2019 Evanston Round Table
The Evanston Round Table is a community newspaper, that follows in the footsteps of the now gone Clarion. Unlike the Evanston Review, which requires a paid subscription, both for the on-line and the paper versions, the Round Table is readily available, published in paper form twice a month and distributed free to households and available in various Evanston city buildings, such as the Civic Center.
The paper has also a free on-line version, where a person can post their opinion or be part of a Community Forum.
Editorials, guest essays and letters have been published by the Round Table regarding the U2 text amendment proposal, including an October 16 essay by Eleanor Revelle, the 7th Ward alderwoman and an open letter to President Schapiro on October 25.
Posted: Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Guestbook entry by: John Austin
Regarding the Council’s Approval of Northwestern's Commercial Events
One of the most disheartening aspects of the Council’s Nov. 11 deliberations on Northwestern’s zoning-change request was the lack of comity afforded Alderman Eleanor Revelle and the Evanstonians she represents, who will suffer most severely from the commercial activities Northwestern is bent on imposing. Five Aldermen from other wards and neighborhoods ignored both the many Seventh Ward residents’ eloquent and reasoned statements against the change – objections based upon their past experience – as well as Alderman Revelle’s detailed and eloquent dissection of Northwestern’s failure to produce the evidence the ordinance requires for such changes. Alderman Fiske’s desire to immunize Lincoln Avenue’s parking from the inevitable influx epitomized the majority’s carelessness, for she neglected even to attempt to explain away the increased congestion her motion would create elsewhere in the neighborhood.
The impact of Northwestern commercialization on wards beyond the Seventh cannot be compared to the inevitable damage to the immediate neighborhood’s quality of life. In this respect, the “local” in “all politics is local” is the immediate neighborhood that will bear the brunt – not those in wards further away, whose residents themselves might well add to the neighborhood’s congestion and disturbance.
Faced with similarly overwhelming opposition from both residents and businesses, surely at least some of the “Yes”- voting aldermen would adopt Alderman Revelle’s cogent reasoning and vote “No” as she did.
Two days before the Council voted on the proposed text amendment the Round Table published the following editorial.
11/9/2019 4:15:00 PM
Purple Reign
It is disheartening to think that the Evanston City Council will likely approve Northwestern University’s request to add professional sports and entertainment events as permitted uses in the U2 district.
Hundreds of nearby residents and scores of local businesses have signed petitions asking the Council to reject the proposal.
If Council approves the request, they are signaling to the residents of Evanston that no one’s zoning is secure and that no one should trust the Council to adhere to the standards set in the City’s zoning ordinance.
Those who try to justify a vote for approval say that people who chose to live near the stadium knew what they were doing.
Some of the people making that claim are elected and appointed officials who chose to be paraded onto Ryan Field at half-time of a Northwestern football game. To be clear, it was “Evanston Day,” a day when NU offers cheap tickets to the game to fill up the stadium, since students have not returned to campus. But even though it was “Evanston Day,” none of the Evanston officials wore City of Evanston gear – and those who wore partisan colors sported NU’s purple. While Evanston Day has been a tradition at Ryan Field for a number of years, we feel that the City officials showed poor judgment in participating this year, when Northwestern’s zoning request was pending before the City Council.
We think the residents and businesses around Ryan Field did recognize when they chose to locate there that a college football stadium, a college baseball field and a college basketball arena were nearby. But they also knew that professional sporting and entertainment events were not allowed, and we think they had a right to rely on the current zoning.
In this case, invoking the argument that the residents knew that NU had a right to hold professional sports and entertainment events in the U2 district is unfounded.
The current Zoning Code expressly states that the requirements and conditions contained in the code to hold a special event are “to ensure that temporary [special] uses shall not impose an undue adverse effect on neighboring streets or property.”
Among the requirements to hold a special event are that the event be limited to “community and cultural events of a nonprofit nature” and that athletic events be “amateur” athletic events.
City Council previously determined that these requirements were essential to help ensure that special events do not have an undue adverse effect on the neighborhood.
That determination should stand, particularly in light of the neighbors’ and businesses’ statements that professional events in these arenas will adversely affect the neighborhood.
We urge City Council to apply the standards contained in the Zoning Code to amend the ordinance. And in this regard, we think that a desire for tax revenues on ticket sales is not relevant under the zoning code.
Three Reader Comments to the Purple Reign editorial follow
Posted: Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Comment by: Mary Rosinski
1. The entire Northwestern zoning application has been problematic from the beginning and residents were treated disgracefully. 1st This zoning change was recommended to plan commission by staff without requiring that Northwestern meeting any burden of proof standards. There is still question as to whether this is really a map amendment rather than a text amendment which would have required 6 of 9 votes not just a majority. Residents have had the task trying to get this process on the right track for months while the city staff seemed to be working against us.
