Planning committee deadlocks on 605 Davis; neutral recommendation sent to City Council

The Evanston Planning and Development Committee deadlocked 3-3 Monday on a planned development for 605 Davis, sending a neutral recommendation to the City Council on a proposal that would add about 430 units — including 86 inclusionary units — to a long‑vacant downtown parcel.

The proposal, presented by developer Vermilion and its design team, would combine the site with adjacent development rights and build a high‑rise designed to bring housing, retail and pedestrian upgrades to downtown. Devin Patterson, a project representative, told the committee, "this project delivers on them day 1," citing an all‑electric design, LEED Gold goals, and 86 on‑site affordable units.

Why it matters: supporters said the project will convert a vacant lot into housing and tax revenue, and produce the largest single‑site addition of affordable units downtown. Opponents said the proposal’s scale, use of state tax assessment programs and front‑loaded tax benefits would shift costs to homeowners and school districts and create traffic, wind and pedestrian‑safety problems.

What the committee decided: after public comment and a developer presentation, a…