Proposed Development Projects

Welcome to the City of Evanston’s Proposed Development Projects page. Here you will find a comprehensive list of all proposed development projects that requires public review before the Land Use Commission or City Council. Additionally, any of these projects that have been recently approved and those that are under construction are included in their respective dropdown menu below.

Our goal is to foster high-quality development, guided by sound planning, transparent zoning processes, and active civic engagement. In addition to this webpage, our Weekly Zoning Report, which highlights all large development projects and certain permit activity by Ward, is available weekly via the City Manager's Weekly Report. Whether it’s small improvements or a mixed-use development proposal, this report ensures community members stay informed and empowered to participate in shaping Evanston’s future.

Proposed Planned Developments

900 Clark Street

Project Description

The applicant, CSP Evanston Land LLC, is proposing a Planned Development to allow a 27-story mixed-use development including 358 residential dwelling units (including over 10% Inclusionary Housing units) and approximately 3,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. A minimum of 79 parking stalls will be leased from the City within the Maple Avenue garage to accommodate parking demand from the proposed building.

It should be noted that the specific development attributes may change and evolve as this project continues through the zoning entitlement process.

Current Status: The application is currently under review by the City. The next step in the zoning entitlement process will be a public hearing with the Land Use Commission at a date not yet determined. The City Council is the final decision maker on the application.

Project Materials:
Current Development Plans (subject to change as the project advances)

3434 Central Street (Kensington School)

The applicant, Charles Marlas of the Kensington School, has requested approval to demolish the existing building on the property and construct a new 2-story and 19,952 square foot building for a Kensington School daycare. The site would include a 38-space parking lot with left-in/right-out access along Central Street and right-in/right-out access along Gross Point Road. On the western side of the site, a separate access point would be added to provide a driveway to the First Williamsburg Co-op development. The property would also include playground areas to the south and west of the proposed building and the daycare is being built to accommodate up to 166 children. Hours of operation would be between 6:30am-6:30pm, Monday-Friday. The proposal requires Planned Development approval, which must be reviewed by the Land Use Committee and requires final approval from the City Council.

The specific development attributes may change and evolve as this project continues through the Planned Development approval process.

Land Use Commission: The project appeared before the Land Use Commission on January 14, 2026, and received a recommendation of approval. Links to the application materials and meeting minutes from the meeting can be found on the Land Use Commission webpage.

Current Status: The application is tentatively scheduled to appear before the Planning and Development Committee and City Council on March 9, 2026. Once confirmed, the meeting agendas and project materials will be available on their respective webpages: Planning & Development webpage and the City Council webpage.

Project Materials:
Current Development Plans (subject to change as the project advances)

Other Proposed Development Projects

1501 Central Street (Chicago Stars Uniqe Use)

The applicant, Chicago Stars FC, is proposing a unique use for the Chicago Stars FC to play at Ryan Field (1501 Central Street) for 5 years upon its completion, beginning in Fall 2026. The seasons will run March-November with an anticipated 15-17 matches per season.

Current Status: The application materials are currently under review by the City. The next step in the zoning entitlement process will be a public hearing with the Land Use Commission at a date not yet determined. City Council is the final determining body for the project.

Project Materials: Current Project Plans (subject to change as the project advances)

3233-3249 Central Street Townhomes

The applicant, Anthony Kaplunov of Krosha Properties LLC, is proposing a 3-story townhome development with 11 four-bedroom units (including 1 Inclusionary Housing unit). The development would be structured as a condominium with all units being marketed for-sale. Each unit would include two garage parking spaces at the rear with access from the alley. The 3^rd floor of each residence would include a rooftop terrace facing Central Street, and all units would have a basement. The proposal requires a height variation, building lot coverage variation, and a rear yard coverage variation, all of which requires review and approval by the Land Use Commission.

It should be noted that the specific development attributes may change and evolve as this project continues through the zoning entitlement process.

Current Status: The requested Major Variations will be reviewed by Land Use Commission at a public hearing on March 11th, 2026 at 7:00PM at City Hall. The Land Use Commission is the decision making body for this project.

