A new wave of vacation rental licenses has swept through Evanston, with the Planning and Development Committee approving multiple applications during their recent meeting on September 8, 2025. Among the highlights was the approval of a vacation rental license for Carrie Kelly, who owns properties at both 1503 and 1451 Fowler Avenue. Kelly expressed excitement about her new venture, emphasizing the potential for positive economic impact on the city, particularly with the influx of visitors drawn by nearby Northwestern University.

Kelly's application was met with no complaints, and she noted that her previous attempts to rent the property long-term had not yielded results, prompting her shift to short-term rentals. "We thought we would move more towards the short-term rental, and it has been increasingly popular," she stated, highlighting the growing demand in the area.

The committee also reviewed another application for a property at 2005 Emerson Street, owned by Navetta, who described it as their first investment in Evanston. Despite some concerns raised by Council Member Bridal regarding the impact of vacation rentals on the local housing market, the committee voted in favor of the licenses, with the understanding that they would continue to evaluate the implications of such rentals on the community.

As the committee moves forward, discussions are anticipated regarding potential policy changes, including a proposed moratorium on new vacation rental licenses to reassess the current regulations. The decisions made in this meeting reflect a balancing act between fostering economic growth through tourism and addressing community concerns about housing availability.