2. With each presentation by Northwestern, their financial contribution to the city budget decreased. What started as a $400-600,000 addition to our budget diminished to $200,000 by the final presentation last week. That was the what 5 alderpeople accepted in exchange 1000s Northwestern neighbors quality of life.
3. The financial information was questionable at best. What was never produced by Northwestern was any verification of financial information just statements of revenue for the city for athletic tax that don’t show up in previous city budgets. Mr. Sosa from the Chamber of Commerce, projected that this change will bring in and additional 1.2 million for the city. That amount may have been the enticing number to sell out residents, but the documentation was never provided although residents requested it and the city apparently voted without it.
4. Another financially fuzzy area is, where the the 1$.4 million athletic sales tax revenues Northwestern says it contributes to the budget in the form of athletic tax is represented? Why does the 2020 budget projects only $1,000,000 not $1,400,000 ? Why do the budgets for 2016 and 2017 reflect actual amounts $918,000 and 848,053? If the city is receiving around $1,400,000 where is that money accounted for? Residents deserve to have accurate information or explanations whenever money is involved.
5. This zoning change impacts all Evanston residents. Real estate Taxes. There are over 750 properties within 1200 feet of the U2 District and those owners pay over $8,400,000 in taxes of which about 80% goes to schools, city and library. Those homes have collective assessed value $320,000,000 assessed property values if those properties fail to appreciate even 1 or 2% lower than other Evanston properties, or if they decline the same percentage that will be a loss of $80-$160,000 every year. So all this upheaval and loss of public trust for what?
6. The chamber also made an incorrect statement that property values went up when NU sports teams do better. That is just plain incorrect. Real estate prices are tied to supply, demand, interest rates, economic confidence, security, government stability etc. but in 40 years in the industry I have never seen any indication to imply that Evanston property values are somehow tied to how well NU sports teams are doing. There may be a coincidental correlation. But I am sure I could probably find a correlation to the market which coincides with each time gave birth to one of my 5 children.
7. Since some alderman are considering a pilot time period, for the sake of the integrity of the city and process the city council should have required that all standards be met just like they would for residents and other entities.
8. Another option could have been for NU if they wanted to have commercial venue at the Welsh Ryan Arena would have been to apply for for a MAP amendment and create a Commercial District withingthe U2 district only for the Welsh Ryan area and that property would be subject to taxes and regulations like other commercial entities in town.
9. Free Parking only promotes more people driving.
10. Last week there were a few statements by proponent of this zoning amendment that this is an equity issue. –I have to agree with them, but it is not a race, religion national organ or sexual orientation equity issue as they implied, this is a wealth equity issue. Northwestern who may be the wealthiest corporation in town was basically given a pass by staff and plan commission to not have to meet the standards and meet the zoning requirements that ordinary citizens and the residents without such financial clout have had to meet.
100s of Evanston residents have spoke with knowledge, passion, civity,concern for values and facts .However Washington has come to Evanston and Northwestern University bottom line corporate profits rule.
Posted: Sunday, November 10, 2019
Comment by: Richard Miller
Present homeowners and businesses purchased their property in reliance on the present zoning regime. They accepted the presence of the NU stadium and its use as a venue for college and non-profit sports. No one expected the stadium to be converted to professional use and professional use is not appropriate.
I would reconsider if NWU would relinquish their horrific real estate tax exemption.
Posted: Sunday, November 10, 2019
Comment by: Yvi Russell
Three questions in the August 23, 2019 Chamber of Commerce survey addressed financial benefits to the City of Evanston and businesses. Council members have touted the Chamber results of the Survey as valid, but the figures presented in this survey were False or unsubstantiated, thus invalidating any result from the survey, which by the way, were never made public.
Below see what was touted by the Chamber and why those numbers are incorrect.
Chamber: 6. Were you aware that NU pays a 12% athletic tax to the City on sales of sporting event tickets and that this tax totaled $1.4 Million in 2018?
My response re. 6 = False statement. The 2018 athletic competition tax revenue to Evanston was $1 million dollars, as it was in 2017 and in 2020. In 2019 it was 1,080,000.
Chamber: 7. Did you know that visitors to Evanston attending events spend an average of $30 per person at local businesses and restaurants?
My response re.#7. First of all, the Chamber never provided any evidence to substantiate the $30 figure. Moreover, the Chamber survey question specifically states “visitors to Evanston attending events”. The question does NOT say Evanston residents neither does it specify the type of events. Moreover, at the community meetings, the Plan Commission and at the Planning and Development Commission (P&D), Northwestern stated they would give first dib to the proposed 13 days of events to Evanston residents. In view of such a repeated statement, visitors to Evanston cannot account as the “75% of $30 revenue generating population that NU lists in their P&D power point.
Chamber: 9. According to NU officials, these events could potentially generate up to $500,000 in new tax revenue to Evanston. Does this influence your view?
