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As Seen on TV for 20 Years

On May 20 the Evanston Community Media Center (ECMC), 1285 Hartrey Ave., which gives voice to more than 2,000 Evanstonians and is the home of three different local channels, held a 20th-anniversary celebration with an open house to show the community where local television shows are made.

A PEG center (public access, education and government), ECMC houses Channel 6 for public access, Channel 16 for City government, and Channel 19 for District 65 and educational purposes. (Evanston Township High School has its own station and channel.) The three channels are broadcast out of only two studios; all three channels run non-stop during the week.

The anniversary celebration allowed Evanstonians to tour both studios and get a behind-the-scenes look at editing rooms and a sense for how local television is produced. The anniversary was also a homecoming for a number of producers and members who have moved on from the station.

"We have four full-time employees and four part-time employees," said Executive Director Steve Bartlebaugh. "With over 30 shows on all three channels, it's quite an endeavor."

In 2001 all three channels switched to digital tape, said Mr. Bartlebaugh, the same year they received a financial push of support from City Council. Now they broadcast City Council and District 65 School Board meetings, which sometimes stretch into the early morning hours. They also air other City and School District meetings, replay school plays and other functions, and programs that offer chats with local elected officials and civic leaders.

For entertainment, viewers can see such shows as "Reading with T.E. Kids"; "The Rob Linkhart Variety Show"; "Public Access," a sketch comedy show; and a number of others that are increasing in popularity.

"It's one of the best-kept secrets in Evanston," said employee Arthur Cohen. "The networks would love to have some of the equipment that we have here."

City May Ban Cigarette Sales Near Schools

By Bill Smith

City Council later this month will consider banning the sale of cigarettes within 250 feet of a school.

Alderman Delores Holmes, 5th Ward, says some retailers near Evanston Township High School are selling cigarettes to students, even one or two at a time, in violation of current regulations.

The City now prohibits sale of tobacco products within 100 feet of a school, but when that ordinance was adopted, the Council decided not to force existing vendors within the restricted zone to close.

Ald. Holmes says continued reports of violations of the law justify broadening the ordinance to cover more territory and eliminate the exemption for existing vendors.

She originally proposed extending the forbidden zone to 500 feet but suggested cutting it back to 250 feet after City staff produced a memo at the June 5 Human Services Committee meeting indicating that 60 percent of the City's tobacco vendors are located within 500 feet of a school or other youth recreation facility.

Alderman Steve Bernstein, 4th Ward, said, "I'd like to know whether Dominick's and Jewel and Walgreens would be affected by this."

Ms. Holmes said the reduction to a 250-foot limit would eliminate the impact on those major retailers.

The City anticipates generating $400,000 this year in tobacco sales tax revenue if the law is not changed. The Council is scheduled to discuss the proposal at its June 26 meeting.

Thumbs Up for Carroll Place

By Bill Smith

The City Council Monday declined to accept the Plan Commission's recommendation that it reject developer Robert King's proposal for the 18-story, 165-unit Carroll Place development at 1881 Oak Ave.

The aldermen voted 8-0 to have the City's legal staff draft an ordinance approving the project, and scheduled a committee hearing on the proposal for June 26.

The aldermen did not debate the merits of the project during Monday's meeting or offer any explanation of their decision to reject the Plan Commission recommendation.
It was not clear what modifications of the proposal, if any, they may seek from the developer.

Former 2nd Ward Alderman Betty Burns Paden complained to the aldermen that the Carroll Place project would "drive poor people and black people out of town."

Ms. Paden, who lives at 1122 Emerson St. said her family has lived in the are for 160 years. "My community was torn down because of Research Park," she said, "and now it's being built up to something ungodly that doesn't conform to the neighborhood."

She called the project a monstrosity that would drive up taxes so high that current residents could no longer live in the area.

A move to reconsider the council's rejection of the 27-unit Darrow Corners affordable housing development failed when no alderman who had voted against the plan was willing to support a reconsideration motion.

Bennett Johnson of the Evanston Community Development Corporation said the Council supports new housing for upper- and middle- income families, but rejects new housing for low income families.

He said the actions would lead to a divided, racially segregated city and predicted the vacant site at Church Street and Darrow Avenue would remain a scar on the community for many years to come.

Bee Sting: Family Brings in Bees Before Council Votes on Ordinance

By Claire Bryant

There were many similarities between the May 11 and the June 5 Human Services Committee meetings: repeat performances of those for and against the proposed ordinance banning bees, a committee divided and an end with no conclusion. But there was one difference that caused a buzz among aldermen and community members alike. The bees are now in Evanston.

At the May 15 Human Services Committee meeting Susan Dickman and her son Gabriel had not yet moved the bees to their backyard. But during her presentation at the June 5 meeting, Ms. Dickman said, "The bees have been in my backyard for over a week and nobody has noticed."

