'Brothel Law' Debate In Evanston To Continue In Committee

EVANSTON, IL — The Evanston City Council Monday referred a discussion of the repeal of its longstanding ban on three unrelated people living together in a single housing unit to a committee for further discussion later this month. The planning and development committee will begin discussing the matter May 14, although city staff will not draw up a draft repeal of the policy.

Critics of the "three-unrelated rule" – also sometimes known as the "brothel law" – have included generations of Northwestern students and many Evanston homeowners, have argued the rule contributes to making housing increasingly unaffordable in Evanston. Students have alleged that unscrupulous landlords have demanded cash payments under threat of eviction. Tenants have said they did not feel safe reporting unsafe living conditions to city staff for fear an inspection would lead to the loss of their housing.

At the Council's April 30 meeting, Ald. Don Wilson, 4th Ward, said the issue has "lingered for a quarter-century, going on a half-century," and motioned to consider the repeal in committee. Prior to its unanimous adoption by the other seven council members in attendance, his motion was clarified so that Evanston city staff will not draw up an ordinance repealing the three-unrelated rule.

Supporters of the ban warn that of threats to quality of life if its lifted. One resident at a community meeting of two wards near the Northwestern campus on the subject worried about the formation of "student ghettos" that would "ruin our community even further," the Daily Northwestern reported in February.

Ald. Judy Fiske, 1st Ward, chairs the Planning and Development Committee and has long been skeptical of removing the ordinance. She suggested waiting at least a year to compile data about upcoming changes to Northwestern housing policies, which will require sophomores to live on campus and may have an effect on the city's housing stock.

"We simple don't know and if we're going to make an informed decision I think we need to have all the information that we can," Fiske said. "And I don't think that people in other parts of the city are necessarily badly impacted at the moment if we stick to the three-unrelated."

Ald. Cicely Fleming, 9th Ward, said her constituents were in favor of repealing the rule to increase access to housing in Evanston.

"I'm concerned if we wait for a year – I'm not sure what your data's going to show – that we potentially limit people's ability to stay in Evanston or have affordable housing, even outside of the wards that are closer to Northwestern," Fleming said.

"I don't want anyone to think that we're trying to prevent anyone from having good affordable housing," Fiske emphasized. "I don't think that this is putting anyone at a disadvantage. I think if someone wants to rent out now that they can. But this is a large change and it directly impacts folks in my ward."

Ald. Eleanor Revelle, 7th Ward, suggested an exception for owner-occupied homes, noting lower-income residents could benefit from renting out rooms in their larger homes.

Ald. Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, who was not in attendance at the April 30 meeting, has previously said it's time to "put on our big-girl pants" and enter the 21st century by updating the law.

In addition to representatives of the Northwestern student government, the North Shore Board of Realtors has long supported the repeal of the three-unrelated rule.

Proposals to ease restrictions on coach houses ("accessory dwelling units") were also sent to the Planning and Development Committee during the Evanston City Council's meeting.