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CHAPTER 12

AMENITIES Downtown revitalization is much more than theconstruction of building space. It involves thecreation and maintenance of an inviting, hospitable,and rewarding environment for people and theirinteraction. Historically, Evanstonians have(concurrently) taken pride in and criticized, but havealways been concerned with and often acted toenhance, the environment of downtown. Thecommunity has passionately protected the integrity ofabutting residential neighborhoods, which in turn hasreinforced the compactness of the central businessdistrict and avoided the deterioration of peripheralareas that is apparent in many other communities.This virtually seamless connectivity represents afundamental amenity that is indicative of strong publicpolicy. Therefore, living in immediate proximity to,even within, the downtown is a long establishedtradition, not a revelation - - a tradition that haswitnessed its own revitalization in the 1990s and early2000s.

Parks are traditional amenities, jealously protected,the most important of which is the lakefront.Although technically outside the boundaries of thedowntown, the short separation of two blocks is nodeterrence to having an aesthetic benefit ondowntown, to offering a place of passive retreat oractive exercise for downtown employees during theworkday, or to being a frequent venue for large-scalecommunity events that support the vitality ofdowntown. The city has been a constant steward ofthe lakefront, evidenced by its forestry program,beach and shoreline protection program, and itsrestoration of the lagoon (circa 1911) opposite theends of Davis Street and Church Street. The 1984restoration was designed by Teska Associates, Inc.

A small gem of the Evanston park system is theMerrick Rose Garden, located near the southwestcorner of the downtown. It is here that the originalCentennial Fountain was relocated in 1951. Thefountain and the roses create a unique environment,one often utilized by wedding parties and othergroups in addition to individuals seeking beauty andserenity.

Lakefront Lagoon

Merrick Rose Garden

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Raymond Park, set aside in the original plat ofEvanston, exhibits many of the characteristics of aNew England village green, though its location is onthe edge of downtown, rather that at its center. Thislocation in the midst of a relatively intense urbansetting has allowed it to remain a predominantlyopen, grassy, multipurpose park. Surrounded byseveral churches, it complements their architectureand their daycare programs for children (weekdays aswell as Sundays), even their programs and facilities forthe homeless. In the late 1960s the BeautificationCommittee of the Evanston Plan Commission, headedby Dorothy Bohnen, proposed garden-likeenhancements to the park. Surprisingly, they werestrongly opposed by citizens and groups that preferreda more flexible green space (even if less attractive) fora variety of informal activities. The most significantimprovement in recent decades occurred in the 1990sin response to a citizen campaign to replace out-of-date playground equipment. Otherwise, little haschanged - - a popular public choice.

Oldberg Park is of more recent vintage, having beencreated as a result of the Emerson-Clark Streetconnector construction in 1962. Little more than agrassy area for several decades, the city grantedpermission to Northwestern University to be thesteward of this park in 1998. Today the park islavishly landscaped and well maintained by theuniversity and is a popular leisure spot for students aswell as a gateway enhancement to downtown. It isgraced by a life-sized bronze sculpture of a horse,titled “Duna”, designed by Deborah Butterfield andinstalled in 1998.

Historic preservation has been a public issue in recentdecades. Clearly, many downtown buildings mighthave been, and some still are, worthy of eligibility forpreservation - - by local, state or even nationalstandards. Some have been preserved solely at thediscretion of their owners, such as the headquarters ofthe Women’s Christian Temperance Union and theUnion Pacific (Metra) railroad station, the U.S. PostOffice, and several churches. However, many havebeen replaced over the years by new construction,e.g. the City Hall, the original State National Bankbuilding, and the Valencia Theater. Some weredestroyed by fire, e.g. the Rood Building. Othershave experienced adaptive reuse, e.g. the VarsityTheater for retail stores, Marshall Field’s for residencesand small businesses, and the First Church of ChristScientist for a music institute.

Raymond Park

Oldberg Park

Women’s Christian Temperance Union

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The public realm focuses on the streetscape, includingpublic plazas. Overall, the Evanston streetscape washistorically characterized by streets lined with trees(Elms), bordered by grass parkways and sidewalks,and lit by fixtures uniquely designed for Evanston byThomas E. Tallmadge. Except for Chicago Avenue,however, most downtown streets were void of trees.

In the 1960s Dutch Elm disease ravaged the Chicagoarea, the city’s lighting system was becomingobsolete, and downtown concrete sidewalks were inneed of repair. Furthermore, many citizens felt thatFountain Square itself was obsolete. The Citycontracted with Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. todesign a comprehensive new streetscape, whichincluded modern “Shepherd’s Crook” streetlightfixtures, the introduction of brick tiles to edge thesidewalks, and Locust trees to provide greenery andshade. Fountain Square was redesigned to become apeople place, rather than simply a war memorial.New brick columns were constructed to preserve thenames of fallen service men and women fromEvanston.

