By Andrew BowenThe Daily Northwestern

Two Evanston retail and residential building proposals passed through the Site Plan and Appearance Review Committee Wednesday.

One of the building proposals, which would replace a vacant office building on the corner of Maple Avenue and Emerson Street, would be 14 stories high, with 40,000 square feet of retail space on the first two floors and 152 one-, two-bedroom and studio apartments for rent. The development would also include 313 off-street parking spaces.

The other proposal, for the southeast corner of Chicago Avenue and Main Street, would also have space for retail, as well as 71 dwelling units.

Both buildings were only in concept review, an optional process in which planners answer questions and receive comments and suggestions from going through zoning analysis.

Committee members complimented the proposal on Chicago and Main for its inclusion of bike racks and a screened-off loading dock for trucks and residents’ vehicles.

“I really like that approach because it doesn’t collect debris; it doesn’t create a potential dangerous spot out of view,” said Carolyn Brzezinski, committee chair and assistant director of community development for building.

Brzezinski also recommended planting an evergreen tree at the end of the alley, where cars would turn onto Main Street.

Randy Deutsch, a senior designer with FitzGerald Associates Architects, presented the proposal for the building on Maple and Emerson, which was met with some unease from Evanston residents.

“There’s been a great deal of concern about the height … of the building,” said Ken Brown, a member of the board of directors of Ivy Court Townhomes, located across the street from the proposed building. “If anything can be done either to lower the height as it faces Maple or lower the entire height in general, it would be greatly appreciated.”

Overall, committee members said they were pleased with the building proposals and approved them for the next level of review.

“Obviously this is a very large project,” Brzezinski said. “There will be a lot of discussion opportunities for the public as part of the Plan Commission’s process.”

Reach Andrew Bowen at [email protected].