My response re. #9. At the August 8 Plan Commission, Northwestern touted for their proposed 6 concerts, under oath, $400,000 in tax revenue. They also projected 1,500 attendees for each day of the 7 days of pro-tennis. At the October 28 P&D however, Northwestern’s power point showed an amount that was even less than $200,000 for all 13 days of events combined. Moreover Northwestern increased the proposed tennis event attendance daily numbers from 1,500 to 2,500 thus further inflating their athletic tax revenue.
NU again quoted a wrong city tax, this time 2% for food and beverages. Currently, the Home Rules Sales Tax is 1%, and will increase to 1.25% in 2021.
Finally, and not least, Northwestern has repeatedly stated that they want to keep two temporary events at the Stadium. However they still show 6 concerts on their latest power point chart. According to the submitted proposal NU would only be able to host a total of 6 temporary events. 2+6 = 8. The power point should have shown a further one third reduction in amusement tax projection and also a parallel reduction in the projected revenue stream to the businesses.
I remind the council members who are pushing for the text amendment proposal to become law:
The figures touted by the Chamber of Commerce and fed to the Chamber by Northwestern were FALSE. These figures have misled Evanstonians.
Posted: Sunday, November 10, 2019
Guestbook entry by: Timothy Guimond
Open Letter to Mayor and Council Members,
My name is Tim Guimond, I'm an economist and have lived near U-2 for over 30 years. I testified as an economic expert in 1996 (see the attached paper for more details). I was hoping to testify Oct. 28 at the P&D Committee Hearing but was not given sufficient time to do so: we were only given a couple minutes, far less than Northwestern, and inexplicably were called to speak BEFORE petitioner Northwestern, rather than AFTER. This was hardly fair since we were unable to rebut what they said.
I would welcome the opportunity to speak on Monday, Nov. 11. Obviously, Northwestern has the burden of proof that its proposal doesn't negatively impact the surrounding neighborhood, and the Council has a duty to hold NU to this requirement. There are serious concerns about their proposal that have barely been addressed:
1. There's a vast economic literature on the impacts of commercial & professional events that has been ignored by NU, Chamber of Commerce and the Council. Please read the attached document which summarizes the consensus of economists: this is a loser for Evanston.
2. Most "new" spending during these events simply replaces or substitutes for spending that occurs without these events.
3. Other existing spending is "crowded out" because of added congestion during the events. The Chamber of Commerce doesn't acknowledge this effect but it's clear this is why several business owners testified against the 1996 proposal and against the current one.
4. The negative impact on property values is well documented: in 1996 proponent's own study found a 13% decline in property values near U-2 this will only worsen if you vote for this proposal. There's also evidence of actual home appraisals lowered because of proximity to the stadium area.
5. Northwestern contributes very little to Evanston: they don't pay ticket taxes or entertainment taxes, event attendees do they don't pay property taxes, residents and businesses do. Northwestern listed all the utility and other taxes they pay to the city but this is nonsense: it's simply their cost of doing business, and would be paid anyway by hundreds of homeowners if NU wasn't located in Evanston.
I implore you to read my report and consider whether Northwestern has met its burden and whether their proposal would help or harm this city.
Respectfully Yours,
Timothy Guimond
On October 28 two Reader Comments after the Guest Essay "Open Letter to NU President"
Posted: Monday, October 28, 2019
Comment by: Kimberly Kurrus
It is important to value and take seriously the input folks who care about this area around the NU sports complex at Ryan Field. They are what make the neighborhood safe and clean, and the main reason it holds such a great attractiveness to young families. Consider if NU had its way, what impact that would have on the family homes, and how in the long run the value and safety of the area would diminish. I pick up trash after every event as it is now. Purple cups, beer cans and bottles, broken glass, food scraps, and plastic and paper left over from the crowds on our streets and alleys. That can only increase, not decrease with NU's proposal. If NU activities increase, then many negative aspects of large events like noise and trash, parking and traffic problems, and opportunities for drunken violence and theft increase too...not decrease. All that will reach a tipping point, and the area will not be the safe wonderful place it is now. We are all trying to hang on to our homes with taxes increasing at an alarming rate as it is. Eventually a combination of things...a perfect storm...can and will drive families from this area. The City Government needs to tread carefully, and keep an eye on what obvious outcomes lie ahead if NU gets its foot in the door on these events, and then can ask for more. It’s not all about money. It is about the neighborhood. It is about families. This town needs to remember that it is families that make Evanston strong. Family concerns should come first, not NU's desires to make more money. They can find another way to do that. They can hold extra events on the land that they own by the lake, and not in our neighborhood.
Posted: Saturday, October 26, 2019
Comment by: Richard Miller
Bravo and Amen!
Well said!
Richard Miller
On October 27 Carrie Von Hoff's essay was published. The next day, she read a version of the essay at the City committee public comment.
