Member Mixer Social Gathering

Join us to celebrate Spring and an opportunity to meet other Design Evanston members in an inspiring environment at the Rebuilding Exchange in Evanston. We hope to see you there!

DATE: Wednesday, March 19
TIME: 6:30 – 9pm
PLACE: Rebuilding Exchange, 1245 Hartrey Ave, Evanston
FEE: Free for DE Members
FOOD: Light hors d’oeuvres, beer + wine, and n/a beverages
PARKING: in the lot, on the street, in the lot across the street
RSVP: yes only please, by email to comms@designevanston.org by March 12.
SPREAD THE WORD: Encourage a friend or colleague to join
Design Evanston, and bring them along!

Dave Galloway, Vice President of the DE Board, presented an overview of the official statement prepared by professional members of Design Evanston which included specific suggestions to help improve upon the subsequent draft of the EE2045 Comprehensive Plan. The statement was included as part of the City’s 1/29 Land Use Commission meeting agenda package, available on the city’s website, and was well-received by the commission, spurring further discussion. A large portion of the statement was quoted the following day in the Evanston Round Table.

Continuum Capital Partners, Luxury Living Chicago and Antunovich Associates Architects presented to Design Evanston professional members for review of their planned development “The Apartments at Church Street Plaza” – a 27-story tower with 358 dwelling units at 900 Clark Street. The meeting was held at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.

Design Evanston professional members reviewed plans, drawings and renderings presented by local realtor/developer Paul Harb, and architect Gregory Geslicki of OCGG Architects (CA) for a 5-story mid-rise residential building, consisting of 30 dwelling units. The meeting was held at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.

Design Evanston professional members met at the Evanston Public Library for a working session to review and discuss the proposed Envision Evanston 2045 Draft Zoning Ordinance. The result of this and possibly a 2nd meeting was to prepare a formal DE review to submit to City officials and the Land Use Commission at a future date.

Design Evanston professional members met via zoom for a 2nd session to discuss the City of Evanston’s Envision Evanston 2045 Draft Comprehensive Plan. Three breakout groups discussed the following chapters: Future Land Use Strategy, Land Use, and Housing. The result of this meeting was to formulate official DE comments to be shared with the City officials and the Land Use Commission at a later date.

Professional Members of Design Evanston met at Three Crowns Park to discuss the City of Evanston’s Envision Evanston 2045 Draft Comprehensive Plan. Bob Teska, longtime Evanston-based urban planner and co-founder of Design Evanston was in attendance. Consolidated remarks from this session were to be shared with representatives of the City of Evanston’s Planning Department.

The property management team at Tapestry Station hosted Design Evanston members for an exclusive tour of this new community on the Main Dempster Mile. The tour included access to three of the 27 distinctive floor plans, including studio, one, and two-bedroom rental apartments as well the fitness studio, co-working space and rooftop deck.

Design Evanston professional members participated in a presentation of the proposed 605 Davis Street project by Kerry Dickson and Richard Choi–Vermilion Development, Chris Dillion–Campbell Coyle, and James Michaels–Solomon Cordwell Buenz. The proposal is for a mixed-use office and residential tower with ground floor retail and parking.

Design Evanston professional members participated in a zoom presentation of the Civic Center Plaza proposal by City of Evanston Economic Development Manager Paul Zalmezak, and Living Habitats consultants, Heidi Natura, and other members of her team. An official Design Evanston review statement was sent to Paul in early January.

Design Evanston professional members were hosted by developers CDG Real Estate, Catapult Real Estate Solutions + CityPads Chicago at Tapestry Station to give input on their proposed multi-family planned development project for 910-938 Custer Street. Plans, renderings and materials were presented.

Our 2024 Design Awards Presentation, held at Double Clutch Brewery, honored nearly 40 projects that brought significant aesthetic and functional improvements to the Evanston community. The event was attended by over 100 award recipients, Design Evanston members, and city and community partners. Visit our awards page to see the winners.

Attorney Michael Ezgur and project architect Tim Kent presented the latest design schematic of the 1621 Chicago Avenue development, a 12-story proposal. (This was the 2nd time Design Evanston members were invited to review this project — the last review was April 15 of 2019.)

Several Design Evanston members were present at Bookends & Beginnings (co-hosts of the event) for a presentation by residential architects Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker about their new book, First Additions: Strategies for Adding On, which presents theoretical essays about making additions followed by a portfolio of their house additions.

Howard Weiner with Chicago Development Partners presented his 1300 Chicago Avenue planned mid-rise, project (NW corner of Chicago and Dempster) including 77 dwelling units, to Design Evanston professional members for their review.

Several professional members of Design Evanston participated in an event at SPACE hosted by the City of Evanston which called for community members who work with and make decisions affecting Evanston’s built environment, including real estate professionals, architects, engineers, various organizations and community leaders. Attendees were be presented with development scenarios for three locations with possible future development potential.

Design Evanston was invited by the City of Evanston and its EE2045 consultants to participate in a Design Professionals focus group as part of the Envision Evanston 2045 Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code update process, held at the Evanston Public Library. Several DE members were in attendance for presentations and discussion.

Twenty four Design Evanston professional members and affiliates took a hard-hat tour led by owner Steven Rogin of the in-progress adaptive re-use of the Varsity Theater building in downtown Evanston. The building will house 10,000 square feet of retail space (some in Bookman’s Alley), 33 apartments, and 2 live/work spaces.

