Opposition Mounting To 16-Story Sherman Tower In Evanston

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston's planning commissioners are set to meet Wednesday to discuss a controversial plan for a mixed-use 16-story development on Sherman Avenue between Lake and Grove streets, as more than 1,200 people have signed on to a Change.org petition opposing Albion Residential's plan. If the plan is approved, a former chair of the city's zoning board of appeals told the commission in an open leader, it will be a "monument to your failure." The Evanston Plan Commission is set to discuss the plan at a meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Lorraine Morton Civic Center.

Albion Residential, owned by Dallas, Texas-based Sammons Enterprises, requested zoning analysis in April ahead of upcoming plan commission meetings and estimated groundbreaking in the fourth quarter of this year. The developers said the location is perfect for increasing population density with a transit-oriented development, where new units would be aimed at those who want good public transit to Chicago and ample cultural options within walking distance. The tower will include 10,000 square feet of retail space, half of which is intended to be used by a restaurant, Albion said.

But the petition opposing the tower (it describes it as a "high-rise, mega development") warns the development "threatens the unique character and quality of Evanston's downtown." It also argues that the proposal violates the city's own zoning guidelines and could make housing in Evanston even less affordable.

Projected prices for small, 450 square-foot studio units in the new development are around $1,880. Opponents of the plan have also argued in public comment meetings that the proposal goes against recommendations of the 2009 Downtown Evanston Plan.

A spokesperson for Albion rebutted their claims, pointing to the firm's promise to include two affordable units (at 60 percent average median income) in the development, waive move-in fees for "top 10 employers" in Evanston and contribute $2.9 million to the city's Affordable Housing Fund. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Evanston — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

» 16-Story Mixed-Use Tower Proposed For Downtown Evanston

The tower would be built atop the current locations of Prairie Moon and Tommy Nevin's Pub. The owners of both businesses plan to stay in Evanston if the tower is goes up on, Evanston Now reported, possibly with new spots inside the new development.

In an open letter from Seth Weinberger, a former chair of the Evanston Zoning Board of Appeals, described the proposal as the "antithesis" of its intended "transition" zoning district. He urged the planning commission to opposed the plan, reminding members about their "responsibility" to "protect the city from overdevelopment." The plan commission can choose to recommend or not recommend developments to the Evanston City Council.

"If you approve this building and it gets built," Weinberger addressed commission members, "it will become a monument to your failure to protect our city; a very massive monument that you, and many generations after you, will regularly revisit."

» Have Your Say: Comment on the 1450-1508 Sherman Avenue proposal using Evanston's coUrbanize online community feedback portal.

Regardless of the decision by the planning commission, the Albion development can still be taken up by Evanston aldermen.

Last month in Oak Park, members of the plan commission voted 5-4 to deny a recommendation to approve another Albion development, an 18-story building on Lake Street. It could still be approved but would require approval from two-thirds of the president and board of trustees, a village spokesperson told Oak Leaves.

_{Top photo: Artist rendering of new development (Courtesy Albion Residential)}