Posted: Sunday, October 27, 2019
Guestbook entry by: Carrie Von Hoff
Several years ago, Northwestern University piloted football parking on the greens of Canal Shores Golf Course by Bryant Avenue. When neighbors expressed concern about the idea and suggested the problems that would result from tailgating at the course in a residential neighborhood, NU assured us there were no plans to allow tailgates at Canal Shores. Three years ago, despite those assurances, tailgating began Northwestern said, “Let’s see how it goes.” Now, tailgating on the greens is established and expanded, despite feedback from neighbors that things were not going well. Garbage on the streets and parkways, disorderly conduct, and reckless driving are now a regular gameday occurrences on a small residential street with many young children.
Situations such as this embody the reasons why many people in the neighborhood, such as my family, are opposed to the NU zoning text amendment that would allow professional events to take place at the athletic complex. In my 15 years living in the neighborhood, when given an inch and saying they will go no further, NU has taken a mile and used the inch as precedent to take the mile. The fact that NU said they would not do something (tailgate) and then did it only a few years later makes many neighbors very skeptical of the assurances NU has given about expanding to professional events at the stadium. They have not acted as a trustworthy neighbor and are now seeking a privilege, unearned, that has significant potential to change the neighborhood by bringing additional events into the athletic complex. What has happened at the tailgates seems like only a prelude to what will come if the City Council approves the text amendment. Guests of the university use a residential neighborhood as a personal playground with no regard to the safety, cleanliness and quiet of the neighborhood. We moved to and accepted the risk of the 6 football games a year when we bought our home. We did not bargain for the additional items and events that have been added on since then.
I have been a resident of Evanston for the better part of the last 25 years and a proud Northwestern alumna for nearly 20 years. I am very disappointed in Northwestern’s actions seeking the amendment. I strongly urge the Council to reject the amendment when it is presented.
On October 16,the following eloquent guest essay was published. The author is Judy Berg, a strong voice against the 1996 professional tennis proposal and now, opposed to the 2019 NU text amendment proposal,.
October 16, 2019
Tell Your Alderman to 'Say No To Pro At NU'
A Guest Essay By Judy Berg
City Council will soon vote on a zoning amendment that would allow Northwestern University to hold for-profit concerts and athletic events for up to 7,000 attendees within the “U2 University Athletic Facilities District,” which includes Welsh Ryan Arena and Ryan Field.
The property is situated in a residential neighborhood immediately surrounded by 500+ single-family homes and 20+ multi-family units. In addition to the negative impact on adjacent residents, more than 50 Central Street merchants have signed a petition opposing the amendment, citing negative impacts to their businesses. Pro-events could also include the possibility of liquor sales if another ordinance under consideration were to pass.
In 1960, Evanston followed the example of other university towns, and created the U2 District to prevent nuisances and other activities potentially damaging to the neighborhood. In fact, the first sentence in Evanston’s U2 zoning code makes that abundantly clear:
“The U2 university athletic facilities district is intended to permit the utilization of university facilities within the district in a manner that is compatible with the surrounding development, which is predominantly residential.”
Since then, Northwestern has repeatedly attempted to bring for-profit events to these facilities. In fact, the City has fought and won numerous court battles against this very same prospect, including before the Illinois Supreme Court, which upheld the City’s right to regulate itself through its zoning ban on professional events in the U2 district. These court battles have cost the City many thousands of dollars in legal fees.
The City may try to convince itself that its budget deficit will benefit from taxes on tickets sold. But a local economist says the math doesn’t work. The revenue to the City will not offset the downside of depreciated property values caused by pro-events in a residential area.
Regardless, budget gaps shouldn’t be closed on the backs of residents who pay taxes on $330 million value of private homes within five blocks of the district, year after year. Northwestern is a not-for-profit institution and enjoys tax-free status on its more than 240 acres of property. Northwestern is one of the top-ten wealthiest universities in the nation, with a $12 billion endowment and athletic department revenue of $93 million per year.
Yes, our aldermen have the power to amend zoning ordinances, but the City has formally adopted guidelines and standards for deciding the merit of proposed changes in a non-arbitrary manner. Below are the standards and our responses on each.
Is there a need for the proposed zoning amendment?
No. There have been no changes in conditions, circumstances, or development that justifies the need for a zoning amendment, since the intent and purpose of a U2 district is to hold intercollegiate and intramural events, and not for-profit events.
Is the amendment compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhood?
No. Northwestern’s athletic campus is a virtual island in the middle of an overwhelmingly residential neighborhood. Mega pro-sports and entertainment events have no place in the heart of a neighborhood with hundreds of adjacent families and children within 1,000 feet.
Are there adequate public facilities and services?