Seven Design Evanston professional members were in attendance at architect/author Ryan Chester’s presentation of Chicago Reflected a unique and playful hand-drawn exploration of the Chicago River’s Landscape, held at Bookends & Beginnings, co-hosts of the event.

As part of the City’s Envision Evanston 2045 initiative, 17 Design Evanston professional members and affiliates met at Robert Crown Community Center with HDR, Inc., the consulting firm facilitating the creation of the City of Evanston’s new comprehensive plan and zoning code to share ideas and contribute thoughts. DE Board VP, David Galloway, is in continued conversation with City Planner Liz Williams and HDR on this topic.

The new board re-elected Laura Saviano as president and Dave Galloway as vice president. Robert Natke was elected treasurer, Paula Bodnar Schmitt communications director, Elliott Dudnik, and Ariel Goldfarb members at large.

DEs annual meeting was held at the Firehouse Grill. Key results of the recent membership survey were discussed. A new board was elected comprised of Laura Saviano, Dave Galloway, Elliot Dudnik, Rob Natke, Paula Bodnar Schmitt and Ariel Goldfarb.

DE members Dave Galloway, Tom Hofmaier and Jack Weiss spoke in support of the proposal to create a Community Design Commission at the city’s Planning & Development Committee. DE had been collaborating on the effort for nearly a year. P&D tabled the proposal, pending the development of the new Comprehensive Plan.

The Design Evanston board met with councilmember Clare Kelly to review her submission “to create the Community Design Commission to replace DAPR” prior to being drafted as a formal ordinance.

Four DE board members met with City Manager Luke to review Design Evanston’s 21-point “Design Issues” list and discuss priorities for collaboration.

DE board members Dave Galloway and Jack Weiss met with Mayor Daniel Biss to review Design Evanston’s 21-point “Design Issues” list and discuss priorities for collaboration.

DE board members Dave Galloway and Jack Weiss met with Elizabeth Williams, City of Evanston Planning Manager, and Cade Sterling, Planner, to review DEs “Topics of Discussion” and discuss plans for the Urban Design Commission. Subsequent zoom sessions followed with Council Member Clare Kelly.

Dave Galloway, Design Evanston, and Richard Miller, Working Group, presented the Conceptual Design Report for the Lincoln Street replacement bridge to City of Evanston representatives in preparation for the application for funding by IDOT.

The DE Board met with Paul Zalmezak, Evanston’s Economic Development Manager, and Clare Kelly, 1st Ward Council Member, to discuss how DE can advocate for an Urban Design Commission. Conversations continue.

10 DE professional members and others met with Richard Miller director of the Working Group for Better Bridges and Design Evanston team leader, Dave Galloway, to develop design concepts for the replacement bridge on Lincoln Street.

Twenty DE professional members met at the historic lobby to tour the Tribune Tower Residences designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz. Jeannie Martini, sales director and Jeff Zdenahlic, project manager, led the group through exciting and unforgettable amenity spaces and model units.

Nineteen DE professional members met via zoom to conduct a Project Review of the Varsity Theater/Bookman’s Alley redevelopment proposal.

Twelve DE professional members met via zoom to conduct a Project Review of the 1740 Orrington project – a new science and research building on the old Burger King site.

Nine DE members and guests travelled to Rockford IL to tour the Anderson Japanese Gardens and Frank Lloyd Wright Laurent House.

Seven DE professional members met with the developer and architects to conduct a project review of their proposed adaptive reuse project at 1101 Church Street. The project was enthusiastically endorsed and report submitted to the city.

Seven authors of “Evanston’s Design Heritage” discussed the book in a 1-hour zoom presentation for AIA Chicago members.

The seven authors of “Evanston’s Design Heritage” discussed the book in a 1-hour zoom presentation for Open House Chicago. During the week-long OHC event viewers also were able to take a guided tour of sites featured in our book: “Evanston: 150 Years 150 Places”.

Ten DE professional members met with Cook County Housing Authority and architects with Pappageorge Haymes to conduct a project review of their proposed public housing at 1900 Sherman Avenue.

18 Design Evanston members and guests traveled to Beverly Shores, Indiana for a tour of the 1933 Century of Progress homes hosted by Indiana Landmarks.

Six DE members joined Andy Spatz on a fun bike ride to view many of his Evanston projects. Lively discussion followed with lunch at Ovo Frito on Maple Avenue.

Twenty DE professional members met to conduct a charette to consider future development of the Library Parking Lot at 1714-1720 Chicago Avenue. Historical, landscape, zoning and planning materials were presented to set the stage for three independent break-out sessions. Conclusions will be presented to the City Council and general public.

Nine DE professional members met with met with Vermillion Development and Solomon Cordwell Buenz team members to review their revised proposal for 601 Davis Street.

Ten DE professional members met with Merion team members to review their proposal for The Legacy at 1621-31 Chicago Avenue.

Eighteen Evanston sites were open during the 4th annual Open House Chicago event co-hosted by Design Evanston. With a total of 16,500 site visits, Evanston placed third among all the Chicago neighborhoods.

There was a great turnout as 40 DE members and friends joined Dick Lanyon and Gary Langwell on a tour of two unique and seldom seen buildings on Lake Street: the Evanston Pumping Station and the Evanston Masonic Temple.