Monday, November 28, 2022 | View in browser
Dear Fifth Ward Family,
I formally invite you to our next Fifth Ward meeting on Thurs., Dec 1, at 7 p.m. via Google Meet. I welcome your input on several items impacting the 5th Ward in the coming weeks and months (see below). I look forward to hearing from you and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or issues that you would like to bring to my attention before the meeting. I can be reached by replying to this email.
Join via Google Meet
Join via Phone: 516-667-0566
PIN: 598 631 691
A few of the topics for discussion:
- Meet our newly appointed Police Chief, Schenita Stewart.
- Revitalizing Downtown: Post COVID Recovery with Paul Zalmezak, Economic Development Director and Katie Boden, Economic Development Specialist.
- Soul & Smoke’s “Dine-in” expansion plans, Heather Bublick and D’Andre Carter.
 5th Ward Campus Community Meeting, Dec. 6
Fifth Ward residents and the broader Evanston community are invited to attend an informational meeting on Tues., Dec. 6 to share their perspective on proposed site concepts for District 65’s new school as well as the future of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center. Community input through a live Q&A and short survey will be collected and incorporated into decision making.
Over the last few months, the City and District 65 have met and worked collaboratively towards a “Campus Concept” in an effort to develop plans for the Foster Field site that will meet the needs of the community. In coordination with this project, the City and District 65 invite you to attend the informational meeting to hear from architectural and construction management firm Cordogan Clark on several proposed concept site plans and diagrams, and share your thoughts for the future of Evanston’s Fifth Ward.
Additionally, attendees will have an opportunity to discuss academic programming options for the 5th Ward school and receive an update on Phase 2 of District 65’s Student Assignments planning process.
Meeting details:
Tues., Dec. 6
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St.
It’s critical that residents share their perspective as this will impact the Evanston community for generations to come. Spanish interpretation and childcare will be provided.
 CEBA Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting!
The Central Evanston Business Association (CEBA) is hosting a holiday festival and tree lighting ceremony on Fri., Dec, 9, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Church Street and Dodge Avenue. Enjoy food and drinks from 5th Ward businesses, a toy give-away, an ornament making station, vendors, music from the ETHS choir, and more.
 Sidewalk gap infill projects
Sidewalk gap infill projects are underway in the Fifth Ward. These projects are fully funded by the City at no cost to property owners. Recent improvements along Foster Avenue near Fleetwood were completed last week, closing a sidewalk network gap that will increase walkability and accessibility for community members who rely on wheelchairs.
In the first photo, you’ll notice a grassy area highlighted in red without any sidewalk, and in the second photo that same section is freshly cemented. This is a part of an ongoing effort to invest public infrastructure dollars in locations with the most significant equity components such as schools (5th Ward School coming soon), businesses and mass transit.
 Mobile DMV Recap
The City of Evanston hosted the Secretary of State’s Mobile Drivers’ Services team for a mobile DMV event back on Sat., Oct. 1. at the Fleetwood Jourdain Center.
Seventy Evanston residents received services including Drivers License and State I.D. renewals and more. Here’s an abbreviated quote from a longtime Evanston resident who participated:
“Like many, I work fulltime and trying to get to the local DMV for services is challenging. I learned through the City of Evanston's newsletters that the event was made possible through the efforts of 5th Ward Councilperson Bobby Burns who coordinated this event with DMV office manager Irene Paterno. Thanks to Irene Paterno's efficient and friendly staff who processed my DL renewal, I was in and out in no time.”
I’m thrilled the event was such a success, and we look forward to hosting the next one on March 23, 2023. More information will be provided closer to the date.
 Soul & Smoke News
It's official! We are thrilled to announce that Soul & Smoke will be opening their first full restaurant in the Spring of 2023 on the corner of Payne Street and Ashland Avenue with partial funding support from Tax Increment Financing (TIF). They'll be converting their existing building, which started as a dairy barn and then became a bus storage facility for Robinson Bus Company. They'll be doing major structural, HVAC and masonry work to bring it up to date.
Their business not only survived the pandemic, but grew quickly by transitioning from a catering company to a to-go restaurant concept. They worked with the Evanston Community Foundation to provide over 100,000 meals to Evanston residents during the pandemic and now have a community refrigerator outside their building to provide food for anyone that needs it.
Since their first review from the Chicago Tribune in early 2021, to Good Morning America filming there this summer, to being featured last week in the Tribune’s 25 Best New Restaurants list, Soul & Smoke continues to bring Evanston's 5th Ward culinary praise. The business has been based in the 5th Ward since 2014 and the owners are eager to welcome the entire community into their new restaurant. Heather & D'Andre will be joining us at our 5th Ward meeting on December 1 to discuss the project and answer any questions.
 Photo by: Richard Cahan, Evanston Roundtable
New Accessory Dwelling Unit
In October, I joined Mayor Biss, 2nd Ward Councilmember Krissie Harris, and Richard Koenig, executive director of Housing Opportunity Development Corporation (HODC), to celebrate the grand opening of a new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) at 1930 Jackson Avenue, partially funded by the City of Evanston. This project is the first affordable ADU and one of the first ADU’s in Evanston under the new ordinance. The home, which features two bedrooms, a two-car garage, laundry and a bonus room, was designed with the goal of being suitable for a small family.
The house was developed by HODC, a nonprofit that develops and manages affordable housing, and built by Evanston Development Cooperative using patented Eco-Panels resulting in one of the most energy-efficient homes on the market.
The home will be rented to a low income family earning less than 60 percent of the area median income. The eventual tenant will be selected from the City’s rental housing waitlist.
 Firefighter's Park gets an upgrade!
"On November 11, a neighborhood group assembled at Firefighter's Park. The group of about 20 people was convened by one of the resident landlords, David Giljohann, and included student residents from his properties as well as permanent residents of Firefighter's Park neighborhood.
This tribute to the firefighters, park and neighborhood, includes more than 1,000 tulips directly from the Netherlands (supplied by David Giljohann). The hues chosen for the planting will complement the colors of the park.
After a quick tutorial and educational session on tulips, the team made quick work of planting the bulbs. We are all looking forward to spring and being able to see the result of the work. A great example of a community working together for a worthwhile goal. Spring should be amazing! For our firefighters, we are very grateful for your service and engagement with our community.
Special thanks to our Councilmember Bobby Burns for helping to shepherd the new sign for our park."
Jim Swanson
Fireman’s Park Neighbors
 Get to know Chief Stewart
Join Evanston Own It for a meet and greet event with Police Chief Stewart on Thurs., Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m., at Faith Temple Church, 1932 Dewey Ave. For more information or questions, please call 847-373-2965.
You're also invited to have coffee with Chief Stewart at an upcoming "Coffee with the Chief" event on Wed., Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Double Clutch Brewery, 2121 Ashland Ave.
Bobby Burns
Councilmember, 5th Ward
224-714-2184
www.cityofevanston.org
|
