Recent Timeline of Legislative History
- On October 3, 2020 Evanston community members, elected officials, City staff, neighbors and community partners held a ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication to celebrate the completion of the Robert Crown Community Center & Library project.
- On Feburary 26, 2018 City Council approved the recommendation that the City Manager execute a contract to provide construction management services for the Robert Crown Community Center, Ice Complex and Library.
- On January 23, 2017 City Council approved a contract for payment to Woodhouse Tinucci Architects, LLC for architectural/engineering services. This fee is to provide the programming/investigation and schematic concept design services only. Friends of the Robert Crown Center and City staff will begin an intensive community engagement program to discuss the design of the new Robert Crown Community Center, Ice Complex and Library.
- On December 12, 2016 City Council approved the recommendation to enter in negotiations for architectural/engineering services for the Robert Crown Community Center, Ice Complex and Library Architectural/Engineering Services with Woodhouse Tinucci Architects, LLC. Staff will request approval of the Architect’s fee at the January 23, 2017 City Council meeting, and then begin to work with the community on designs for the Center between February and May 2017.
- On August 15, 2016 Staff provided an update to City Council noting that over $2 million has been pledged in fundraising. In addition, Staff provided Council with a Design/Construction Schedule commencing August 18, 2016 through November 2017. This schedule represents the Design portion of the project only.
- At the January 19, 2016 City Council meeting, Council approved the consulting services agreement, recommending the City and Library proceed with a fundraising campaign.
- On December 7, 2015, CCS provided the City with a final report: A Campaign Planning Study for the Robert Crown Community Center.
- Staff requested City Council authorize a request for proposal to seek a qualified fundraising consultant to raise funds to contribute to the project at the February 23, 2015 meeting. City Council reviewed the request for a consulting services agreement with Community Counseling Services, LLC (“CCS”) for fundraising on June 15, 2015.
- In February of 2014, City Council discussed and provided direction on the next steps for the Center.
- City Council reviewed the proposal to negotiate with two respondents, Crown Park Community Partnership (William Blair) and McCaffery Evanston Recreation LLC (McCaffery Interests) in order to obtain a best and final offer at the November 12, 2012 City Council meeting. Because neither developer could proceed without City support of any debt to build the project, neither proposal was accepted.
- In the fall of 2011, the City Council approved a Request for Proposal to Design, Build, Finance and Operate the Center (RFP 12-61). Three developers were prequalified earlier in the year. Three proposals were received and reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Board in March of 2012.
- In September of 2000, the Evanston City Council was advised of the poor conditions of the Robert Crown Center. The Parks & Recreation Department’s Strategic Park Plan (provided at the September meeting) states that the facility has not been improved since it opened in 1974 and that the skating facility would need to be completely renovated. Upon recommendation by the Council, A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. prepared an evaluation of the facility in 2003 with their recommendations for repairs/renovation.