Project Materials: Development Plans

1103-1105 Emerson Street (Multi-Family Development)

The applicant, PM Properties LLC, is proposing a 5-story multi-family residential rental development with 30 units (including 3 Inclusionary Housing units). The site would include 4 parking spaces at the rear of the building with access from the alley, and the developer would lease an additional 5 parking spaces from a nearby parking garage for additional tenant parking. The building would feature a rooftop deck and would also include solar panels over a portion of the roof. The proposal requires a density variation, parking variation, and a rear yard coverage variation (for the parking spaces), all of which requires review by the Land Use Commission and approval by the City Council.

It should be noted that the specific development attributes may change and evolve as this project continues through the zoning entitlement process.

Current Status: This project is scheduled for a public hearing with the Land Use Commission on February 25th, 2026. The plans and application materials will be available for viewing on the Land Use Commission webpage on February 20, 2026, along with details on how the public can participate in the hearing.

Project Materials: Development Plans

Harley Clarke Mansion

September 2024 - Request for Proposals (RFP)

The City has released the most recent Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the rehabilitation and adaptive use of Harley Clarke and its grounds.

Spring 2024 - Request for Proposals (RFP)

The City has released a Request for Proposals for the rehabilitation and adaptive use of Harley Clarke and its grounds. This follows an earlier Request for Expression of Interest (REI). The responses to the REI affirmed that the property remains highly valuable and represents a significant opportunity for renewed life and vibrancy.

The City believes this new opportunity will produce a vibrant, financially sound, and financially sustainable vision for the property that spurs cultural benefit and place-based economic development potential for all of Evanston.

Additional RFP Information

Links to additional information including maps, floor plans, photos, historical documentation, conditions assessments and cost estimates, and additional pertinent reports and studies are available on the projects website. Please contact Cade W. Sterling, Preservation Planner at 847-448-8231 or csterling@cityofevanston.org with any questions.

Timeline of City Ownership and Initiatives

Year	Description
1965	City of Evanston purchases property from Sigma Chi Fraternity
1965-2015	City leases property to Evanston Arts Center
July 2011	City Council directed City Staff to identify other possible uses
May 2012	Staff distributed a Request for Interest
July 2013	Council rejects the one RFP received to turn property into hotel
End of 2013 through 2015	Illinois Department of Natural Resources tried to negotiate about purchase of property
January 2015	Citizens Committee was formed to study uses for the mansion
June 2015	Committee presented report to City Council
October 2015	City Council requested to discontinue proposal discussions
September 2016	City Council approves proposal for City to keep property and allocate $250,000 for improvements
November 2016	Harley Clarke Planning Committee was formed to discuss next steps
June 2017	Request from committee to lease to Evanston Lakehouse and Gardens (denied); request was amended to send out a Request for Proposal for other not-for-profit organizations that may be interested in leasing
August 2017	RFPs Issued Seeking Qualified Non-Profit Entity to Lease the Harley Clarke Mansion
November 2017	Evanston Lakehouse & Gardens response to the RFP was approved by Council
March 2018	Ordinance 42-O-18 authorizing Evanston Lakehouse & Gardens lease was approved for Introduction by Council
April 2018	Ordinance 42-O-18 failed 7-2 for Action
June 2018	Resolution 43-R-18 approved 6-3 for Action
July 2018	Resolution 51-R-18 approved 5-3 for Action
August 2018	Memorandum of Understanding with Evanston Lighthouse Dunes
October 2018	Preservation Commission votes 9-0 to deny Certificate of Appropriateness
November 2018	Evanston voters support advisory referendum to protect from demolition and preserve the Harley Clarke buildings and gardens.
November 2018	Preservation Commission Findings. Attachments can be found in the October 23 Preservation Commission meeting agenda.
November 2018	Notice of Appeal from Evanston Preservation Commission's Decision
December 2018	Request to hear the appeal was denied 9-0
March 2019	Discussion on next steps for the Mansion. Request was made to return April 15, 2019 with a new RFP.
April 2019	Harley Clarke Mansion RFP. Motion was made to remove the option to sell, add additional dates as needed for tours, and expand on community component. Passed 5-3.
December 2019	Long-Term Lease Agreement with the Artist Book House
January 2023	Artist Book House withdraws from lease agreement
September 2023	Updated Request for Expressions of Interest Issued. The City received ten responses, affirming the property remains highly valuable and represents a significant opportunity for renewed life and vibrancy.

