Theater, Developers Withdraw Plan For Evanston's Tallest Tower

EVANSTON, IL — Northlight Theatre and a team of developers announced Thursday they have withdrawn a proposal to build a tower in downtown Evanston. The theater had hoped to relocate from Skokie to a proposed 39-story mixed-use development in the 1700 block of Sherman Avenue in Evanston. While the group said it would look for another viable location in Evanston, it left open the possible of finding a new location elsewhere.

A joint statement with Farpoint Development and McLaurin Development said community opposition to the project meant that continuing to pursue building on the site would "serve to perpetuate a divisive issue for city leaders and residents in a time of continuing debate about the vision and future of downtown Evanston."

The announcement said the proposal is being shelved despite widespread support from the public and elected officials.

"Northlight has heard time and again the vast majority of residents express great enthusiasm for the theatre's return to Evanston," said the joint statement. "We also have heard support for our relocation from aldermen."

Introduced last September, the project was designed by the Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The 395-foot tower would have included 152 rental units, 153 hotel rooms, and two performance spaces for Northlight — a main stage with 350 seats and a 100-seat smaller room.

Community opposition to the tower was fierce in Evanston – a town where fights over new development have been described as a "bloodsport." At public meetings, residents expressed concerns that nearby businesses like Alley Gallery, Bookends and Beginnings, Campus Gear CouCou & Olive, Oliver Mediterranean Grill and Saville Flowers would be forced out. More than 3,000 people signed a petition against the project.

"I just felt it was not a battle we wanted to enter into because that is not our style," Northlight Managing Director Tim Evans told the Chicago Sun-Times. He said real estate agents are looking at other possible location in Chicago, Wilmette and other areas in the vicinity of Skokie.

The developers had said there would be no need for public financing of the project. Late last month, Evanston's Economic Development Committee voted 4-3 to approve a plan to look into creating “a single purpose unit of local government for the purpose of financing the relocation of Northlight" as well as potential financing of a public parking lot to secure the development.

"In order for them to return here, they are going to need some assembly of assistance that's going to make that happen," City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz told the committee ahead of the Jan. 31 vote. He said the development group was the most thoughtful he had encountered in nearly three decades of local government experience.

Skokie approved such a special unit of government in the mid-1980s called the Centre East Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. The now-defunct public body built the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts and owned it until December 2016, after which it was included

At that point, Skokie satisfied the authority's bond debt, according to a spokesperson. The village has been unable to provide records of how much public money has been spent on the project over the years, although recent financial reports show annual losses of roughly half a million dollars.

Founded as the Evanston Theater Company in 1974, Northlight used to perform in the Coronet Theater, which has since been demolished, according to the Tribune.

The theater's lease at the North Shore Center expires in 2021 and it hopes to move to a new location before then.

Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty said he was committed to doing everything he could to make the theater's return to Evanston possible.

"Northlight is the fourth most subscribed theater in the Chicago area. If Evanston wants to be a notable city in its own right, we must work hard to bring a performing arts theater, like Northlight, to Evanston," he told Patch.

"The reality is that for Northlight to return a multi-use development must occur," since the city does not have the financial ability to subsidize it, according to the mayor. "This means we must be creative and accommodating to the change that must occur to bring a cultural institution, like Northlight, to Evanston."

In its joint statement with the pair of developers, Northlight committed to continuing its partnerships with local educational and social service organizations, including District 65, District 202, Y.O.U., YWCA Evanston-NorthShore, Family Focus and Evanston Scholars. The theater's goal is to remain "an integral part of the Evanston community," it said.

"Our intent was, and remains, to create a cultural, social, and economic hub in downtown Evanston, one that city leaders, residents, and local organizations have sought for many years."

Read the complete statement from the theater and developers:

Northlight Theatre, Farpoint Development, and McLaurin Development have announced they are withdrawing plans for a proposed development in the 1700 block of Sherman Avenue.

After numerous town hall and community meetings in the last year, Northlight has heard time and again the vast majority of residents express great enthusiasm for the theatre's return to Evanston. We also have heard support for our relocation from aldermen.

Our intention, with the developers and architects, was always to listen to the community to better understand the issues surrounding the proposed site before we entered into the formal review process with the city. We have heard both support – and concerns – for the proposed project. After discussions amongst Northlight, Farpoint and McLaurin, we now feel that to move forward, given that the site has become a source of contention, would serve to perpetuate a divisive issue for city leaders and residents in a time of continuing debate about the vision and future of downtown Evanston.

The objective of Northlight's development partners was to create a vibrant building for downtown Evanston that also allowed for a Performing Arts Center without leaning on the city for financial support.

This decision did not come lightly. But it continues to be Northlight's goal to be an integral part of the Evanston community. That includes listening to the concerns and issues raised by residents, businesses, and aldermen. Our intent was, and remains, to create a cultural, social, and economic hub in downtown Evanston, one that city leaders, residents, and local organizations have sought for many years. Such a Performing Arts Center will bring countless patrons to downtown Evanston to dine and shop, and generate new spending, revenue and jobs for the city and area businesses as well as tax relief for its residents.

These are worthy goals—ones Northlight intends to continue to pursue. We will now seek other viable locations in Evanston and, perhaps, elsewhere. In the meantime, Northlight will remain a vital, creative force in the Evanston community with our world-class theater, our successful educational initiatives at ETHS and District 65, and our ongoing partnerships with many Evanston social service organizations including Y.O.U., YWCA, Family Focus and Evanston Scholars.

We now look forward to engaging with the community in constructive conversation about how our relocation can improve the quality of life in Evanston—culturally and economically.

Sincerely,

Northlight Theatre
Farpoint Development
McLaurin Development