Animal Shelter Reconstruction

Animal Shelter

Project Summary:

The City of Evanston and the Evanston Animal Shelter Association (EASA) have partnered to serve the animals of Evanston since 2016. The City of Evanston owns and maintains the Evanston Animal Shelter building, while the Evanston Animal Shelter Association operates the Evanston Animal Shelter as a no-kill  open admission animal shelter. EASA is committed to providing compassionate and humane care for Evanston’s abandoned, abused and relinquished animals and to find them homes through rehabilitation, foster care, adoption, and rescue organizations. Additionally, the shelter aims to further serve the community as a proactive resource for education, counseling and support. EASA currently handles approximately 250 to 350 dogs and 250 to 300 cats annually. In order to serve this many animals, a large network of foster homes is utilized. Additionally, the EASA has an active outreach program to help reduce the number of animals in need in the community. This includes an active feral cat neuter and spay program to help decrease the number of feral cats in the community and several shelter diversion programs aimed to help community members in need keep their animals in their homes rather than relinquish them to the shelter.

This project has received a grant from Cook County. The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control (CCARC) will be providing funding to offset the costs of the construction to increase the capacity of the animal shelter. The application from the City of Evanston and EASA to Cook County contained a proposal for demolition of the existing building and construction of a new building. The City Council authorized the City Manager to hire Holabird & Root to design the site and building with an expected budget of $6.3M.

The construction will be publicly bid in the winter of 2022-2023 and be constructed during the course of 2023.

Project Address:

2310 Oakton St., Evanston, IL 60201

Project Manager: 

• Lara Biggs
  For questions, please call 847-448-4311

Current Project Phase:

• Construction Documentation 

Public Meetings:

• October 12, 2022 - Land Use Commission
  • Video
• December 8, 2020- Presentation at meeting of the Animal Welfare Board 
• October 5, 2020- Presentation at meeting of the Human Services Committee

Newsletters/Presentations/Documents:

• May 31, 2023 - Animal Shelter Construction Newsletter
• September 27, 2021 - City Council Presentation to receive direction on project scope and cost
  • Evanston Animal Shelter Improvements - Building Options
• February 10, 2020 - Presentation

Council Actions:

• February 24, 2020 - Resolution 15-R-20
  •  Resolution 15-R-20, Authorizing the City Manager to Submit an Application for the Cook County Animal Shelter Grant
• February 8, 2021 - Resolution 20-R-21
  • Resolution 20-R-21, Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into A First Amendment to the Volunteer Animal Organization Agreement
• February 8, 2021 - Resolution 21-R-21
  •  Resolution 21-R-21, Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into A First Amendment to the Grant Agreement With Evanston Animal Shelter Association
• March 22, 2021 
  • Resolution 30-R-21, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Grant Agreement Between Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control, Evanston Animal Shelter Association ("EASA") and the City of Evanston
• March 22, 2021
  • Approval of Contract with Holabird & Root for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Evanston Animal Shelter Improvement (RFQ 20-53)
• November 8, 2021 
  • Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Contract with Holabird and Root for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Evanston Animal Shelter Improvements (RFQ 20-53)
• March 22, 2022
  • Change Order to Contract for Animal Shelter Design (RFQ No. 20-53)
• August 22, 2022
  • Approval of Contract for Consulting Services for the Recycling Center Renovation for a Temporary Dog Shelter
• October 10, 2022
  •  Resolution 107-R-22, Authorizing the City Manager to Waive the Standard Purchasing Process For Construction and Improvements for the Temporary Housing of Evanston Animal Shelter Association Animals
• February 27, 2023
  • Approval of Contract with CCC Holdings, Inc. for the Evanston Animal Shelter Construction