In a move to actively reinvigorate downtown Evanston, GW Properties and Luxury Living are pressing forward with plans for a new high-rise at Church Street Plaza. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the proposed 27-story development will contain 358 apartments along with nearly 3000 square feet of retail space, potentially becoming Evanston's tallest building.
Aaron Galvin, Luxury Living founder, indicated the necessity to quickly respond to a robust housing demand in downtown Evanston. "Evanston is the perfect combination, a suburb with an urban feel," Galvin told the Chicago Tribune. An exploratory meeting with residents has been set into motion, with more slated in future months to foster community engagement.
Enhancements to Church Street Plaza are set to include not only housing but also experiential retailers, adding vibrancy to Evanston's downtown landscape. Floated in a news release, Mitch Goltz of GW reiterated the team's aim to "enhance the city's revitalization efforts by bringing in a diverse variety of new prominent retailers, and hospitality ventures," as obtained by the Evanston RoundTable.
Adjacent to this ambitious project, the iconic Varsity Theatre at 1710 Sherman Ave has recently transitioned into a living space, with tenants already moving into its 33 overhaul units. "Our goal has always been, how do we take what Roger [Carlson] created and build upon it," stated developer Steven Rogin in an interview with the Evanston RoundTable, referring to the celebrated Bookman's Alley that's also undergoing an upgrade.
Both these projects signify a broader transformation within Evanston's urban fabric, focusing on mixed-use development that embraces local character while catering to contemporary residential needs. As the Church Street Plaza project continues to evolve, community input remains a cornerstone of its development strategy, emphasizing a "collaborative community listening campaign between developers and residents," as highlighted by 2nd Ward council member Krissie Harris in a statement shared with the Chicago Tribune.