This came as a shock to the aldermen and Health and Human Services Director Jay Terry, who said that it was news to them that the hive was there, particularly after a conversation between Ms. Dickman and Carla Bush of the health department, chief of all environmental health issues for the City.

Ms. Bush said during their conversation Ms. Dickman indicated that the bees were not in the yard and would not be brought to Evanston before the June 5 meeting. Ms. Dickman, however, said Ms. Bush's call did not make it clear that the hive could not be moved into her yard before the City had taken action.

The aldermen on the Human Services Committee appeared to be split on whether to support the ban on backyard bees. Alderman Lionel Jean-Baptiste, 2nd Ward, said that while there is no ordinance banning bees, there is not one allowing them either, and it was his understanding that at the end of the May 11 meeting it would remain "status quo and that there would be no bees in the backyard."

He asked that Ms. Dickman have the bees removed until a decision was made. Alderman Steve Bernstein, 4th Ward, said he was opposed to an interim ban but was still dissatisfied with Ms. Dickman's decision to go forward with the installation of the hive.

He said, however, that legally he was not sure she had done anything wrong: "It's not prohibited, it's not allowed, but did it follow the spirit of this committee? No." Ald. Bernstein encouraged the committee to vote against the bee-banning ordinance, stating he did not want neighbors to have power over one another.

"Today it's beekeeping, tomorrow it's no mowers in the yard after five," he said.

The Human Service's Committee's vote was 3-2 against recommending the ordinance. Aldermen Edmund Moran, 6th Ward, and Jean-Baptiste voted to recommend the ordinance. Aldermen Dolores Holmes, 5th Ward; ElizabethTisdahl, 7th Ward; and Bernstein voted against the recommendation and suggested that a new ordinance be drafted.

City Council will likely vote on the ordinance at its June 26 meeting. If the ordinance is not passed, the Council may ask staff to draft a new ordinance regulating beekeeping.

Think Green for the City

The Green Team is the City's newly-formed team of employees eager to embark on the environmental issues related to the New Strategic Plan.

The Green Team is asking all Evanston community members to submit creative slogans and/or logos that they can adopt to motivate the community to think environmentally.

Examples that have been tossed around include, "Achieve Green," "All Green All the Time," and "It's easy to be Green." Send all ideas to Greenteam@cityofevanston.org by July 31.

KEB Garden Walk June 25. Keep Evanston Beautiful's 17th annual Garden Walk will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. Seven private gardens including the one pictured above, and one public garden in Evanston will be featured. Walkers will meet gardeners and get ideas for bed design, hardscape and plants that do well in Evanston's climate. All proceeds go to support KEB's environmental education programs.

Advance purchase tickets – $10 for KEB members and $15 for non-members – are available weekdays at the Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., or by mail. They can also be purchased at Bloom 3, 1503 Chicago Ave.; Natural Things Flowers, 2904 Central St; and Saville Flowers, 1712 Sherman Ave.

On the day of the walk tickets will be $20 for KEB members and $25 for non-members at the Evanston Ecology Center, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. An arborist from Autumn Tree Care Experts will be there from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to answer questions about homeowners' trees.

Call 847-448-8256, ext. 105, or visit www.evanstonkeb.org.

Water Relief for Evanston

By Bill Smith

The City Council has approved water-rate changes designed to save the average user a buck or so a month.

Currently the City charges a minimum water fee of $10.92 for all users every two months. Under the plan adopted Monday the minimum fee will vary based on the size of the customer's water meter.

Most homes have the smallest meter size and would be charged a minimum fee of $5.40 every two months. The largest users with the biggest meters – including Northwestern University and the hospitals – would have to pay a minimum fee of $267.80.

The city now charges $1.47 for each 100 cubic feet of water used and includes 700 cubic feet in the basic service fee. Under the new plan that charge will change to $1.52 for each 100 cubic feet of water used and 500 cubic feet will be included in the basic service fee.

There will be no change in the sewer rate which currently is $3.94 per 100 cubic feet of water usage.

Under the new rate schedule a family that uses 2000 cubic feet of water every two months – about the average in town — would see its bi-monthly water and sewer bill reduced by $1.83, to $107. A family that used half as much water would see its bill cut $2.33 to $52.40.

The plan, developed by a City consultant, is designed to have no impact on the City's total water and sewer revenue. But it should reward conservation by offering proportionately more savings to those who use the least water.

Roszak Proposes 38-Story High-Rise for Fountain Square

By Bill Smith

A condo hotel for the North Shore? Artist's rendering of the 38-story high-rise proposed for Fountain Square.

