Evanston’s Planning and Development Committee voted Monday to recommend that 1629 Orrington Ave. be converted to a daycare center. Sixty spots of the facility’s 308-child maximum capacity would be reserved for Northwestern employees’ children.
The ordinance to allow Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the proposed daycare provider, to open a second Evanston location is scheduled for consideration by Evanston aldermen at their Jan. 23 meeting.
If the ordinance passes, Brighter Horizons plans to begin construction in March and operation in September, said Debbie Brown, Bright Horizon’s vice president for client services.
The daycare organization, which is also a national for-profit youth services provider, plans to enroll 168 children up to 3 years old and 140 children who are 4 and 5 years old.
When the University began seeking expanded access to child care for faculty and staff, Brown said the Orrington location would be both appealing and convenient.
“We have a longstanding relationship with the Northwestern hospital in Evanston,” said Brown, adding that an extensive enrollment waitlist at a current Bright Horizon daycare on Central Street also served as an impetus for opening the new center.
Plans for the downtown Evanston location include revamping more than 25,000 square feet of space in the two-story structure and constructing playgrounds on the roof and exterior of the building, according to a Jan. 4 memo submitted to the Planning and Development Committee. The company plans to spend $5 million in renovation costs to meet the needs of the center.
The daycare will provide quality care and education to youth unable to enroll in other centers due to inadequate space, Brown said.
A recent study supported Brown’s claim of insufficient child care space, finding nearly 600 children lack daycare access in Evanston, which represents a 43 percent service gap. The study was conducted by the IFF, formerly known as the Illinois Facilities Fund, a lender and consulting firm for nonprofit organizations.
The center could also boost economic activity, filling a business space originally left vacant about 10 years ago when former occupant Borders moved to 1700 Maple Ave.
“I’m hopeful that it will generate more foot traffic to get more people going into stores and businesses in the downtown area,” said Ald. Don Wilson (4th), whose ward includes the proposed daycare center.
Neighboring business owners said opening Bright Horizons could be lucrative.
Currently, there is very little activity on the street, said Vivian Killebrew, owner of Stepping Out on Faith Family Consignment Shop, 1632 Orrington Ave. She described that portion of downtown Evanston as “really dead” and in need of economic rejuvenation – which Bright Horizons could provide.
“It would have a lot of impact,” said Killebrew, who opened her consignment shop more than two years ago. “It would add a lot of business to the street, having parents coming through to drop off and pick up their children.”
Killebrew added that some business owners, such as herself, may consider moving their stores to Skokie and other nearby communities if business does not improve soon.
Other Evanston business representatives welcomed the possibility of the daycare center but cautioned against its potential consequences.
“They’re talking about a very large facility that will have 308 children,” said Lindsay Percival, interim executive director of the Child Care Center of Evanston at 1840 Asbury Ave. “It’s important when we’re caring for very young children that they feel safe and secure. To have a facility that size can be overwhelming to young children.”
But Percival said a child care center that caters to infants and toddlers is necessary in Evanston. She cited a specific void – which Bright Horizons could help fill – in Evanston’s current care for children ages six weeks to 2 years old.
The new daycare facility could align with an Evanston150 goal called Little and Learning. Evanston150 is a community initiative to implement 10 environmental, educational and health improvement projects by the city’s 150th anniversary in 2013.
Little and Learning lead contact Constance Porteous said the group’s main focus is ensuring affordable and high-quality care to all Evanston children. She said the committee is interested in Bright Horizons’ plan for the new facility and noted the positive reputation of the company.
Porteous said the size of the prospective Bright Horizons is significant. She referenced her experience with daycare centers enrolling 75 to 100 children – less than a third of the projected enrollment for the Orrington Avenue center.
“We look forward to seeing how Bright Horizons handles the space and number of children,” the retired early childhood educator said.