History of the Harley Clarke Mansion

Located adjacent to the Grosse Pointe Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach in the northeast corner of Evanston, the Harley Clarke Mansion is a historic English Tudor mansion. The City of Evanston purchased the property from the Sigma Chi National Fraternity in 1965 as part of the development of the Lighthouse Landing Park. The mansion was originally a private residence, but had served as the fraternity’s national headquarters from 1951-1965. The City of Evanston leased the building to the Evanston Arts Center from the late 1960s until 2015, when the property began to require more maintenance than either the City or the Art Center was able to fund. The Evanston Arts Center moved to a new location on Central Street and the property was closed. In 2013, the City rejected one Request for Proposal to turn the property into a hotel. The City then reviewed responses to a Request for Proposal to lease the property to a not-for-profit organization. After the proposal from Evanston Lakehouse & Gardens was denied by City Council in 2017, the Evanston Lighthouse Dunes group submitted a request to donate funds to demolish the Harley Clarke Mansion and Coach House and restore the dunes. The Preservation Commission denied this proposal.

Request for Proposal with Evanston Lakehouse & Gardens

The City of Evanston requested proposals to enter into a long-term lease with a non-profit organization that will invest in and renovate the Harley Clarke Mansion to create a high quality public use for the space consistent with the 2008 Lakefront Master Plan. The City received one response from Evanston Lakehouse & Gardens. City Council approved the response on November 13, 2017. City Council directed City Staff to move forward with lease negotiations. The proposed lease (Ordinance 42-O-18) was approved for Introduction at the March 12, 2018 City Council, but failed 7-2 for Action on April 9, 2018.

Request for Proposal - RFP, Addendum 1, Addendum 2
Evanston Lakehouse & Gardens Response - ELHG Response
Ordinance 42-O-18, Lease of City-Owned property located at 2603 Sheridan Road to ELHG

Past Responses to Request for Proposals
Artistic Book House Proposal
Evanston Community Lakehouse & Gardens Proposal
Evanston Conservancy Proposal
ONECommunity Museum Website

740 Main Street

The applicant, Sarah Grunder of RWE Planning and Design, Inc. is proposing a special use for a 3,540 gross square foot veterinary clinic to be located at 740 Main Street and operated by Evanston Animal Hospital. This is a first time interior fit out of an existing vacant retail space on the 1st floor. The vet clinic will include a lobby, examination rooms, a large treatment area with surgery and dental suites, and a room to perform x-rays on animals.

Current Status: The application materials are currently under review by the City. The next step in the zoning entitlement process will be a public hearing with the Land Use Commission at a date not yet determined. City Council is the final determining body for the project.

Project Materials: Development Plans

Approved Development Projects

605 Davis Street (Mixed-Use Tower)

Vermilion Development submitted a zoning application for a Planned Development to allow a 31-story mixed-use development at 605 Davis Street in Downtown Evanston. The original application included 3,200 square feet of ground floor commercial space, 80 parking spaces on floors 2-3, and a total of 430 multi-family residential rental units above. The project also featured 86 Inclusionary Housing units to be dispersed through-out the building. The developer proposed to lease an additional 114 parking spaces from the City in nearby City-owned garage facilities.

Community Meeting: The developer held an initial community meeting to introduce the project to nearby residents, businesses, and property owners. This meeting occurred on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. A second community meeting was held on Tuesday, April 29th at the Evanston Public Library Main Branch.

