In 2017, we identified a 15,000-square-foot site at 100-136 Chicago Avenue in downtown Evanston that was being used by a local business owner for a small service operation in an aging building. The site had potential, but its size and configuration presented challenges for creating the kind of mixed-use development that could truly activate this gateway location.
As we began negotiations to purchase the private parcel, we learned that the City of Evanston owned an adjacent 10,000-square-foot site that was being used as a surface parking lot. We recognized that combining these two parcels could create a 25,000-square-foot development site with the critical mass needed for a meaningful project.
We approached the City with a proposal: allow us to acquire the parking lot parcel, and in return, we would create a mixed-use development that would bring new housing and retail to this prominent corner while generating long-term tax revenue. The City was receptive to the vision, and we began parallel negotiations to acquire both the private site and the municipal parcel.
Once we successfully closed on both acquisitions, we demolished the existing building and began the entitlement process. Working closely with City planning staff and the community, we designed a 28-unit apartment building with 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The building would provide much-needed housing in downtown Evanston while creating active street-level commercial space along Chicago Avenue.
The planning process involved extensive community engagement and multiple rounds of design refinement to ensure the project would complement the surrounding neighborhood while meeting the City's development objectives. We successfully secured approval for a planned development, obtaining the zoning entitlements necessary to move forward.
Recognizing the project's value to the community, the City of Evanston committed $1.9 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to support the development. This public investment, combined with our private capital, positioned the project for groundbreaking. The Evanston Gateway demonstrates how strategic site assembly and collaborative public-private partnerships can unlock value in underutilized urban sites.
