Thursday, March 19, 2026 | View in browser
7th Ward March Newsletter
Things You Should Weigh In On
Strategic Housing Plan (Housing4All)
Stay tuned for the release of Housing4All, incorporating community feedback to date, and Housing and Community Development Committee revisions. View the project page to access previous versions of the plan and more. Housing4All is estimated to go to the City Council on Monday, April 13, 2026. Please consider attending and submitting written or oral public comment to the City Council.
Civic Center & Noyes Cultural Center
The City has launched the federally funded Putting Assets to Work (PAW) program, a 20-month community engagement process exploring future uses of underutilized City-owned properties:
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Noyes Cultural Arts Center
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2100 Ridge Avenue (former Civic Center)
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Police Headquarters (relocation driven by safety and operational needs)
You may submit ideas online, including maintaining or modestly adjusting current uses.
Zoning Rewrite
The zoning rewrite process has officially started. This will be a multi-year process, and the updated zoning code is not expected to reach the City Council for approval for approximately two years, until 2028.
I want to hear from you now, before key decisions are made. I’ve shared my full list of zoning questions. I encourage you to review them and email me your thoughts and priorities.
District 65 School Closures & Consolidation
The District 65 School Board has voted to begin closing programs and schools. The City Council has no legal authority over D65 decisions. Concerns should be directed to the School Board. View contact information for board members. Learn more about school closings and future meetings.
District 65 School Closures & Consolidation
Eggleston Park: The park is being renovated. The community engagement session will be on March 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Evanston Ecology Center.
Get More Frequent Topics & Updates
To balance keeping residents informed without overloading inboxes, I send monthly newsletters but also maintain topic-specific Google Groups for more frequent updates:
Ward 7 Updates
New Update: Chicago Stars
The Chicago Stars have withdrawn their application to play at Ryan Field in 2027 and instead submitted an application to play at Martin Field. As I shared in a previous newsletter, I fully support using Martin Field. I look forward to welcoming the Chicago Stars to Evanston over the next two years.
New Update: Harley Clarke Mansion
Staff is working with the Celadon team in advance of a zoning analysis application that will require review by the Land Use Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and City Council. The zoning analysis is expected to be submitted in early April. Construction is estimated to begin in October 2026 and should last approximately 12 months.
New Update: Former Office Depot (2722 Green Bay Road)
An indoor youth sports facility is being proposed at 2722 Green Bay Road on the former Office Depot site. This facility will provide access to Evanston kids where no indoor sports facility exists on the north side currently. The Ishbia Family Foundation is proposing an indoor sports facility that will provide children with a dedicated indoor space to play baseball, softball, soccer, flag football, and more — year-round, regardless of the weather. With multi-level playing fields, parent viewing areas, and a welcoming gathering space, it's designed with Evanston families in mind and will operate on a structured, scheduled basis with controlled occupancy and staffing at all times. Use of the facility will include organized youth practices, training sessions, clinics, camps, and birthday parties. There will be no tournaments or large-scale events. As this project advances toward the required approval of a Planned Development, I look forward to sharing more updates.
Business & Development
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Pending businesses: Burl (restaurant), Tallgrass (tavern), No Longer Human (coffee shop), and the Canal Shores Grill Area
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Chase Bank (Central Street): Zoning analysis submitted for demolition and construction of new Chase Bank.
ICE Updates
Updates regarding ICE are available in the City Manager’s weekly report.
What I'm Working On
Lately, I have been focused on the City’s budget. In order to reduce costs, I have made several referrals, including asking the City Council to affirmatively decide whether to dissolve or retain each TIF fund established in Evanston, requiring line-item bids for parks projects, and escrowing pension funds.
In November, I shared a letter with City Manager Stowe, supported by the other eight Councilmembers, outlining several ideas for consideration: (1) enhancing operational efficiency by aligning the Greenways Division under the Parks and Recreation Department, (2) evaluating playground utilization, (3) refining public engagement processes for parks projects, and (4) exploring more cost-effective approaches to the procurement of playground equipment.
These strategies are intended to improve coordination of park maintenance, ensuring green spaces are responsive to evolving community needs—particularly those of older adults; focus public engagement to support budgetary objectives; and identify opportunities for cost savings, including work that may be performed in-house.
Parielle Davis
Councilmember, 7th Ward
847-859-9261
parielledavis@cityofevanston.org
www.cityofevanston.org
*The views expressed are those of Councilmember Davis and not necessarily those of the City of Evanston.
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