Pritzker: Harley Clarke Hotel Would Have Brought City $5.1 Million, 54 New Jobs

Evanston billionaire Jennifer Pritzker's company, Tawani Enterprises, recently posted a website addressing her failed bid to turn the city-owned Harley Clarke Mansion into a boutique hotel. 

Called Harley Clarke Facts, the website claims that Pritzker's proposal would have created 54 new jobs, brought in $523,600 in new tax revenue and had an economic impact of $5.1 million, "in direct, indirect and induced spending in the community." 

Tawani Enterprises submitted an offer of $1.2 million for the mansion and 2.5 acres of surrounding parkland last year, after the city issued a request for proposals for purchase of the mansion alone.  The company proposed turning it into a 57-room boutique hotel, while maintaining some public access to the beach nearby. 

After receiving thousands of petitions, countless e-mails and numerous phone calls opposing the proposed sale, however, city council members voted this summer to reject Pritzker’s bid. 

Critics said the city should not be selling public, lakefront property to a private enterprise. 

Tawani Enterprises, however, maintains that access to Lighthouse Beach would have been maintained, and the historic, dilapidated mansion would have been faithfully repaired.

To read more about Pritzker's plans for the mansion, visit the Harley Facts website.