No. City officials already know that the U2 district has woefully inadequate access roads and parking facilities. U2 events create gridlock on the primary thoroughfare used by the hospital and two fire houses, even when there are only a few thousand spectators. There is enough parking for only 3,500 - 4,000 spectators, not 7,000. Northwestern’s proposal will increase the number of large events by 45% compared to the current number actually held.
Is the amendment consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the Evanston “Comprehensive General Plan”?
No. The amendment doesn’t preserve the quality and integrity of residential areas, or guard against spill-over nuisances into residential neighborhoods. It doesn’t provide parking that considers the impact on the neighborhood or minimize the impact of spill-over parking into residential districts. It harms the pedestrian-oriented local businesses that contribute to neighborhood strength.
Will the amendment have an adverse effect on the value of adjacent property?
Yes. Multiple studies show negative impacts on property values near professional sports arenas. Professional sports and commercial entertainment would be a radical departure from existing uses of the U2 district, and property values will likely be negatively affected.
Clearly, the proposed U2 zoning amendment does not meet these standards and should not be approved. Let your aldermen know that you expect them to adhere to these standards, which were adopted to protect all Evanston residents. No matter which ward any of us live in, we all benefit from (and trust in) stable, consistently enforced zoning laws.
Tell your alderman to “Vote No To Pro At NU.”
Ms. Berg, an Evanston resident, writes on behalf of Asbury Northwestern Neighbors, Evanston Neighbors Against Pro Sports, North Evanston Watch, and Evanston Economists for Growth, Northwestern Neighbors.org and Spotlight on Evanston.
Below: Published in the Community Forum online section of the Round Table on October 16, 2019
Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Guestbook entry by: Linda Schneider
Central Street is one of the best neighborhoods in the country, as recognized by the American Planning Commission in 2013. Why in the world would the Evanston City Council consider risking the tremendous appeal and success of the Central Street neighborhood by changing the zoning to allow Northwestern to host commercial events at Welsh-Ryan?
The additional burden to the neighborhood is likely to be significant, particularly if Northwestern’s application to serve liquor is granted. The neighborhood already shoulders the burden of football, basketball, and baseball games as well as graduations and other activities this burden includes the congestion, unruliness, parking, and safety concerns that go along with thousands – and in the case of Ryan Field, tens of thousands – of people coming to an event.
And, we, the residents in the neighborhood, accept that burden as part of the responsibility of living in this area. We bought our homes knowing that we share the neighborhood with Northwestern University athletics games and education-related events, just as Northwestern shares the neighborhood with us. Both sides of this equation have made compromises.
Commercial events at Northwestern’s facilities are another matter altogether. In fact, this issue has been fought before and settled by the courts: Northwestern has no entitlement to host commercial events. That Northwestern has chosen to raise this issue once again challenges the hard-won equilibrium that has been reached. Evanstonians have every right to feel disappointed by, and resentful of, Northwestern’s latest push.
I am sorry that Northwestern is experiencing serious financial problems, presumably as a result of overspending. But hosting commercial events, and burdening the neighborhood beyond its reasonable expectations and capacity, is not the right solution.
The Central Street neighborhood is a sought-after area, and as such, attracts homebuyers and interesting businesses, and maintains strong housing values which in turn generate tax revenues for the City of Evanston. The City Council should place more importance on maintaining such a desirable neighborhood, and reaping the attendant benefits, than on accommodating Northwestern’s wish to hold money-making events that are entirely unrelated to the university’s not-for-profit mission.
Posted: Friday, October 4, 2019
Comment by: Jim Signorelli
They paved paradise And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Joni Mitchell
NU's proposal creates a slippery slope as it will set an irreversible precedent for green lighting the commercialization of Evanston neighborhoods. Passing this will send a message to Evanstonians that money matters more than maintaining the cohesion of its neighborhoods.
NU has yet to provide anything more definite than a back-of-the-napkin estimate of a mere $300-600k revenue boost to the city budget. Subtract the cost of city support needed during the 13 events along with legal costs in the event of a civil action law suit and Evanston has much to lose, financially and environmentally.
Call or write your Alderperson. Tell him or her to keep Evanston lovable!
Below: The Evanston Round Table Editorial, on October 2, 2019.
October 2, 2019 3:59:00 PM
Editorial: Council Should Reject NU's Request for a Zoning Change
Correction: This article has been corrected to reflect that the Design and Project Review Committee, not the Zoning Board of Appeals, accepted City staff's recommendation to deny the request by St. Athanasius school to expand its parking lot and to note that the school may opt for early dismissal rather than cancellation on Oct. 18.
Northwestern University has asked the City to amend its zoning code so that NU can hold for-profit events such as concerts and professional sporting events on 13 days each year at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Ryan Field or its other fields in the U2 (University athletic facilities) zoning district.
