Schakowsky, Evanston Mayor Tour Proposed Federal Grant Target Area Troubled by Crime, Foreclosures
Last week the City of Evanston submitted its application for a $2.5 million Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Challenge Planning Grant. This grant would help Evanston to complete Emerson Square – a new in-fill development comprising of 60+ units of affordable housing and a new city park –more quickly and cost effectively. On September 1, 2010 Congresswoman Schakowsky joined Evanston Mayor Tisdahl for a tour of the area with the media.
"I am truly hopeful that Evanston's Emerson Square project will win the $2.5 million funding through the Housing and Urban
Development Sustainable Challenge Planning Grant program," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9). "This project is a wonderful example of smart federal spending up front that would save money down the line and, critically, would revitalize a neighborhood with the potential to bring long-term reward to the Evanston community."
“As a key piece of the West Evanston Master Plan, developing Emerson Square will stabilize the neighborhood, reconnect a community divided by physical barriers and serve as an ideal ‘best practices’ development for other communities to emulate,” explained Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl.
Emerson Square is located in West Evanston, a neighborhood that has long sought the redevelopment of vacant and abandoned industrial parcels that divide and isolate neighborhoods. Historically troubled by drug activity, gang loitering, disturbances and gun violence, these streets are known as some of the worst blocks in the city and the region. Several moth balled industrial sites that have been identified for new residential or mixed use development and a railroad embankment sever the network of local streets and alleys, making pedestrian travel difficult and creating a physical barrier between neighborhoods.
Congresswoman Schakowsky along with Mayor Tisdahl and City Aldermen today toured the proposed Emerson Square site and surrounding neighborhood to fully understand the significant impact this development will have on the existing neighborhood and residents. Emerson Square, as first conceived under the West Evanston Master Plan, became a development concept under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) as a strategy to help stabilize the neighborhood that consists mostly of Census tract 8092. Since receiving the NSP2 funding, the City has been working to fulfill all elements that were proposed in the grant application.
“The City of Evanston is using this tour as an opportunity to highlight its application seeking US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Community Challenge Grant funding for the planning and development of the critically important Emerson Square project,” added Mayor Tisdahl. “It represents a great opportunity to unite local, federal and private resources to make a tremendous impact on the Evanston community.”
The City's application for a Community Challenge Planning Grant is an effort to realize the development of Emerson Square in a timely manner. The grant of $2.5 million will fund land acquisition, environmental remediation and construction of infrastructure. Additionally, it would reduce the development timeframe of Evanston Square by approximately two years. View maps of area here>>>
A portion of the City's NSP2 funding will be combined with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Tax Increment Financing (TIF), HOME/Community Development Block Grant funding and private construction financing from Chase Bank and First Bank and Trust to advance the project.
Evanston is the most densely populated municipality among 20 nearby north suburbs, with over 74,000 people and about 33,000 units of housing. It is also the most racially and economically varied of its suburban neighbors and offers a diverse housing stock. By providing new housing, new neighborhood connections, improved park space and better access to social services, Emerson Square will help improve the overall quality of life in the neighborhoods of West Evanston. View more photos here>>>