HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-1995-017-R-953-23-95
17-R-95
A RESOLUTION
Denying an Application for a Certificate of Special Merit
for Demolition of the Structure at
912-918 Clark Street
WHEREAS, Commonwealth Edison Company, as owner and leaseholderof the
structure at 912-918 Clark Street ("subject property"), Northwestern -University, as the
landowner, and Research Park, Inc., collectively, "the Applicant", applied for a. Certificate
---of' Appropriateness pursuant to Section 2-9-8 of the Evanston Historic Preservation
Ordinance- ("the Ordinance"), Title 2, Chapter 9 of the Evanston City Code of 1979, as
amended; and
WHEREAS, the Evanston Preservation Commission held a public hearing,
• pursuant to proper nc�ice on September -20, 1994, and denied the application for a
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Certificate of Appropriateness; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant then applied for a Certificate of Special Merit
("CSM"), pursuant to Section 2-9-11 of the Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, public hearings on the application for CSM were held by the
Planning and Development Committee, pursuant to proper notice on November 14, 1994,
December 10, 1994, February 6, 1995, and March 20, 1995; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the application; and
WHEREAS, the subject property was designed by Hermann von Hoist, an
architect associated wit:- Frank Lloyd Wright; and
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1912; and WHEREAS, the subject property was constructed in 1907, with an addition in •
WHEREAS, the subject property has been designated as an Evanston landmark
by the City Council and it was included in the 1972 Illinois Historic Structures Survey; and
WHEREAS, the Northlight Theater is an Evanston -based theater group which
has expressed an interest in adaptively reusing the subject property as a theater; and
WHEREAS, such adaptive reuse is in the best interest of the citizens of
Evanston,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1: That the City Council hereby finds pursuant to section 2-9-11(B)
of the Ordinance, that although the subject property is located in the Downtown II section •
of the Central Business District of the City's Comprehensive General Plan ("Plan"), that
although development of the subject property would enhance the economic vitality of the
Downtown II section, that although demolition of the subject structure will make the site
available for high -density development, and will enhance marketing of lot 15 in the
Research Park, that nevertheless:
a) the Applicant has no immediate development plans for the subject
property;
b) that, from 1955 to the present, the Applicant has had no offers to develop
the subject property;
c) that retention of the subject structure will provide significant cultural,
social, and civic benefits, in that this potential adaptive reuse of the subject
structure as a theater and performing arts center, is significant to the
community and particularly desirable at the location proposed, and would •
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encourage street -level use in an area in which it is lacking, will enhance the
vitality of the area by attracting pedestrians after office hours, will encourage
an existing community -based theatrical organization to stay in Evanston, and
the encouragement of cultural activities is consistent with the Plan for the
Central Business District.
SECTION 2: That pursuant to section 2-9-11(C) of the Ordinance, the City
Council .finds that inasmuch as the Applicant has no proposed project for the subject
property, the showing required by this section cannot be made.
SECTION 3: That the application of Commonwealth Edison, Northwestern
ri University and Research Park, Inc., pursuant to Section 2-9-11 of the Historic Preservation
r :=> Ordinance for a CSM for the structure at 912-918 Clark Street is denied, inasmuch as the
potential contribution from the adaptive re -use of the subject structure as a theater and
performing arts center to the civic, cultural and economic vitality of the City as a whole and
to the Downtown II area outweighs the benefits to the general welfare and development of
the Downtown li area derived from demolition of the subject structure.
SECTION 4: That denial of the CSM is based upon conditions now existing,
i.e., representations at the public hearing that Northlight Theater can raise the necessary
capital to develop tha subject structure. Upon a showing of substantial change in
circumstances, the Applicant may re -apply for a CSM.
SECTION 5: This Resolution shall be in full force and effect following its
passage and approval in the manner required by law
Mayor
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ATTES
City Clerk , O
Adopted:
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, 1995
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