We think granting this request would significantly change the nature of the special events currently permitted in this district. Possibly Coupled with an ordinance (pending) permitting liquor to be sold at Welsh-Ryan Arena and Ryan Field, we think allowing this to go forward would reduce the quality of life, increase traffic and raise safety concerns on days the special events are held, and have an adverse effect on property values in the area.
Currently, Section 6-15-7-2 of the Zoning Code permits NU to hold special events if they are “community and cultural events of a nonprofit nature intended primarily for residents of the City and amateur athletic events.” (Emphasis supplied.) There are other conditions, which include the following: Sponsors of the event must obtain a “certificate of zoning compliance”; attendance at any event must be limited to 10,000 people; adequate University parking is provided to all people attending the event; no more than seven such events may be held in any calendar year in any one facility; and each such event shall not exceed five consecutive days.
Northwestern is proposing to delete the requirement that the special events be community or cultural events of a “nonprofit nature” or be “amateur athletic events.” If their proposal is approved, it would allow Northwestern to hold for-profit events such as concerts and professional sporting events in the U2 district.
In light of concerns voiced by nearby residents, Northwestern proposed to reduce the impact on neighbors by adding a requirement that event organizers provide proof of logistic approval from City officials; prohibit crews from working on the site in preparation for or cleaning up the event after 10 or 11 p.m. or before 7 a.m.; limit attendance at such events to 7,000 people; and limit the number of events each year to six single-day events and a seventh multi-day event, which would be subject to City approval and which could last up to seven days; and that the proposed zoning change have a sunset provision of two years.
NU argues that the zoning change would reduce the maximum number of days for special events from 35 per year to a maximum of 13 per year; that the maximum number of people who may attend special events would be reduced from 10,000 to 7,000; and that NU has a plan to mitigate the impact on residents, saying the plan would be similar to what it currently does for basketball games at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
At a hearing before the City’s Plan Commission, many residents spoke in opposition to NU’s proposal, saying the special events would seriously disrupt their neighborhoods, decrease their property values and further limit their ability to enjoy their homes. While acknowledging that NU’s proposal would reduce the number of events permitted in any given year, they pointed out that NU has historically held only a few special events each year – due to the requirement the events be of a non-profit nature or be amateur athletic events. In reality, the neighbors argue, the proposed change will enable NU to significantly increase the number of special events it holds adjacent to the residential neighborhoods.
The neighbors submitted petitions opposing NU’s proposal that were signed by 775 people and 59 businesses.
On Sept. 11, the Plan Commission decided to recommend approval of NU’s proposal by a 4-2 vote, but its recommendation was subject to additional conditions, including: all events obtain specific City Council approval; attendance be limited to 7,000 persons at indoor events and to 3,000 persons at outdoor events; the University provide 2,000 free parking spaces, 1,300 of which must be within the U2 district; tailgating and loitering be prohibited; there be a clear expiration date of Dec. 31, 2021.
We appreciate having this wonderful University in our community. We also appreciate that many of Northwestern’s faculty and staff make significant contributions to the community and its schools.
But we think that its current proposal goes too far. The current Zoning Code expressly states that the requirements and conditions contained in the code to hold a special event are “to ensure that temporary [special] uses shall not impose an undue adverse effect on neighboring streets or property.”
Among the requirements to hold a special event are that the event be limited to “community and cultural events of a nonprofit nature” and that athletic events be “amateur” athletic events. City Council previously determined that these requirements were essential to help ensure that special events do not have an undue adverse effect on the neighborhood.
Northwestern should be required to meet a high burden before these requirements are eliminated. NU can continue to use Welsh-Ryan Arena for its basketball games and Ryan Field for its football games. NU has not demonstrated a need to hold more events at these facilities.
On the other hand, many neighbors testified that the increased traffic and crowds from for-profit events such as concerts and professional athletic events would disrupt their daily lives and reduce property values, particularly since NU may be authorized to sell liquor at the events.
The neighbors bought their homes knowing they would live near college athletic fields. But they did not choose to live there with the expectation that NU would be able to hold 13 for-profit events of professional athletic events at Welsh-Ryan or in any other facility in the U2 district. Rather, they had the expectation that such events would not be allowed, because the City had precluded them to “ensure that temporary [special] uses shall not impose an undue adverse effect on neighboring streets or property.”
We think that expectation should be honored.
Already Northwestern is encroaching on the quality of life around the athletic fields by holding a night football game at Ryan Field on Oct. 18.
St. Athanasius School, less than two blocks from Ryan Field, may close early that day because Northwestern is allowing partying and parking to begin at 3:30 p.m. St. A’s is not the only school in the area that might be affected by mid-afternoon football partying. Orrington, Kingsley and Haven may also be affected and School District 65 may also have to cancel school that day – or allow an early dismissal.
Institutional intrusion into residential areas has not gone unnoticed at the City level.