Developer Thomas Roszak says his proposal for a 38-story hotel-and-condo tower on the Fountain Square block would preserve the facade of the landmark Hahn Building at mid-block but replace everything else on the site.

Mr. Roszak says preliminary plans for the project call for two levels of underground parking plus five parking levels above ground, an eight-story hotel above that, and 288 condo units in a more slender tower above the hotel. The project would also include 50,000 square feet of retail space.

He says the 192 hotel units would be sold as condos, but with a major hotel chain renting them out when they are not occupied by the owners.

It would be the only condo hotel on the North Shore, Mr. Roszak said, "There's a big desire for that type of product now. It provides an alternative lifestyle for people who have been living on the North Shore and perhaps now want to move to Miami or Scottsdale but still want to have a place here."

An observation deck and restaurant would top the building. "It would be kind of a tourist attraction," Mr. Roszak said, "the only place in town where people can go and have dinner at that height."

"I've had a couple of very preliminary meetings with some of the people in City Hall, and with the alderman, and at first they've been taken aback by the height, but they seem to have liked the design," Mr. Roszak said. "That doesn't mean they've approved it or anything – these were just preliminary meetings, and we have a long haul in front of us."

Assistant City Manager Judith Aiello told aldermen at the June 5 Rules Committee meeting that she and City Manager Julia Carroll had met with Mr. Roszak, but that his initial proposal was "DOA" — dead on arrival.

Alderman Cheryl Wollin, in whose First Ward the site is located, said since Mr. Roszak does not yet have ownership of the three parcels involved, it would be premature for her to comment on the project. Mr. Roszak says he is in continuing negotiations with the current land owners.

Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, said, "If there are tall buildings in Evanston, the heart of town is where they should be." She said she was not sure how tall a project should be allowed on the site, but added that the City has a shortage of hotel rooms.

Community Development Director James Wolinski said at the Downtown Plan Committee meeting June 6, "Many of us probably feel that rehabbing the existing buildings may be a better way to go than building another tower directly across from Sherman Plaza."

Assistant Planning Director Dennis Marino said, "I see this block as an opportunity to offer some relief from some of the taller buildings nearby."

Preservation Planner Carlos Ruiz said members of the Preservation Commission were very concerned that the proposal, while it would save the facade of the landmark Hahn Building in the middle of the block, would result in the destruction of the building's interior – and the loss of the 708 Church St. building, which has recently been suggested as a possible landmark.

But Plan Commissioner David Galloway said, "Roszak is arguing that the center of your downtown should have the tallest buildings – the wedding cake approach. If he were to increase the green space downtown by not replacing the Fountain Square Building, which nobody cares for anyway, he might have a valid argument, though I'm not saying I'm for it."

Plan Commissioner Larry Widmayer agreed that redevelopment might permit enlarging Fountain Square, but noted the initial Roszak proposal is far taller than what would be permitted under current zoning.

Mr. Roszak said the project, on the triangular block bounded by Orrington and Sherman avenues and Church and Davis streets, would also provide for renewal of the fountain and war memorial in the square, which have fallen into disrepair.

"We're considering having an artist design an interactive memorial sculpture that people could sit on and play on but still be respectful to the purpose of the memorial," he said.

The project would also include a variety of "green" building elements, including the use of trees atop the retail and parking structure to provide an above-ground plaza for hotel patrons.

The entire Fountain Square block is zoned D2, or downtown retail core district, which permits a maximum height for planned developments, including allowances, of 125 feet. It is flanked, however, by blocks to the east and west that are zoned D3, or downtown core district, which permit a maximum height for planned developments of up to 220 feet.

Those blocks contain the Chase Building, Evanston's first skyscraper and its tallest at 22 stories and 277 feet high, and its newest skyscraper, the 25-story, 276-foot tall Sherman Plaza development, which is nearing completion.

Mr. Roszak acknowledges that his proposal would represent a radical change from the current zoning. "But that zoning was done a long time ago, it's not really appropriate now. This block is the center of the universe in Evanston. It needs to be sized appropriately," he said.

"At first glance the idea of a 38-story building may be a little shocking. But once you understand the full benefit of the project and that this is the center of town, it makes sense," Mr. Rozak said. "Land planners always dream that the center should be the tallest, and then the city slopes down from that like a wedding cake."

He said his project is designed with the tower at the north end of the site, to preserve views to the lake for residents of the Sherman Plaza development. "We're trying to do something slender and elegant that won't block the views. Sherman Plaza is very massive and doesn't have any elegance to it," Mr. Roszak said. "This building will be more slender and also curved so it doesn't look as massive. ...We're being very sensitive to that. We think that height is better than massiveness.'

Mr. Roszak said he foresees a year or two spent in the zoning approval process and "meeting with Evanston residents and discussing with them to make sure this is the best project it can be.