Below see Yvi Russell's essay: "Just a few comments and questions re. NU's proposed Stadium and Zoning Text Amendment change" which will be submitted to the Evanston Round Table on September 29, 2023.
The Most Livable City Association and Community Alliance for Better Government issued the following statement:
“This report undercuts Northwestern's biggest arguments for building a massive entertainment complex in a residential neighborhood. It projects a miniscule amount of additional revenue for Evanston, with the city getting only an additional $200,000 from six stadium-packed concerts and assorted additional events. It confirms that Northwestern's transportation and parking plan is not grounded in reality. And it says that Northwestern should enter into a community benefits agreement tied to the project — as opposed to the unenforceable 'letter of intent' proposed by the university.
“At the same time, the report suffers serious flaws. For example, the Johnson consulting team shows little knowledge of Evanston. The report states that the project ‘will remove blight from Central Avenue.’ First, anyone who describes it that way has never been here. Second, Central Street — not Central Avenue — is where the stadium is located and is the heart of our neighborhood business district.
"Finally, the report fails to account for the massive external costs – the externalities – this project would impose on surrounding neighborhoods and on the city as a whole. These costs are real, but the report fails to assign value to them and instead waves them away.”
August 27, 2023
Dear President Schill and Board of Trustees:
In response to President Schill’s August 17 letters to the Evanston and Northwestern communities, we write to you with a simple request to withdraw the university’s proposal to commercialize its athletics campus on Central Street. Instead, the university should put its efforts and resources into repairing the relationship between town and gown with a community benefits agreement for the rebuild of its football stadium.
We recognize and respect Northwestern’s desire to provide first-rate athletic facilities that reflect the institutional pride and investment of alumni, donors, students, faculty, and staff. We also welcome the university’s offer to continue providing “community-based activities” at its athletics campus, as it already does under the existing zoning code.
However, Northwestern’s current plans for a commercial entertainment complex have created conflict and mistrust among neighbors and between city wards, between Evanston and Wilmette, and towards the university. Reversing that tide will require genuine leadership. This is the time to take a different tack.
All Evanstonians — as well as residents of Wilmette — deserve from their institutional neighbor and from Evanston’s public officials an open and straightforward process, free from flawed and incomplete reports, vague promises, backroom deals, and other activities that have unfortunately characterized the “Rebuild Ryan Field” effort to date.
The City of Evanston will soon hear the university’s land use applications. Therefore, the time is right to engage in an open and honest dialog with those of us — including the nearly 1,600 signers of our petition — who question the wisdom of the university’s ambitions, the validity of its claims, and the sincerity of its assertions of serving the best interests of the Evanston community.
Prior to the upcoming land use hearing on September 6, we call on the university to abandon its efforts to amend Evanston’s zoning ordinance to allow commercial events. Focus instead on the football stadium’s redevelopment, which still has major shortcomings; listen to the community’s environmental and labor concerns; and offer a substantial package of community benefits — one with enforceable commitments through an agreement with community stakeholders.
We are eager and ready to engage in discussions with the university, with the City of Evanston and Village of Wilmette, and with other community representatives to arrive at an outcome that embodies the values and aspirations of all.
Sincerely,
David DeCarlo, President
Parielle Davis, Vice President
CC: Mayor Biss; Evanston City Council; Evanston Land Use Commission
Mr. Harper also submitted an extensive document to be included in LUC's packet.
Will Northwestern Get Its Stadium, or Will Evanston Get a Fair Deal?
Another Harper article:
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/northwestern-stadium-evanston/
Evanston Roundtable: NU’s Ryan Field project shows climate hypocrisy.
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/05/15/guest-essay-rebuild-ryan-field-climate-environmental/
5/15/2023 - Sonia and Aaron Cohen explain how NU's stadium rebuild gives the lie to NU's "environmental claims" and is "a recipe for substantially increasing Evanston’s carbon footprint by generating new and ongoing air, noise and light pollution throughout the year".
What effects are caused by building a new cement stadium?
"Some estimates say every ton of cement produces a ton of CO2 emissions, of which concrete production accounts for an estimated 8% globally."
Why not publish the The Round Table [ERT] articles in full or quote them more extensively?
Our site's purpose is solely to be a historical, educational source of information. It is not a site that earns any money, nor does it solicit or raise any funds and it never displays any advertisements.
