The Evanston City Council Administration & Public Works Committee on Sept. 29 approved Change Order No. 1 to the contract with A. Epstein and Sons International for the Chicago Avenue Corridor Improvement Project (RFQ 20-35), adding $152,061 to the contract.

Council member Newsom moved the change order and Council member Harris seconded. The motion passed by roll-call vote, 6–0.

Laura Biggs, city engineer, said the city has completed public engagement "as far as we know" and that the design has been modified substantially with regard to parking. "We are just moving forward with contract documents, and our next communications would be more around when the project's actually ready to go into construction," Biggs said.

An alderman whose ward includes much of the corridor said they had been meeting with business owners and that a project representative had agreed to meet with owners who could not attend prior sessions. That speaker said the corridor project is funded but likely will not reach construction until 2028; that remark is unattributed in the transcript.

Assistant City Engineer Chris Seuss said the project team has conducted significant community engagement with business owners and residents and is willing to hold additional meetings for stakeholders who missed earlier sessions. The committee approved the change order and members requested follow-up meetings between staff and ward aldermen to review current plans before construction communications begin.