HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 21-R-25, Authorizing the City Manager to Direct Staff to Move Forward with Permanently Relocating Evanston City Hall to a Downtown Evanston Location and to Begin Identifying Options1/27/2025
21-R-25
A RESOLUTION
Authorizing the City Manager to Direct Staff to Move Forward with
Permanently Relocating Evanston City Hall to a Downtown Evanston
Location and to Begin Identifying Options for a Non-Municipal Use or
Exploration of an Adaptive Reuse of the Building and Property at 2100
Ridge Avenue
WHEREAS, the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center (“Civic Center”) located
at 2100 Ridge Avenue in Evanston has experienced significant deterioration of multiple
building systems over decades of regular use, several of which are no longer
considered to be reliable for long-term operation; and
WHEREAS, although the City of Evanston is committed to the equitable
delivery of programs and services, due to its age and physical condition, the Civic
Center is at risk of falling out of compliance with the Illinois Accessibility Code and the
federal American with Disabilities Act; and
WHEREAS, the Civic Center is substantially not in compliance with
modern building codes, including those for fire safety; and
WHEREAS, the Civic Center has limited accessibility through public
transportation; and
WHEREAS, because of its layout, the Civic Center continues to be a
challenge to provide adequate security for building occupants and visitors; and
WHEREAS, the antiquated building layout of public services at the Civic
Center provides a poor customer service experience for community members; and
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21-R-25
WHEREAS, the City of Evanston is committed to climate action and
resiliency for all City infrastructure, and the current Civic Center building does not align
with multiple goals from the City’s adopted Climate Action Resilience Plan (2018),
including goals for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, 100% LED lighting, and
water efficiency; and
WHEREAS, because the layout is inefficient, the Civic Center includes an
estimated 40,000 square feet that would not be needed (or could be repurposed to an
alternate use) if the building were laid out more appropriately for office use, and the City
is utilizing significant energy to heat and condition the extra space as well as resources
to maintain and operate the space; and
WHEREAS, the community has been discussing this issue since 1998
without a resolution that includes adequate funding for the necessary improvements,
and during which time significant staff resources and funds have been consumed in
studying potential options versus other productive work on behalf of the City of
Evanston; and
WHEREAS, without allocation of adequate funds to renovate failing
building systems, the building has continued to further deteriorate while the cost of
renovation continues to increase; and
WHEREAS, the cost to renovate the Civic Center to resolve the above
issues is currently estimated at approximately $71.1M million and there are multiple
potential options for permanently relocating the Civic Center into Downtown Evanston at
an estimated cost of $XX - $55M; and
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21-R-25
WHEREAS, it has been determined that the City of Evanston should
provide a safe, accessible, inclusive and productive city hall space for staff and
community members as soon as is practicable; and
WHEREAS, permanently relocating the city hall services into Downtown
Evanston aligns with priorities identified by the public to have city hall be centrally
located in the City of Evanston with easy access by car with free parking, and access to
active transportation options, such as rail and bus transit, the bicycle network, and be
walkable to as many community members as feasible; and
WHEREAS, city hall services are currently being temporarily relocated
into Downtown Evanston to provide a safe, secure and productive environment for city
staff and the public, leaving the building at 2100 Ridge Avenue vacant; and
WHEREAS, the City of Evanston does not desire to continue to spend
resources maintaining the building and property at 2100 Ridge Avenue indefinitely as
these resources could be used to provide services to residents and further stated City
Council goals; and
WHEREAS, the building and property at 2100 Ridge have potential value
for adaptive reuse and property tax generation, both of which could have a significant
benefit to the City of Evanston.
NOW BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby adopts the foregoing recitals as its
findings, as if fully set forth herein.
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21-R-25
SECTION 2. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to
evaluate different options for permanent city hall relocation into Downtown Evanston
and to cease the evaluation of options to renovate the building at 2100 Ridge for the
purpose of municipal services.
SECTION 3. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to
evaluate options for the non-municipal use and exploration of an adaptive reuse of the
building and property at 2100 Ridge Avenue considering City Council goals such as the
development of affordable housing and considering possibilities to create long-term
income generation for the City of Evanston (for example, through property tax
generation).
SECTION 4. The resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after
the date of its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.
