I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the direction of the Envision Evanston 2045 initiative. While it is marketed as a progressive plan to address housing needs, it is clear that the underlying agenda could fundamentally alter the character of Evanston. This plan, as it stands, will displace minorities and low-income families, forever changing the city’s demographics due to the lack of true affordability.
Affordable housing should serve as the foundation of any plan to build a stronger, more equitable Evanston. However, Envision 2045 fails to prioritize meaningful affordability. It lacks specific, enforceable mechanisms to preserve housing for low-income residents. A striking example of this failure is the neglect of the 24 low-income homes on Wesley Avenue, which have long been a crucial resource for residents of modest means. These properties were allowed to deteriorate despite clear guidelines in Evanston’s own Consolidated Plan, which mandates inspections of properties within Community Development Block Grant-designated areas every three years (areas that are eligible for federal grants). This neglect is a glaring failure of leadership.
It is disingenuous to claim that city officials did everything possible to save these homes. The city demonstrated its ability to act quickly when assisting businesses like Little Beans Café, yet failed to provide the same urgency for vulnerable residents. The negligence is even more glaring when considering that the Evanston Consolidated Plan explicitly states on page 73 that “All multi-family rental dwelling units are inspected at least every five years. Buildings in the CDBG Target Area are inspected on a three-year schedule.”…