Land Use Commission: The project appeared before the Land Use Commission on July 23, 2025, August 13, 2025, and finally on August 27, 2025, where the Land Use Commission ultimately voted 3-4 on a motion to recommend approval of the application. Since a majority of commissioners voted against the motion, the motion for approval failed and the project traveled to the Planning & Development Committee and City Council without a positive recommendation from the Land Use Commission. Links to the application materials and meeting minutes from each meeting can be found on the Land Use Commission webpage.

Planning and Development Committee & City Council: The Planning & Development Committee and City Council each met on September 29th, 2025, to discuss the application. The meeting agendas and project materials reviewed by both public bodies are contained on their webpages: Planning & Development webpage and the City Council webpage. The Planning & Development Committee moved the project on to the City Council and the City Council voted to table introduction of the project until their meeting on October 27, 2025, to allow the developer to address concerns raised by certain councilmembers.

2nd City Council Meeting: The developer submitted revised plans for consideration by the City Council, which showed a 29-story mixed-use development with 2,920 square feet of ground floor commercial space, 40 parking spaces on the second floor, and a total of 419 multi-family residential rental units above. The project also featured 84 Inclusionary Housing units to be dispersed through-out the building. The developer proposed to lease an additional 153 parking spaces from the City in nearby City-owned garage facilities. The City Council discussed the revised application on October 27th, 2025, and voted 5-4 in favor of the project. The meeting minutes and project materials from this meeting are available on the City Council webpage. The revised development plans are included below.

Final Zoning Approval: The Ordinance granting zoning approval for the revised project was approved by the City Council on November 10, 2025. The approval ordinance is linked below.

Current Status: Awaiting submission of a demolition permit and building permit for the proposed structure.

Project Materials:

Development Projects Under Construction

1621-1631 Chicago Avenue (The Legacy Mixed-Use Development)

"The Legacy", a mixed-use Planned Development (PD) approved in November of 2024, has requested a Minor PD Adjustment to allow modifications to the development plan. The developer is proposing changes to the building footprint, interior layout, exterior design, and a reduction in height from 12-stories to 11-stories. The number of dwelling units remains as originally approved (110 dwelling unit), however, the amount of commercial floor area has reduced from 10,832 square feet to 6,980 square feet. The amount of parking has reduced from 48 parking spaces to 44 spaces (41 onsite plus 3 spaces leased within the Church Street garage). The proposal requires Minor PD Adjustment approval, which must be reviewed by the Planning & Development Committee and requires final approval from the City Council.

Final Zoning Approval: The application was approved on the consent agenda by the City Council on July 14, 2025. The meeting agenda and minutes from the July 14th City Council meeting can be accessed here. The approval Ordinance #45-O-25 can be accessed here.

Current Status: A building permit for this development has been issued and work is proceeding.

Project Materials: Development Plans

2200-2206 Maple Avenue (Multi-Family Development)

PH Development & Management LLC, is constructing a 5-story, 30 dwelling unit multi-family rental development, which will include 6 Inclusionary Housing dwelling units. The site will include 11 parking stalls on the exterior of the building and at the rear of the site with access from the alley. Additionally, the alley will provide access to an interior garage located on the first level, which will include 18 parking stalls. The applicant requested a density variation, parking variations, loading berth size variation, and rear yard coverage variation.

Land Use Commission: On March 26, 2025, the Land Use Commission voted 7-0 in favor of a recommendation of approval of this application, subject to several conditions of approval. Meeting documents and video recordings are available on the Land Use Commission webpage.

Planning & Development Committee: The project was introduced at the Planning & Development Committee on Monday, April 14, 2025, and received a vote of 7-0 in favor of forwarding the project onto the City Council. The agenda, minutes, and a video of the Planning & Development Committee meeting can be accessed here.

City Council: On Monday, April 14, 2025, the project was introduced to the City Council. The project returned to City Council on April 28th for a final vote and was unanimously approved, subject to certain conditions as outlined in Ordinance 35-O-25. City Council agendas, minutes, and videos of each meeting can be found here.

Current Status: A building permit has been issued.