In August, Community Development Director Johanna Leonard, Planning and Zoning Manager Scott Mangum, Zoning Administrator Melissa Klotz and Planner Cade Sterling recommended that the Zoning Board of Appeals deny a request by St. A’s to increase its parking spaces from 14 to 26.
They wrote, “City staff believes the proposal does not meet the Standards for Special Use. Specifically, the proposed expansion of the legally nonconforming use is not consistent with the goals and policies of the Comprehensive General Plan regarding institutional land uses in residential neighborhoods. Additionally, the continued expansion of institutional land use has caused a negative cumulative effect on the surrounding neighborhood, evidenced by continued erosion of the residential fabric fronting the east side of Eastwood Avenue between Lincoln Street to the south and the alley north of Harrison Street.
“City Staff did not see evidence that the proposal adequately mitigates adverse effects related to extant traffic congestion and circulation on the campus and public alley, and believes the proposal would make these concerns more severe.”
The matter was referred to the Design and Project Review Committee, which recommended denial of the project.
The impact that would be caused should NU’s zoning proposal be approved – to add 13 special events with each potentially attracting 7,000 people – will be far greater than would the addition of 12 parking spaces at a local school.
We realize that Northwestern will be able to collect taxes on the ticket sales and remit that money to the City – perhaps a half million dollars per year. And in these uncertain times, these additional dollars could be appealing to aldermen, who are looking for new revenue streams, as well as to the University, with its competitive athletics, high-quality academics and cutting-edge research programs.
Money, however, is not the currency here. Quality of life is. Safety of our children is. Peaceful enjoyment of the neighborhood is. Northwestern surely understands this. We ask that the University withdraw its proposal and be the good neighbor it says it aspires to be.
If Northwestern does not withdraw the proposal, the City Council must firmly reject it.
Posted: Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Guestbook entry by: Leslie McMillian and Mary R Mary Rosinski
Neighborhoods vs. Northwestern Profits
Northwestern is lobbying Evanston to be able to host for-profit concerts/professional sporting events and to sell alcohol in the U2 zoning district, their stadium/arena complex. In the past, Evanston stood with residents and fought against this change. From roughly 1970 until 1978, Northwestern repeatedly held illegal events in the stadium and sued Evanston over attempts to stop them. In 1978, the Illinois Supreme Court sided with Evanston and its residents. Evanston denied a subsequent attempt by Northwestern to host such events in 1996.
Northwestern’s renewed request to host for-profit events occurs at a time of heightened concern about Evanston’s budget. The amount of money that these currently banned events will raise for Evanston is small. Moreover, it is extremely cynical of Northwestern to use Evanston’s budget problems to try to trample on the long-settled rights of Evanston’s tax-paying property owners.
Why is it cynical? Northwestern’s history of not making financial contributions to Evanston speaks for itself. If past is prologue, Northwestern asks Evanston for preferential changes while simultaneously working to minimize their payments to Evanston. Northwestern is worth over $12 billion and is one of the wealthiest universities in the world. As a nonprofit, they pay effectively no local taxes (of note, Northwestern won this benefit by suing Evanston all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court). Northwestern’s sports programs generated $92 million in revenue in 2017. Most of that revenue is tax exempt, so Evanston’s share was roughly $1.5 million in ticket taxes. In comparison, the Evanston homes around the stadium pay roughly $7.1 million in taxes to Evanston.
Evanston estimated that Northwestern avoided roughly $28 million in property taxes in 2017. Updating for this year’s property tax increases, Northwestern could now be dodging $56 million in property taxes. Because most other Universities are nonprofits, they are also exempt from property taxes. But many Universities make “Payments In Lieu of Taxes.” Northwestern’s student magazine notes that Northwestern’s donations to Evanston are stingier than the donations of effectively all of Northwestern’s peer universities to their surrounding communities (including Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Cornell and Boston University).
I hope Evanston will reaffirm their past decision to stand up for local property taxpayers and maintain the ban on for-profit events and the sale of alcohol on Northwestern’s stadium complex. For those looking for a brief history of Northwestern’s financial relationship with Evanston, I suggest this article by Northwestern’s student magazine:
apps.northbynorthwestern.com/magazine/2014/fall/evanston
Posted: Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Guestbook entry by: Andrew Berman
NU’s Proposal for Welsh-Ryan Should Worry Everyone
In 1996, Northwestern tried to have the zoning changed for Ryan stadium to permit for-profit events. They lost. Now they’re trying again. Except this time, they’re playing procedural hardball.
We all benefit from firm zoning laws, and so the threshold for being able to obtain a zoning change of one piece of property is meant to be high. The neighbors have a chance to object, and if 30% of them do, then a supermajority of the City Council (7 of 9) rather than a simple majority is needed.
Property owners all over Evanston have been able to sleep well at night knowing that the zoning in their neighborhood when they bought their homes will stay the same during the many years that they hope to live there. Fixed zoning and firm property rights give us all the confidence to put down roots in Evanston, and to treat our homes as long-term investments.
