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Evanston council approves 605 Davis planned development after hours of debate over scale, tax breaks and community benefits
Summary
After extended public comment and dozens of amendments, the City Council introduced and adopted Ordinance 66-O-25 approving a 29‑story planned development at 605 Davis with several negotiated community-benefit conditions. Supporters cited housing and affordable units; opponents criticized the scale, large tax abatement and limited benefits.
The Evanston City Council approved Ordinance 66‑O‑25 on Nov. 10 to allow a 29‑story mixed‑use development at 601–615 Davis Street and 604–608 Chicago Avenue, concluding an evening of extensive public comment, amendments and debate.
Supporters, including the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and several affordable‑housing advocates, urged the council to move the long‑vacant parcel into productive use. "This project is an important opportunity for our downtown, bringing more residents and increasing demand for our restaurants, retail, services and entertainment," said Brianna Gray of the Chamber.
Opponents pointed to the size of the project and a large county‑level tax abatement repeatedly cited in public testimony as roughly $40 million, questioning its local fiscal and neighborhood impacts. "This is a bad deal for Evanston in so many ways," said resident Julia Forgash, who urged…
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