_______________________________
Daniel Biss, Mayor
Attest:
______________________________
Stephanie Mendoza, City Clerk
Adopted: __________________, 2025
Approved as to form:
_______________________________
Alexandra B. Ruggie, Corporation Counsel
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Actual Lease Costs For 15-Year Lease and 7-Year with Opt-Out
Base Rent = $21.25/sq ft
Rented Space = 52,955 sq ft
Annual Rent Escalation = 2.5% (by contract)
Base O&M Cost = $1,001,899.63 (updated based on actual 2025 charges)
Annual Escalation = 3.0% (by estimate)
First Rental Year is 10/1/24 - 9/30/25
Forgiveness Period for Rent and O&M Costs is 14 months.
Opt-out Cost after 7 years is $8.8M
Energy Costs are Not Included (City pays separately from the lease).
15-YEAR LEASE COST:
Year Annual Rent Annual O&M Total Annual
Annual Cost
w/Forgiveness
1 10/1/24 - 9/30/25 $1,125,293.75 $1,001,899.63 $2,127,193.38 0
2 10/1/25 - 9/30/26 $1,153,426.09 $1,031,956.62 $2,185,382.71 $1,821,152.26
3 10/1/26 - 9/30/27 $1,182,261.75 $1,062,915.32 $2,245,177.06 $2,245,177.06
4 10/1/27 - 9/30/28 $1,211,818.29 $1,094,802.78 $2,306,621.07 $2,306,621.07
5 10/1/28 - 9/30/29 $1,242,113.75 $1,127,646.86 $2,369,760.61 $2,369,760.61
6 10/1/29 - 9/30/30 $1,273,166.59 $1,161,476.27 $2,434,642.86 $2,434,642.86
7 10/1/30 - 9/30/31 $1,304,995.76 $1,196,320.55 $2,501,316.31 $2,501,316.31
8 10/1/31 - 9/30/32 $1,337,620.65 $1,232,210.17 $2,569,830.82 $2,569,830.82
9 10/1/32 - 9/30/33 $1,371,061.17 $1,269,176.48 $2,640,237.64 $2,640,237.64
10 10/1/33 - 9/30/34 $1,405,337.69 $1,307,251.77 $2,712,589.46 $2,712,589.46
11 10/1/34 - 9/30/35 $1,440,471.14 $1,346,469.32 $2,786,940.46 $2,786,940.46
12 10/1/35 - 9/30/36 $1,476,482.92 $1,386,863.40 $2,863,346.32 $2,863,346.32
13 10/1/36 - 9/30/37 $1,513,394.99 $1,428,469.30 $2,941,864.29 $2,941,864.29
14 10/1/37 - 9/30/38 $1,551,229.86 $1,471,323.38 $3,022,553.25 $3,022,553.25
15 10/1/38 - 9/30/39 $1,590,010.61 $1,515,463.09 $3,105,473.70 $3,105,473.70
Total $20,178,685.00 $18,634,244.94 $38,812,929.94 $36,321,506.11
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7 YEAR LEASE COST W/OPT-OUT:
Year Annual Rent Annual O&M Total Annual
Annual Cost
w/Forgiveness
1 10/1/24 - 9/30/25 $1,125,293.75 $1,001,899.63 $2,127,193.38 0
2 10/1/25 - 9/30/26 $1,153,426.09 $1,031,956.62 $2,185,382.71 $1,821,152.26
3 10/1/26 - 9/30/27 $1,182,261.75 $1,062,915.32 $2,245,177.06 $2,245,177.06
4 10/1/27 - 9/30/28 $1,211,818.29 $1,094,802.78 $2,306,621.07 $2,306,621.07
5 10/1/28 - 9/30/29 $1,242,113.75 $1,127,646.86 $2,369,760.61 $2,369,760.61
6 10/1/29 - 9/30/30 $1,273,166.59 $1,161,476.27 $2,434,642.86 $2,434,642.86
7 10/1/30 - 9/30/31 $1,304,995.76 $1,196,320.55 $2,501,316.31 $2,501,316.31
8 10/1/31 - 9/30/32 Opt-Out Cost Only $8,800,000.00
9 10/1/32 - 9/30/33
10 10/1/33 - 9/30/34
11 10/1/34 - 9/30/35
12 10/1/35 - 9/30/36
13 10/1/36 - 9/30/37
14 10/1/37 - 9/30/38
15 10/1/38 - 9/30/39
Total $8,493,075.97 $7,677,018.02 $16,170,094.00 $22,478,670.16
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