Plans for a skyscraper in downtown Evanston continued to shrink last week.
Developers Klutznick-Fisher Development Company and Focus Development submitted a revised proposal for a 35-story Fountain Square tower, 708 Church St. The newly approved Downtown Plan sets a height limit of 35 stories in the central core district.
For nearly two years, the tower’s height, originally planned to be 49 stories, has been a contentious topic in Evanston. City Council members are reviewing the new proposal.
In previous proposals, developers have offered the public benefits in exchange for height. Those benefits, including a silver level LEED certification and a donation to the affordable housing fund, are still in the new proposal. But in addition to those provisions, developers are now pledging a donation of $1 million to the revitalization of Fountain Square.
Developers also withdrew their request for money to renovate the Hahn building. Previously, developers have said they would purchase the building for $10 million.
John Kennedy, president of the Friends of the Civic Center and anti-tower activist, is not impressed with the amended proposal.
“What I’ve read about it, the developers seem to have come back with a bunch of sweeteners,” he said. “If they’re sweetening it now, why didn’t they sweeten it before?”
The Planning and Development Committee will be the first to decide the tower’s fate. Committee chairman Ald. Edmund Moran (6th) called for a special meeting Feb. 26, but several committee members have scheduling conflicts and the meeting will be delayed.
Moran has been a central figure in the tower issue since the original proposal. A supporter of the development, Moran tabled the plan in May 2008 because the tower would not have enough supporting votes to pass.
Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th), a candidate for mayor, said she didn’t know why Moran suggested a special meeting.
“I don’t see any need for a special meeting because the developer doesn’t have funding,” she said. “I’d like to explore with him why he feels this sense of urgency.”
Kennedy agreed the city should not rush to act on the proposal. With elections coming up, the current council doesn’t have much time to make a definitive decision on the tower.
“I don’t think the current council, with only a month or so left, should decide on this,” he said. “I think this should be a campaign issue.”
