What Should Happen to the Harley-Clarke Mansion?

Evanston city officials are asking residents to share their opinions on what should be done with the lakefront Harley-Clarke Mansion, after aldermen rejected a proposal to sell the mansion to James Pritzker. 

Residents can read more about the mansion and sign up for updates on the next steps in the process on the city website. 

Hundreds of people packed city council chambers for the vote last week, and thousands signed paper and online petitions opposing the sale. Challengers said the city should not be selling the 2.5 acres of public parkland around the mansion, which was part of Pritzker’s bid, and criticized the way the city handled the proposed sale.

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City council members issued a public request for proposals last August. Pritzker’s company, Tawani Enterprises, was the only bidder, and city officials discussed the sale of the property in three closed-door meetings this winter. Multiple people speaking out against the sale last week said they did not feel like the city had been open about the process, and believed transparency would be critical going forward.

“I don’t think this process was transparent,” said John Walsh, president of the Central Street Neighbors Association. “A transparent process is what we all look forward to joining in.” 

City manager Wally Bobkiewicz—whom aldermen have tasked with finding an alternate use for the mansion—addressed that concern directly in a statement posted online.

“Moving forward, it is my intention to open up a process by which the City of Evanston can directly engage its residents so that they can share with us creative ideas for the adaptive reuse of this iconic lakefront property that would keep intact the surrounding park area,” Bobkiewicz said.

The Harley-Clarke Mansion is currently home to the Evanston Art Center, but the art center is planning to relocate, and city officials say they are looking for a new use for the 86-year-old property that would help support repairs and maintenance. Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl has said the mansion requires “millions of dollars of deferred maintenance,” and that the city simply can’t afford the upkeep.

Expenses include keeping the building in compliance with city codes, and there are already several violations of building and fire codes that need to be addressed, according to a study commissioned by the city in June 2012. The building also does not meet code requirements for handicapped accessibility, according to the study. 

Suggestions from residents and aldermen alike have ranged from transforming the mansion into a venue for weddings and other special events to tearing down the mansion and turning the entire property into parkland.

What do you think should happen to the Harley-Clarke Mansion? Should the city tear it down, sell the mansion or find another nonprofit to rent the space? Tell us in the comments.