Wilmette residents are fuming over Evanston's move to rezone Northwestern University's Ryan Field, a change that could bring concerts and more crowds to their doorsteps. The Wilmette Village Board faced a barrage of complaints at its Dec. 12 meeting, with locals urging them to sue Evanston to reverse the decision, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Residents fear plummeting property values and increased traffic, with some estimates suggesting homes could lose up to 11% in value, potentially shaving off a hefty $100 million and costing a million in annual property taxes.
But it's not just property values at stake; the chorus of disapproval includes concerns about the noise and disturbances such events may bring, echoing the problems faced by locals who once lived near busy venues like Wrigley Field, one resident spoke of having moved away from such an area to escape the revelry only to find it knocking at their door again. Wilmette Village President Senta Plunkett expressed solidarity, saying at the meeting, "Northwestern has not satisfactorily addressed many of the concerns that you raised this evening," and acknowledging the impacts the concerts could have on residents. However, no resolution emerged from the executive session, with the board still weighing its legal options against Evanston.
Evanston and Wilmette residents have already filed a lawsuit to stop the $800 million Ryan Field renovation plans, which include six concerts annually. According to WTTW News, the residents allege backroom dealing and a disregard for due process, arguing that the city of Evanston and Mayor Daniel Biss pushed through the zoning changes in return for financial contributions from Northwestern. The lawsuit also claims Evanston violated state and municipal laws requiring a supermajority vote for zoning changes when a sufficient number of residents objected, sparking further ire over what some see as blatant overreach and an affront to their rights as property owners.
The legal fracas coincides with fierce debate over the university's proposed community benefits package, which Mayor Biss hailed as a "historic transformation" of the school's relationship with the city. Northwestern looks to break ground on the new stadium soon, eyeing the 2026 football season for its debut. But Berman, a retired Cook County judge and supporter of the lawsuit, argues the case is about more than money or development; it's about respect for the law and the rights of residents who find themselves fighting against forces that seem to have forgotten these streets are their homes too, not just the footprint for the next grand arena.
