High-Rise Development Planned on Emerson Street

The Lake City Cleaners and 7-11 convenience store on Emerson Street could be replaced with a high-rise mixed use development if planners get their way.

Northfield-based Focus Development Inc. and Chicago’s CA Ventures have teamed to plan a 14-story, 287-unit building at 831 Emerson Street, according to the Evanston Review. It will include 287 units and a 3,330 square foot commercial space on the first floor.

The convenience store may be retained in the new development.

The development could generate more than $1 million in tax revenue to the city on a property that is currently generating just over $100,000, but local residents voiced their concerns at a meeting earlier this month about issues they perceive as troubling.

Bob Brower noted that in recent years there have been a large amount of apartment units built or proposed.

“What we’re doing is changing the nature of our city to make it more transient rather than ownership,” he said.

And while developers have insisted that those moving into the building on Emerson will not just be college students and be catered to more workers, Regina Henry shared her concern regarding the hours the young students might keep.

“In the summer, I don’t want to be woke up at 3 o’clock in the morning by these students going home,” she said.

more via the Evanston Review