Microbrewery Seeking TIF Funds On Howard Street

City council members are expected to consider making a $200,000 grant to the owners of a restaurant and brewery called Peckish One, proposed for 623-627 ½ Howard St.

The owners of a proposed restaurant and brewery on Howard Street are expected to come before Evanston aldermen Monday, seeking a $200,000 grant and a lease for city-owned property. Debbie and Jamie Evans, former managers and partners at the Celtic Knot, hope to open a microbrewery at 623-627 ½ Howard St. called Peckish One, according to city documents. The name plays off the British term “peckish,” meaning “somewhat hungry.” They hope to enter into a lease-to-own agreement with the city, which purchased the space and two others on Howard Street in February 2011 using tax-increment financing (TIF) dollars from the Howard/Ridge TIF district. A cocktail bar called Ward Eight opened in December at one of the other properties, 629 Howard St., …

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Group Withdraws Proposal For Indoor Sports Facility at Recycling Center

In a letter submitted to the city council Monday, the Evanston Baseball and Softball Association says it can’t afford to pay market rates to lease the vacant city property, as some aldermen have requested.

The Evanston Baseball and Softball Association announced Monday that it would withdraw its proposal to build an indoor sports facility at the former site of Evanston Recycling Center.  In a letter to the Evanston city council, members of the Evanston Baseball and Softball Association (EBSA) board of directors wrote that they did not believe they could afford to pay market rates to lease the site, as some city council members had suggested at a meeting earlier this summer.  “We started this out on a community partnership basis,” said Greg Clarke, a spokesperson for the group. “They have made it very clear they want it to be a moneymaker.”  Related: Why Evanston Needs An Indoor Sports Facility Along with other local sports groups, EBSA first…

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Council Approves Initial Steps Toward Advertising Pilot Program

The Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to seek advertising proposals from third-parties for city spaces.

The Evanston City Council voted 6-1 to approve the request for a proposal of the implementation of an Advertising Pilot Program Tuesday evening. The city is considering adopting a pilot program that will allow third-party advertisers to use municipal space as an advertising venue. This includes city spaces like parking garages, free-standing kiosks, sides of waste receptacles, and Fountain Square in addition to beach houses, lifeguard stands and trail mike markers on the lakefront. Prior to the vote, Alderman Judy Fiske (1st Ward) stated that the residents of her ward were not in favor of the plan to integrate advertising into city structures and beaches for the sake of additional revenue. “I’m going to oppose this, I’m very concerned …

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Subcommittee Will Explore Uses for James Park Land

The Evanston City Council established a subcommittee Monday to look at proposals for the area.

A new subcommittee will explore new uses for the former recycling center on Oakton Street, looking at plans such as turning it into an indoor sports center or family-friendly bowling alley. The hope is that the land will bring a new taxable business to the 8th Ward and  provide some sort of recreation center that the entire community can use. "I do not want to see another exclusive use of indoor soccer ... where people pay huge amounts of money to participate and only a small part of the community can play those games," said Ald. Ann Rainey, 8th Ward. Ald. Donald Wilson, 4th Ward, said that an indoor sports facility could be used by kids and families, and noted that many families currently drive to far suburbs to use those facilities. He …

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Evanston Moves Forward with Church Zoning Compromise

Ordinance passed 7-2 at Dec. 13 City Council meeting.

An ordinance meant to boost economic growth by limiting the number of storefront churches has been approved, but has been scaled back to only apply to specific areas of the city. The original ordinance would have required any new religious institutions in Evanston to obtain a special use permit, but the amended version would only require churches to obtain the permit if they are to be built in certain areas, including the Howard Street commercial district. Ald. Ann Rainey (8th Ward) introduced the ordinance as a means to revitalize the Howard Street commercial district, which has a number of storefront churches. On a recent walking tour of the area, Rainey told faith leaders that the churches are shuttered most days of the week, …

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About Town

The Evanston Suit

Purple polished cotton flatters any Evanstonian.

Have you seen the limited edition "Evanston Suit"?  It's offered for a cool $400 on www.bonobos.com.  Described as a Purple Polished Cotton Suit, it boasts two button closures, working button cuffs (as opposed to the unemployed version?), dual vents and, best of all, a purple gingham cotton liner. With free shipping BOTH ways, it seems silly not to consider it for your holiday shopping.   Considering what a statement this fashion forward item makes on any one of our elected officials, it's easy to see how this item might sell out quickly. Operators are standing by.

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The Blue Line Brightens Evanston's 8th Ward

A new public art project illuminates the Custer Street Bridge.

Blue lights aren't an unfamiliar sight for the residents of the 8th Ward in south Evanston, they're on top of police camera boxes in the area. But on Custer Avenue, about two blocks north of Howard Street, a public art sculpture has brought a new meaning to bright blue light. "Jim [Brenner, who created the sculpture] deserves thanks for bringing a positive spin to blue lights off Howard," said 8th Ward resident Ryan Kettelkamp. "He turned blue lights into a positive thing." On Tuesday, approximately 30 Evanston residents gathered to see the unveiling of the Custer Avenue Bridge Project, titled "The Blue Line." Joshua Barney, chairman of the Public Art Committee in Evanston, served as master of ceremonies at the dedication that featured …

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