Patch columnist Christine Wolf shares what she learned about efforts to revitalize the corner of Dempster and Dodge after a 2nd ward meeting hosted by Ald. Peter Braithwaite.
After writing a column in February expressing my frustration about the seemingly slow progress of Evanston’s West Side — including a statement that the area’s been plagued by gun violence — 2nd Ward Alderman Peter Braithwaite contacted me. He was not happy. It was clear Braithwaite didn’t appreciate the negative press about his ward. We spoke for over an hour and, by the end of the conversation, he’d invited me to attend a 2nd Ward meeting to learn about the progress and positivity in and around the area. Also invited was Scott Inbinder, principal of Bonnie Investment Group, the company that owns Evanston Plaza at Dempster and Dodge. Before I attended the April 11 2nd Ward meeting, I met with City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz, started an …
42.041128
-87.699301
Dominick's Finer Foods
1910 Dempster St, Evanston, IL
/articles/behind-the-scenes-on-evanston-s-west-side
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/locations/9234669
Opinion columnist Christine Wolf sits down with Evanston’s City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz and Economic Development Planner Paul Zalmezak to get the story on Evanston’s West Side.
Last week, I wrote about how Evanston’s west side appears to languish behind the rest of the city. This week, I wanted to get some answers. So I met with City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz and economic development planner Paul Zalmezak. Here's a summary of our conversation. Did Dominick’s prevent Planet Fitness from locating at Evanston Plaza? I hear the grocery store has a right to refuse certain properties there. I’m here to tell you: Dominick’s didn’t force Planet Fitness out of Evanston Plaza. According to Bobkiewicz, Planet Fitness changed its mind and went to Main Street Commons—although the grocery store does indeed have a lease giving it first right of refusal for many types of properties, including other food stores and businesses that…
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-87.69866
Boocoo
1823 Church St, Evanston, IL
/articles/evanston-s-complicated-west-side
262462
/locations/8787984
42.04113
-87.69914
Dempster St & Dodge Ave, Evanston, IL
/articles/evanston-s-complicated-west-side
/locations/8787985
42.033717
-87.707257
Planet Fitness
2410 Main St, Evanston, IL
/articles/evanston-s-complicated-west-side
2294714
/locations/8787986
LaVerne
7:30 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
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