Downtown Evanston’s Would-Be Tallest Tower Hit With Rejection

Developers of a 31-story apartment tower, proposed to be the tallest building in downtown Evanston, hit a roadblock this week.

The city’s land-use commission rejected Campbell Coyle Real Estate’s 430-unit proposal, citing the tower’s height, ownership structure and use of a statewide affordable housing property tax incentive for a portion of the units, Evanston Round Table reported. The development site, at 605 Davis Street, is a grassy lot. Opposing the build were neighbors predominantly from downtown condo and apartment communities.

The building’s proposed 330-foot height would exceed the 85-foot maximum allowance for the core downtown zoning district by nearly four times. Chair Jeanne Lindwall criticized Vermilion Development’s multiple requests to exceed the maximum and said she would be “most comfortable with a building about half this size.” The tower would be the tallest structure in Evanston, surpassing 277-foot Orrington Plaza and 276-foot Sherman Plaza.

Chris Dillion, president of Campbell Coyle Real Estate, said the building would become a catalyst for downtown’s future. The developer set aside 20 percent of its units — 86 apartments — as affordable, above the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance minimum of 15 percent. The underwriting of the building depends on receiving the 20 percent affordability reduction and isn’t a viable project for Campbell Coyle without it, Dillion said. He argued that the tower would add housing density to a city where rental demand is high.

The project plans will move to the City Council, which can accept or reject the Land Use Commission’s recommendation.

Evanston was considering a ban earlier this year on algorithm-driven rental pricing software, like those from RealPage and Zillow, due to growing concerns about its potential impact on housing affordability, despite a lack of direct local evidence. If passed, Evanston would join cities like San Francisco, Philadelphia and San Diego in restricting these tools, which were also the subject of a federal antitrust lawsuit.

— Eric Weilbacher