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Introduction

Greetings Evanstonians! Community Development is excited to launch our first newsletter. Each month we will provide you with updates on building, planning and zoning activities, planned developments, safety tips and department reports. 

City Launches New Engagement Tool to Gather Input on Planned Developments

The City of Evanston’s Community Development Department has launched a new online engagement tool, coUrbanize, to gather public input on planned development projects in Evanston. The tool will be used on a trial basis through 2017 for the 1450-1508 Sherman Avenue planned development, and could be expanded to include other projects in 2018. 

Northwestern Hosts Ribbon-Cutting for Solar House

On August 23, 2017, the Northwestern University's Institute for Sustainability and Energy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for House by Northwestern, a 1,000 square foot, solar-powered home built by a team of NU students. The House was designed using aging-in-place features, including zero step entrances, single-floor living, wide hallways and doorways. The NU Team has been selected to compete this fall against 15 other university teams from around the world in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. The NU Team will be judged for cost-effective design; innovation balanced with market potential; water and energy efficiency; energy production and time-of-use energy; and communications strategies.  Pictured is NU Director of Program Operations, Partnerships & Communications Maggie Waldron, NU Professor and Managing Director of Solar Fuels Institute Dick Co, and Mayor Stephen Hagerty.

Check Your Deck!

While decks are a popular feature of many homes, the construction and safety of decks have become a concern within the building industry. Improper deck building and lack of maintenance can result in deck failure, injury and death. Take the time to check critical connections. If you do not have the expertise, please hire a qualified professional to make inspections. Simpson Strong-Tie provided the guide below to assist you through the maintenance and inspection process. 

2020 Census Local Update of Census is Underway!

Governments around the country are starting the process of ensuring the accuracy of their address lists through the 2020 Census Local Update of Census Addresses operation. LUCA is a voluntary, once-a-decade opportunity for governments to add, correct or delete addresses on the lists and maps used to conduct the decennial census. An accurate and complete census helps governments plan for future infrastructure, program and service needs.

You are invited to share input at public open houses for the Pace/CTA North Shore Coordination Plan! Visit an open house on September 18 or 19 to learn about the North Shore Coordination Plan. This is a joint study by Pace and the CTA to improve coordination and investigate opportunities for new service. The open houses will include preliminary study recommendations.

September 18, 2017
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Skokie Public Library
5215 Oakton Street
Skokie, IL 60077
Served by Pace routes 226 and 210 and CTA route 97

September 19, 2017*
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Levy Senior Center
300 Dodge Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
Served by CTA routes 93 and 97
*Joint open house with Pulse Dempster Line

American Housing Survey

Did you know that low-income households suffer greater-than-average health risks in their home? The American Housing 2015 Survey (AHS) results found greater asthma rates of children aged 5-17 in low-income housing. 

For access to AHS survey data and additional insight, please contact the U.S. Dept. of HUD at 1-800-245-2691 and by email at  helpdesk@huduser.gov.

Community Development is now on Facebook!

Community Development may not be the first to the party but we are excited to be on Facebook.

Upcoming Events

Streets Alive! and Evanston Green Living Festival

Date: 09/10/2017 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Main Street

North Shore Century
Date: 09/17/2017 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location: Dawes Park

Pace/CTA North Shore Coordination Plan Open House
Date: 09/18/2017 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Skokie Public Library
Served by Pace routes 226 and 210 and CTA route 97

Pace/CTA North Shore Coordination Plan Open House
Date: 09/19/2017 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Levy Senior Center
Served by CTA routes 93 and 97
*Joint open house with Pulse Dempster Line

For scheduled Board, Commission and Committee meetings please visit the calendar on the City of Evanston website.