It has a huge balcony, and the windows are large.”
The city refurbished the apartment over the past year by using federal grants, Cook said. The apartment has both new paint and new carpeting. It now occupies an entire floor above the boiler room that heats the Civic Center.
The apartment probably housed a custodian when the Civic Center was a school, Cook said.
The concept for renting this apartment developed during a Facilities Management meeting, Cook said.
“There are a lot of benefits to having somebody here,” Cook said. “It increases the revenue stream for the city, and just having someone up there is a good thing because it increases our security.”
Cook said he did not know when someone last lived in the apartment or how many people have lived there.
Local housing ordinances slow the city’s efforts to rent the apartment. Once the city selects a tenant, paperwork and inspections follow.
Chicago housing officials may help future tenants of the apartment pay their rent.
“We’ve probably had six or seven people apply and we’ve selected one and are currently working with Chicago housing (officials) in order to make sure that they qualify,” Cook said.
But the apartment may prove to be a temporary residence. The council voted in January to sell the current Civic Center property to a developer to raise money for a new Civic Center building.
When the Civic Center relocates, the apartment may be demolished. For now, the apartment still needs occupants.
“We have to have a place and layout and architects and construction and that could take a while — a long while,” Cook said. “So why not make as much money as possible from vacant housing?”
Reach Anika Gupta at [email protected].