NU’s newest attempt to change the zoning of their North Evanston athletic complex doesn’t technically fall under the category of “rezoning.” The stadium and arena will remain part of the same U-2 “University sports district zone.” They are just changing the definition of what a “University sports district zone” is, to include things that have nothing to do with college athletics, like professional sports and for-profit concerts.
This should worry everyone in Evanston because there is no real limit to this kind of change. Suppose that your next-door neighbors wanted to hold concerts in their house. This should require a zoning change.
Instead of pursuing a zoning change, your next-door neighbor pursues a change to what the definition of residential property is.
Whether or not this is the correct legal interpretation, this is how the Plan Commission is currently proceeding. Hopefully, all members of these bodies recognize the seriousness of entertaining zoning changes through this procedural back door, and will vote accordingly.
All property holders in Evanston should be concerned about opening this Pandora’s box.
Posted: Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Guestbook entry by: A Concerned Tax-Paying Resident, Lynn Trautman
Plan Commission Should
Reject NU’s Greed: Evanston residents make necessary home improvements every day (e.g. new roofs and fences, insulation, windows, etc. ). And we pay for them by borrowing against our mortgages, digging into savings, or even tapping our retirement accounts.
But when the only multi-billionaire in the neighborhood – Northwestern University – makes home improvements, it wants to recoup the costs by selling beer and concert tickets in our back yards, despite the fact that Northwestern is the eighth-richest university in the country and doesn’t pay property taxes on the 266 acres of prime lakefront property they own.
How is this fair?
The answer is that it is not fair. Not to the tax-paying citizens of Evanston. Northwestern is rich enough already. The Planning Commission and City Council should vote “No” to this disrespectful money grab from Northwestern.
They should vote to protect the character of the neighborhood – as decades of Commissions and Councils have before.
Posted: Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Guestbook entry by: Yvi Russell
Do Not Amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance
In 1978 the Illinois Supreme Court declared the City’s ordinance to be constitutional and Northwestern University lost its case against Evanston. Our zoning ordinance has withstood the test of time from 1971 to today.
In 1996 NU tried to circumvent the zoning ordinance in order to allow the professional Ameritech Tennis Tournament. Due to the insurgence of the residents and businesses opposed to that proposal, the Ameritech proposal was defeated by unanimous Council decision. Now NU is attempting, again, and even more drastically, just as in the 70’s, to up-end the Zoning Ordinance re U2 District, asking the City to eliminate any restriction to commercial events and professional athletic events at the U2 District. These types of events are now prohibited by the current zoning ordinance.
The residents again, as in years past, from the 70s to today, are mobilizing against this latest attack on our neighborhoods.
Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2019
Guestbook entry by: Yvi Russell
Salient passages from: Statement of Facts. Submitted to the Evanston City Zoning Amendment Committee on May 6, 1976 by Northwestern University.
Northwestern University, a not-for-profit educational institution located within the City of Evanston submits this statement of facts to support its contention that it is being unfairly, improperly and unconstitutionally restricted by the City zoning ordinance in the use of its property at 1501 Central Street, which includes Dyche Stadium and McGaw Hall.
...
For a number of years, there has been a continuing controversy with respect to the utilization of these facilities. The subject has come before the courts on six occasions, before the Zoning Board of Appeals on at least two occasions, and before the Evanston Zoning Amendment Committee on still two other occasions... The zoning ordinance ... enacted in 1971... [re.] permitted uses in U2 Districts...:
....not including the use of any building stadium or other facility for professional athletic, sports or games, or other commercial purposes.
...
The impact of the Evanston zoning ordinance has been to prevent Northwestern University from utilizing its property for the uses, similar to existing uses, for which it is unquestionably suited. As a result of the ordinance and its enforcement, however, Northwestern has been forced to cancel negotiations with promoters of Virginia Slims tennis tournament, which was to be held at McGaw hall in February, 1975, has had an exhibition basketball game between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks at McGaw Hall on October 18, 1975 cancelled, has been prevented from hosting a professional soccer game involving the Chicago Sting Soccer Club at Dyche Stadium on June 13, 1976, and has been prevented from negotiating with other professional sports clubs, including the Chicago Bears football team and others.
The result of this restriction has been unreasonably to deprive Northwestern University of the ability to make a reasonable rate of return on its property, and thus to cause the University to suffer an unconscionable hardship.
...
Northwestern recognizes that increased frequency of use of its facilities will create some additional burden on the adjoining community. Nevertheless, it believes firmly that the fears of its neighbors as to the impact of these burdens are exaggerated, and that in any event, such burdens are easily outweighed by the immense burdens on Northwestern in having potentially revenue-producing facilities remain vacant well over 350 days a year and earning an unreasonably low rate of return...