Evanston IL Real Estate

Downtown Evanston has something to offer everyone. It seems that new construction is everywhere. Central to the revitalization of the downtown was the Century 12 CineArts 6 Movie Theatre at Maple and Church Street.

Century 12/ Cine Art 6 Theatre

In the past 4 years new condominum projects have followed and more are on the way. A 40 story building is being proposed and this will be the tallest building outside of Chicago. This new building will add to the already occupied new units surrounding downtown. Some of these newer buildings are pictured below:

Optima Towers

Sherman Plaza

Mathew Backus of LA Fitness standing out in front of the new health club at Sherman Plaza.

Site of Propossed 40 Story Tower is near Fountain Square where Jenna, Tom and John are sitting during their lunch break.

Across the street from each other is the Orrington hotel and the new Evanston Public Library. The Orrington Hotel is currently going through a 34 million dollar renovation and will have 269 hotel rooms along with conference facilities and fine dining.

The Orrington Hotel

Evanston Public Library

If you would like more information about the downtown, please feel free to contact me personally.

The City of Evanston has identified buildings they wish to preserve through Landmark Status and have identified other areas throughout the city which are zoned Historic Districts.  The Preservation Commission consists of 11 members and 3 associate members which are appointed by by the Mayor of Evanston for a three year term to be part of a review process  to projects located in the Historic Districts. Certificates of Appropriateness are issued to show that the projects have been reviewed. Minor work need only to be reviewed by the Preservation Coordinator while Major Work is reviewed by the Preservation Commission. Some work in the Historic District need no approval.

NO APPROVAL- ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

1.  Repair to existing Accessory Structures or Buildings where there is no change in design, materials or general appearance.

2. Repair to Achitectural Details where there is no change in design, materials or appearance.

3. Repair to Decks

4. Installation, alteration, removal of storm doors

5. Repair of Fences or Walls

6. Repair to Gutters and Downspouts

7. Installign House numbers and mailboxes

8. Aleration, addition, removal of gardens, planting beds or shrubbery

9. Repair to driveways

10 Planting New trees or removing dead trees.

11 Installing, replacing, altering, removal of Exterior lighting.

12.Minor repairs to masonry when mortar matches the original or brick or stone matches original.

13. Repair of Roofing Material

14 Repair to exterior stairs or steps

15  Painting

MINOR WORK NEEDING APPROVAL

1.  Replacing or Alteration of Accessory Structures or Buildings

2. Alteration, addition, removal of Architectural Details

3. Construction, alteration, removal of chimneys

4. Alteration,replacement,removal fo existing decks

5. Installing New doors or removal of old doors

6. Construction or replacement of new fence or walls

7. Installing or removing Mechanical equipment such as air conditioning units

8. Alteration to existing porches

9. Alteration or replacement of any exterior materials including  roofing materials.

10. Installation of new windows

11. Replacement of skylights

MAJOR WORK COMMISSION REVIEW

1. New construction or Additions to primary building

2. Demolition of any structure in part or whole.

3. Relocation of buildings

4. Alteration or removal of archeologically significant features

5. Alteration or removal fo contributing histiorical features

6. Additions to or requesting new accessory structures or buildings

7. Constructing new decks, driveways, parking lots, porches.

8. Alterations to Exterior Materials.

9. New construction of above ground swimming pools

10. Adding new skylights.

I was driving to my office one morning and saw this home that had all of these political signs and if you look close enough you will see a sign posted on the tree that says:”Take a Sign!” We Grow these here for you to transplant in YOUR yard.

Evanston is thirteen (13 miles) due north of Downtown Chicago and covers an area of 7.8 square miles and has a population of over 74,000 residents.

Evanston is a vibrant community and is best seen by dividing the City into five distinct sections (Southeast Evanston, Southwest Evanston,Downtown Evanston,Northeast Evanston, and Northwest Evanston).

For purposes of this section, I plan to write about each section and have decided to start out describing My Neighborhood of Northwest Evanston.

Northwest Evanston boundaries are between McCormick Avenue on the South, Crawford Avenue on the West, Greenbay Road on the East, and Isabella on the North. Northwest Evanston has a great mix of single family homes, condos, with some rental units.

Central Street is the business district of Northwest Evanston and has a great mix of small retail shops, along with a very active public library and post office. You can find a lot of people walking down Central Street whether its going to Great Harvest Bread Company for fresh bread, Walshs Homeopathic for vitamins, Starbucks for coffee, Foodstuffs for gourmet prepared foods, Perennials for stationary, invitations and gifts for all occasions, Mud Pies for children’s clothes, or to go to some of the local restaurants including Symphony for Itailian food, Bluestone Bar for American fair, Jackys Bistro for French food and Prairie Joes for Vegetarian, Mexican and Eclectic food

The City of Evanston departments of parks has issued a notice to all residents in Evanston that the Emeral Ash Borer has been found in Evanston. Follow the link for more information from the City of Evanston.

For a full week in October you and your family can experience the Arts sponsored by the Evanston Arts Council. During the week long event, there is something for everyone. There will be exhibits from local Evanston artists, photography exhibits, Evanston art gallery tours,story time at Barnes & Noble, free music concerts, family activities (i.e. build a totem) at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, pottery classes, choral concerts and more.