Throughout this development "boom", the Plan Commission had been working on a plan for the downtown area. Frustrated at the pace of the planning process, the Council decided to hire outside consultants at an enormous cost to the taxpayers.

While the "new" Downtown Plan was being developed, under pressure from citizens, the Council reluctantly put a moratorium on downtown development. However, the Council exempted the 708 Church proposal for a 49-story skyscraper from the moratorium and decided that it should proceed through the approval process separate from the proposed plan.

The Council claimed that the project was already "in the pipeline" and couldn't be delayed by a moratorium. When it was pointed out that there was no "pipeline" and that the developers of the proposed project did not have ANY vested rights (this was pointed out by the City's own legal counsel), the Council ignored the facts and decided to let it proceed anyway. This was not the first time the proposed project was treated differently. Earlier that year, the Council had met in an illegal closed meeting with the development team to discuss the project. At the request of outraged citizens, the Attorney General of Illinois was called in and forced the City to release the minutes of the illegal meeting.

The Downtown Planning process and the proposal for the 49-story tower proceeded through the regulatory process simultaneously. Because of the vast zoning allowances being requested, the "Tower" would need a super-majority vote by the Council (6 of 9 affirmative votes). Citizens testified before the Plan Commission and the Planning and Development Committee by the hundreds. Literally thousands of residents signed petitions in opposition to the tower and a thousand "Stop the Tower" yard signs appeared nearly overnight in ALL parts of Evanston. The Citizens were clearly in opposition to the project.

The consultants hired to help draft the Downtown Plan began their process with hundreds of citizens coming to give their input on what the Council proudly stated was "everybody's downtown." Unfortunately, the initial plan delivered did not coincide with the wishes of the public. In the very spot that the tower had been proposed, the consultant team "miraculously" arrived at a height of 42 stories. Nowhere in the public meetings did anyone ask for buildings any taller or more dense than existed, in fact it was quite the opposite.

The tower proposal made its way to Planning & Development where it was eventually reduced to 38 stories (still 218 units). However, there were no substantial public benefits and it was clear that the proposal did not have the votes to pass. Seeing no other way to keep the questionable project alive, the pro-tower Aldermen pulled a controversial move and tabled the project in committee UNTIL the Council passed the Downtown Plan.

The Plan Commission spent the better part of a year, thoughtfully listening to the public and then working to revise the submitted plan to hopefully mirror what the citizens of Evanston desired. One of the more controversial parts of the revised plan was the Fountain Square block where the proposed tower project was still looming.

By a MAJORITY vote (5-3) the Plan Commission recommended that the Fountain Square block NOT be a separate "central core" zone, but instead have the same height and density considerations as the surrounding blocks. Despite the majority vote, several of the Plan Commissioners pushed for a memorandum attached to the plan explaining exactly how the vote was determined. Additionally, Chairman Woods asked that the Fountain Square block be marked as "to be determined" on the maps included with the recommended plan. The fix was in.

In November 2008, the recommended plan went to Planning & Development. The Aldermen "politely listened" as droves of citizens again had to plead their case about the apparent spot-zoning of the 708 Church property in the Fountain Square block. However, despite the overwhelming majority against a central core block, the Aldermen decided that they wanted to recommend a maximum height of 385 feet (35 stories) in the block. Worse yet, they then voted to have a by-right or base
height of 25 stories in that block. Effectively, what this would mean is that a developer could come in and build a 25 story building with only City staff approval. If they wanted to build up to 35 stories, they would need to go through a process that defined specific bonuses to reach the maximum height.

This decision has thrilled the development team of Klutzick and Anderson, who proudly claimed in the Chicago Tribune the following week that they would be "satisfied" with 35 stories and that what they really need to do is lock in the zoning so they can develop the site in a few years when the economy is stronger.

It should be noted that the Downtown Plan is only a "plan" and is NOT zoning. However, if it is approved on February 9 in its current state, it will most likely be used as a mandate to zone the downtown as suggested in the plan.

Residential uses in the downtown are important. However, they are no more important than retail and commercial uses. There is a balance between residential, office and retail use that must be maintained to make the downtown economically and aesthetically thrive. Retail and office users bring in more per-capita revenue to the City than residential uses. Residential is definitely a necessary and needed component of the downtown, but too much can actually decrease the viability of the downtown and the City.

The ECRD understands and encourages responsible development of the Fountain Square block. However, a large condominium project with a minimal amount of retail and no office space is NOT the best use of the land. A mid-rise building with office space can actually be of greater economic value to the City of Evanston than a 38-49 story condominium tower. The economic facts are clear, yet the Council does not appear to be listening to the citizens and planners who are proposing smart development. Instead, they listen to a developer who is only driven by their greed.

Below is a summary of where things stand today (January 2009). We encourage you to contact your elected official and express your outrage at the way the Downtown Plan and the "connected" Tower proposal are winding their way through the process.

• The "tower" proposal was tabled by Planning & Development and may be taken "off the table" once the Council passes the Downtown Plan.
• Despite a majority recommendation by the Plan Commission to eliminate Fountain Square as a "central core" zone and restrict height and density to that which currently exists in the surrounding blocks today; the Aldermen are recommending a 35-story height limit for the block and are pushing forward to
  pass the Plan with this language at their February 9, 2009 meeting.
• The overwhelming sentiment of residents at all the meetings to date has been against an "iconic" tower of condominiums in the Fountain Square block and developing the property in a way that would fit the character and context that is Evanston.
• The Aldermen IN FAVOR of a 35-story core block are: Wollin (1st), Jean-Baptiste (2nd), Holmes (5th), Moran (6th), Rainey (8th), and Hansen (9th). Only Ald. Wynne (3rd) and Ald. Bernstein (4th) have expressed opposition to the proposed core block. It should be noted that Ald. Tisdahl (7th) was conspicuously absent from the meeting and has yet to take a stand on the issue.