Despite this, on 8/8/2023 Spotlight's editor was informed by ERT that our site was not granted permission to publish any ERT articles in full, including non-remunerated material sent to RT, such as letters to the Editor, published on "Public Square".
Spotlight's goal always has been not just to give an update on events but specifically to provide the public with the verbatim opinion of concerned citizens who want their voices to be heard, and particularly citizens who have given us permission to publish their comments or whose comments are part of the public record.
We'll try to supplement short ERT summaries with other forms of communication that are available to us to give you a full picture of the issues at hand.
Below: Just a small sample of letters and editorials showing opposition to NU's proposal.
Small business owners say big commercial events at Ryan Field will hurt their businesses.
Evanston Roundtable: NU’s wealth, evasiveness, and cost to the city. They are not giving us something for nothing.
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2022/10/19/letter-to-the-editor-new-ryan-field-is-nu-cash-grab/
Evanston Roundtable: Neighbors protest NU commercial events. Say traffic gridlock blocks access to hospital. (One neighbor states her husband was in an ambulance yet was unable to get to hospital quickly due to traffic gridlock on football game day.)
Evanston Roundtable: NU is out of sync with other universities and their stadium renovations and rebuilds.
Evanston Roundtable: 260 Faculty ask NU to stop Ryan Field project for now. 2023 07 16 (2 different news outlets on this topic):
Daily Northwestern:
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2023/07/14/opinion/lte-northwestern-faculty-open-letter-about-football-and-other-athletics-at-northwestern/ Includes the names of the faculty who signed the above.
Evanston Roundtable: Peter Barris. NU Board of Trustees Chair. Shows hypocrisy.
Isabella Street gridlock on evening of basketball game at Welsh-Ryan Arena:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJMsDnUfchM
Alley: Cars using alley when Isabella St was completely gridlocked:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxtwXBUhHMc
Presentations by Lesley Williams and Parielle Davis about NU and how they are dividing the city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGMGCo6uRb8
Also:
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/08/24/letter-to-the-editor-black-community-dispute-northwestern-ryan-field-claims/
Evanston Roundtable: Independent review finds major flaws in NU’s Ryan Field concert noise study
Chicago Tribune: Northwestern to propose fewer concerts, offer greater incentives for Ryan Field rebuild
WGN: Northwestern provides update on Ryan Field renovation plans
ABC-7: Northwestern reduces events held at Ryan Field, residents continue to oppose rebuild
The Nation: Will Northwestern Get Its Stadium, or Will Evanston Get a Fair Deal?
Chicago Sun-Times: Northwestern throws ‘Hail Mary’ for Ryan Field stadium rebuild
The Record: Northwestern’s changes to Ryan Field requests do not change Wilmette’s opposition
Evanston Roundtable:
Northwestern needs to rethink Ryan Field project
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/08/30/what-nu-pays-a-recurrent-debate-resurfaces/
https://www.nbcchicago.com/top-videos-home/northwestern-lobbying-effort-raises-questions-about-aldermens-ties-to-community-group/3225551/
ABC: Evanston neighbors, activists protest nearly $1B Ryan Field renovation plan
Evanston RoundTable: Guest essay: As a mom who works on Central Street, I oppose Ryan Field plan
Rezoning opponents dominate second Ryan Field Land Use Commission meeting
An Evanston Minute: Ryan Field rezoning protest
Evanston Now: LUC’s stadium issues: ‘Noise and traffic’
Anti-stadium protesters demonstrate at Civic Center
Daily Northwestern: Second Ryan Field hearing draws crowds as NU’s push for city approval continues
WGN: Evanston residents protest Ryan Field renovations for 2nd straight day
Below: Patty Sherry-Crews missive for City Council Public Comment - 8/31/2012
Re. Statement on NU proposed rezoning
Patti Sherry-Crews Sun, Aug 13, 2023
To: dbiss@cityofevanston.org, ckelly@cityofevanston.org, kharris@cityofevanston.org, mwynne@cityofevanston.org, jnieuwsma@cityofevanston.org, bburns@cityofevanston.org, tsuffredin@cityofevanston.org, erevelle@cityofevanston.org, dreid@cityofevanston.org, jgeracaris@cityofevanston.org, mmjones@cityofevanston.org, cityclerk@cityofevanston.org