A group of Evanston homeowners who launched a campaign against the creation of a historic district in the suburb said Friday that they will meet this weekend to decide whether to continue their opposition after city lawmakers decided to sharply reduce the district’s size.
In a concession to the homeowners, the City Council’s Planning and Development Committee voted 3-0 late Thursday to move the northern boundary of the district from Sheridan Place to Lincoln Avenue, about four blocks south. The vote reduces the district’s size by more than half and removes about 250 of the more than 500 single-family homes included in the original proposal.
But the revamped boundaries still include a number of homes owned by Northwestern University, which opposes a historic district. The school would not comment Friday.
Meanwhile, supporters of the district, hoping to preserve the area’s heritage, expressed disappointment that the boundaries were moved so far.
The full City Council is expected to take up the proposal for a vote at its regular meeting Monday night.
“We cut the size so many of the people who don’t want to be in the district don’t have to be,” said Ald. Arthur Newman (1st). “I think this boundary change shows we listened to them.”
The new proposal calls for a 100-acre area, bordered by Lincoln Street on the north, Emerson Street on the south, Lake Michigan and parts of Sheridan Road on the east and Ridge and Sherman Avenues on the west, to be designated as Evanston’s third local historic district.
If the council approves the district, anyone planning to make even small changes to a home must submit plans to Evanston’s Preservation Commission, which would ensure the plans meet a list of architectural standards.
