By Annie MartinThe Daily Northwestern

About 100 Evanston residents attended Wednesday night’s Plan Commission meeting to give their views on a condominium building proposed for the 1700 block of Central Street and to hear a presentation on the west side revitalization plan.

The five-story, 55-unit structure with retail and a parking garage raised concerns from Central Street neighbors about traffic, parking and the amount of setback space.

Central Street neighbor Tom Hoover said he thought parking was the building’s biggest problem.

“This building screams for multi-level parking,” Hoover said.

Joe Hill, another neighbor, said that as someone who has lived in north Evanston more than 50 years, the proposed condominium and retail building is “an affront to the community” with “no public benefits”.

Hill said he would like to see a better use for the old, unused theater near his home.

After nearly three hours of public questions and comments about the Central Street development, residents listened to a presentation from the Farr Associates and JJR Co. about the plans to improve a section of west Evanston.

Developers met with community members several times to give residents a chance to discuss their image preferences, review proposed plans and make suggestions.

One of the areas slated for revitalization, the Mayfair Triangle, may include street construction, a greenway, additional residential areas and a park.

Reconnecting the community was a top priority for the west Evanston improvements, as were increasing walk-ability, creating “a life cycle of housing” and adding green to the community, developers said.

Reach Annie Martin at [email protected].