Project Materials: Development Plans

2117 Dewey Avenue (Foster School)

A new 2-story, 24 classroom Kindergarten through 5th grade school that includes a library, sensory room, outdoor playgrounds, cafetorium and dedicated spaces and storage for arts and special classes (drama, music, art, band/orchestra, STEM).

Current Status: Under construction, estimated to open in fall 2026. For additional information please visit: https://www.district65.net/register/student-assignment/student-assignment-planning-sap/foster-school

Project Materials: Development Plans

910-938 Custer Avenue (Multi-Family Development)

Charles Davidson, CDG Capital, and Andy Ahitow, City Pads, are constructing a Planned Development for a 5-story multifamily residential building with 230 dwelling units including 23 inclusionary dwelling units and 48 open parking spaces.

Land Use Commission: The request received a unanimous recommendation for approval with conditions from the Land Use Commission on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Meeting documents and video recordings are available on the Land Use Commission webpage.

Planning & Development Committee: The project was introduced at the Planning & Development Committee on Monday, November 11, 2024.

City Council: On Monday, November 11, 2024, the City Council discussed the project, and on Monday, November 25, 2024, the City Council approved Ordinance 92-O-24, granting the requested zoning entitlements to the development. City Council agendas, minutes, and videos of each meeting can be found here.

Current Status: The existing building on the property has been demolished and a building permit has been issued to begin work on the building foundation.

Project Materials: Development Plans

1501 Central Avenue (Ryan Field Stadium)

Northwestern University is constructing a new stadium with related site improvements in the U2 University Athletic Facilities District.

Current Status: Under construction

Project Materials:

City Council Approved Ordinance

City of Evanston Independent Economic Impact Study - September 2023

Project History:
Meetings:

In-person and Virtual Special Topic 7th Ward Meeting held on June 27, 2023
- Video Recording
Land Use Commission: Meetings were held on September 6, 2023, September 27, 2023 and October 11, 2023. Meeting documents and video recordings are available on the Land Use Commission webpage.
Planning & Development Committee/City Council (Introduction): October 30, 2023 at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers
City Council (Action): November 13, 2023 at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers

Initial Application: 11-14-2022

Revised Application- 6.27.23

Revised Application -8.14.23

Revised Application - 8.15.23

Revised Application - 9.6.23

Response to Staff Review Letter
GEI Geotechnical Report
Southeast Rendering - Plaza Entry and Ramp
Existing and Proposed Site and Elevations

Additional Documents- 9.19.23

Additional Documents - 10.4.23

Additional Documents - 10.30.23

Associated Text Amendment to the U2 Zoning District

Text Amendment History

Construction Management Plan

Vibration Monitoring

504-514 South Boulevard (Multi-Family Development)

Construction of a 60 unit mixed-income housing development.

City Council: On October 23, 2023, the City approved Ordinance 99-O-23, granting the requested zoning entitlements to the development. City Council agendas, minutes, and videos of each meeting can be found here.

Current Status: Under Construction

Project Materials: Development Plans

Vibration Monitoring Reports:

1915-1917 Grans Street (Efficiency Home Development)

David Wallach is constructing a 13-unit efficiency home development in the R3 Two-family Residential District.

Current Status: Under construction

Project Materials: Development Plans

1012-1018 Church Street (Northlight Theatre)

Construction of a 37,800 sf three-story building housing a Mainstage Theatre, large public lobby, cafe and lounge, multi-purpose rehearsal hall, theatre support spaces, administrative offices and on-site box office. a sophisticated state-of-the-art 300-seat theatre auditorium, with a balcony and large backstage; administrative offices for full-time employees; support spaces for theatre craft; multiple bathrooms on all levels; a loading dock for scenic and theatrical elements to load-in; and a 3rd Floor roof top deck adjacent to a large rehearsal hall/event space.

Project Materials:

Planned Development (PD) Ordinance

Construction Management Plan (CMP) - for Demolition

Construction Management Plan (CMP) - for Construction - 02.04.25

Current Status: Under Construction

Estimated Completion Date: May 2026

Proposed Zoning Code or Map Amendments

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