What is Evanston charging Trader Joes to rent the lots? Could it be a portion of their revenue?

I haven't been back to Evanston for a few years, but I'm surprised that there isn't a Trader Joe's there already. Is the People's Market, or whatever it was called, still on Chicago Ave.?

Most businesses have their own clients, so think about new shoppers who will drive to Chicago Ave which normally wouldn't and will have revenue for others in the neighborhood plus it will creat new local jobs and renting the parking will have income for the city and would not add parking issues to the area.
It's a good thing

Why should the City of Evanston be in the real estate leasing business? Doesn't sound like an appropriate thing for city government to be doing.

Another example of poor judgement and poor management. The city council just does not get it. Some consultant or other bean counter told them that they would get the money back in 5 years and of course the advisor knows that his/her/their pay is dependent upon telling the city council what they want to hear and the city council figures that if it doe not work out that way, they can blame it the advisor just like they did with the actuary in the pension mess. we need to elect some folks who can think for themselves. Is the city so flush with money that it can gamble with two million dollars of taxpayer money?

A thousand times YES! First of all, parking in that area is important for everyone. Secondly, Trader Joe's is a huge and needed business in Evanston. It's amazing they haven't been able to figure it out before. And finally, all deals of this magnitude have elements in them where the city picks up some of the costs. They could have given them a break on city taxes, or whatever else. Instead they are actually using the money to invest in infrastructure for the city to use over the long term.

This isn't even a close call; it's only controversial because it has a dollar sign attached and is not hidden in a tax break like other deals might be. It is 100% the right thing to do.

Two things. As a resident of the 1200 block of Hinman, right behind the proposed development, I want to know how City engineers are going to handle the traffic in this area. It is already a hazardous mix of commuters trying to speed north and south on Chicago ave, constant comings and goings from adjacent Jewel and Whole Foods traffic, in addition to the gas station on the corner as well. If you want to see what I mean, try to take a turn off of Hamilton onto Chicago Avenue watching for a steady stream of pedestrians along Chicago and the cross walk, traffic in and out of the Jewel, Whole Foods, and gas station lots, in addition to speeding traffic on Chicago. Now add in more traffic from the proposed new City garage- yikes! Second, although I can't speak for the financial aspects in detail, why does it leave me feeling like Evanston can't recognize how much we have to offer to Trader Joes and feels it must grovel? I feel like the folks at Trader Joes are taking advantage and laughing behind our backs. is it normal to offer such incentives? Trader Joes is nice and all that, but just how important is it to getting them to Evanston?

mij - I couldn't reply, so I'm entering a separate post. I assume they'll lose some property tax when it's a parking lot, but they'll gain a lot from the new building. The old, worn ones there would have been valued less. And in terms of revenue, the sales tax and alcohol tax that will be coming from the store will be huge. Remember, it's been an abandoned Blockbuster -- plus it will bring a lot of jobs and customers from outside Evanston.

So if the City didn't buy the lot, Trader Joe's wouldn't come? Seriously, the whole deal depends on $2m dollars? If Trader Joe's paid for the parking lot, Evanston would STILL get tax revenue.

When alls said and done. There will lots of parking lots on Chicago Ave. Greenleaf to Dempster.

It's very interesting that the Alderidiots would allocate $2M for TJs but not one cent to keep the South Branch of the library open.

I agree with Richard. The sociologists call this civic-business proximity "state socialism" wherein the business gets to make a profit (maybe) and the civic end gets some proxy control of the business and hopes for an increase in tax revenue to replace other revenue lost through previous business disincentives and/or poor planning and management. The very image of four grocery stores within a few blocks of each other does not create much confidence in Evanston's economic development.

I hate to inject facts into your ignorant rant, but there are Nissan, Volkswagen, and Mazda dealerships on Chicago Ave. in Evanston. Also, Evanston Subaru moved to Skokie because they were so successful and ran out of real estate to grow at their former location.

Finally, TJ's in not replacing an auto dealership, it is taking the place of a vacant video store. A 200+-unit apartment and retail community is being built on the site of the former Evanston Subaru.

At least you got your punctuation and sentence structure correct, sir.

INteresting to see that so many people are pleased to see "4" large parking lots from Greanleaf to Dempster on Chicago. Since the Blockbuster already had a small parking lot why couldn't some sort of deal been made with Whole Foods or Jewel as well as with the city since they already have a lot close by to handle this parking

Plenty of parking and a grocery store to "augment" shopping at Dempster and Dodge, and the bonus that the City wouldn't have to buy two lots at inflated prices. Maybe Trader Joe's should check out other available real estate in town? If they want prime real estate then they can pay for their own parking lot. Evanston needs to value what we offer and quit giving it all away. Yes, we'd love a Trader Joe's but really? Across the street from Jewel and in between two Whole Foods AND it's costing us $2million? Not at that cost.

Is Evanston buying lot for all local businesses ? Or just trader joes?
Seems the only one making money off that empty lot now is a tow truck company, towing cars away.
So buy parking for all businesses or none. Then do away with meters if you buy one local business a lot.
Like we need another grocery store in that area.

Question for the "gentleman" that has left Evanston for the coast of Florida: If it is so great and you are so happy to have left this city behind...Why are you not out surfing, working on your melanoma or attending Tea Party rallies? You spend considerable time writing about a car you bought thirty years ago and your biased opinions about Evanston.
Me thinks thou doth protest too much...get a life..

Thank you Charlene.....................! Very well said.

We do not need another store in that area how bout asbury and oakton

I agree with Ald. Wilson - this does not seem to be a fair deal for existing businesses or small businesses who may not have the muscle to get the City to invest in their capital expenditures and plant, property & equipment.

The City should not be in the business of real estate and deciding which companies deserve being helped by tax payer money which ones do not.

If I was the management of Jewel or Whole Foods, I would be very upset with how the City has helped the competition.

I cannot recall the TIF funding involved in the Buck building project that houses the downtown Whole Foods location.....was this comparable?

Seems to me the existing parking lot would have been ample for the store or the TJ corporate (which has very deep pockets) could have spent their own money on fixing up the parking lot.

"The City should not be in the business of real estate and deciding which companies deserve being helped by tax payer money and which ones do not."
Perfectly stated Dileep, thank you.

Unfortunately, the city council has approved major investments in other private business and buildings in Evanston. Follow the money and manpower going from taxpayers pockets into private business development of the Howard Street corridor. That began years ago and is continuing today. They bestow our money on their favorites and the rest of the business and citizens are left digging through empty pockets for more and more quarters to dump into the meters.

We really need to review and monitor the way our money is spent rather than complaining after the fact. We need to stop reelecting a city council that thinks our budget is a personal check book for personal favorites.

Well please remember that not all the Alderman are the same. I have been very happy with our choice here in the 4th Ward. Ald. Wilson is pragmatic and gives a good deal of thought to his votes. I tend to agree with them by and large. But he is often in the minority.

I am thrilled TJ's is coming---just wish it had happened years ago. They have the most interesting variety of food, at very good prices, AND they actually care about the quality of the ingredients. Let me mention, too, that their employees are the friendliest (seemingly happiest) and their return policies favor the customer. I find them singular among affordable stores.
How Whole Foods ever got to have two stores within a mile is beyond me---they are so expensive, very corporate in nature, and pretty much ate up the healthy alternative stores on the low end of the food chain. I do wonder what will happen to JD Mills, which has been staying afloat despite all the competition up the street.