Tallmadge Fixture Shepherd’s Crook

From the outset, the brick tiles suffered from theadverse effects of a northern climate and became afrequent and expensive maintenance problem. Afterapproximately 20 years, the streetscape became“tired” and the city’s Public Works Departmentdeclared underground wiring for streetlights to beobsolete. Public satisfaction with the “Shepherd’sCrook” streetlight fixtures wained.

Elsewhere in the city, municipal efforts to install taller,brighter and more modern streetlights ran into agroundswell of opposition, resulting in a compromisesolution incorporating modern fixtures along arterialsand the replacement of Tallmadge fixtures inresidential neighborhoods and in pedestrian zones ofthe downtown. In 1990-91 the Evmark Design Group, composed ofTeska Associates, Inc., Land Design Collaborative,Inc., Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. A.M. Kinney,and CH2MHill produced designs which included bothmodern and historic streetlights, full paver bricks tosupercede the brick tiles, cast iron tree grates, concreteplanting boxes for perennial and seasonal plantmaterials, and more street trees. Chicago Avenue wasdesigned to strengthen its character similar to aEuropean “boulevard”. Gateways to downtown alongEmerson-Clark Streets and Sherman Avenue wereenhanced with landscaped medians. A reinvigoratedbanner program, sponsored by the Chamber ofCommerce, was instituted. And, Evmark establisheda creative program of colorful planters maintained bynon-profit organizations. The streetscape programincorporated creative designs by artist David Csicsko,including tree grates, sidewalk mosaics, pedestrianwayfinding signage, etc., many of which have been installed throughout the downtown.

Fountain Square itself was redesigned, but notreconstructed at this time because of cost. Today, itexhibits continued deterioration and awaitsimprovement as previously designed or with a newdesign.

Sidewalk Art by David Csicsko

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2004 PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE

Tom BoggsAdrienn N. HirschRobert JocobiLester JacobsBuche JonesTony KellyRonald KysiakDorothy A. LaudatiSally LupelGeraldine MascsaiLyn Delli QuadriLaura Saviano, Chair PersonMichael SeligmanLawrence E. WilsonCheryl Wollin

In 1980, Design Evanston was founded as a non-profitorganization of Evanston professionals - - planners,architects, landscape architects, graphic designers,interior designers, etc., to promote the theme, “GoodDesign is Good Business.” Over the years, DesignEvanston has offered pro-bono advice to propertyowners wishing to enhance existing buildings, theirfacades, display windows, or signage; has sponsoredpublic forums on design excellence; and has grantedover 150 awards for completed projects of merit.

Art in public places is also a key amenity. Perhaps thefirst such example was the gracefully sculptedCentennial Fountain. The U.S. Post Office at 1101Davis Street, designed by John Carlisle Bollenbasherand built in 1938, incorporated art in its facade andits interior. In 1991 Rotary International installed asculpture, at 1560 Sherman Avenue, designed by therenowned sculptor Glenda Goodacre, to celebrate the1985 founding of its international campaign toeradicate polio worldwide.

In 1991 the City established a Public Art Programunder the auspices of the Evanston Arts Council anda Public Arts Committee appointed by MayorLorraine Morton. This included a commitment of 1%for the arts in all new municipal buildings.

In 1993 the Arts Council announced a nationalcompetition for three pieces of artwork within themain lobby of the new Public Library. The piecesselected and installed are now a source of communitypride. The Arts Council also announced a nationalcompetition for one or two separate pieces of art(sculptures) on the exterior of the new building atopthe two center piers on the west facade where theycan enhance the view from Church Street. The twopieces selected are titled “BookEnds,” welded stainlesssteel sculptures designed by Richard Hunt andinstalled in 1997.

Recently, the Public Art Committee has published acolorful brochure, Your Guide to Public Art inEvanston, and has plans to broaden the influence ofthis program.

Public art can help define a community.Unfortunately, it can also become contentious. Forexample, the new Maple Avenue parking garage wasto have been adorned by “Nimbus”, a sculpturedesigned by Chicago artist Lincoln Schatz and selectedin a competition sponsored by the Evanston Public ArtCommittee. In 2001 Schatz was commissioned tocraft the five 15 ft. x 30 ft. plexiglass and stainless steeloval discs and was paid $51,000, a deposit on the$170,000 agreed-to cost for the sculpture. Schatzsubsequently told the city he underestimated the costand city officials questioned whether the sculpturecould actually be mounted on the garage.

Schatz refused to return the $51,000. In 2004, toavoid law suits, he and the City Council agreed that hewould provide another completed sculpture(Penelope), at no additional cost. It is composed ofseveral geometric shapes in steel and plexiglass and isover eight feet tall. Some aldermen have voiced adislike for the sculpture and object to it being placedon the parking structure. At least one aldermansuggested selling it on E-Bay. Ultimately, it wasinstalled at the southeast corner of Emerson Street andRidge Avenue.

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Gateway at Elgin Road & Benson Avenue

U. S. Post Office

Library “Book Ends” by Richard Hunt

Rotary International Polio Plus by Glenda Goodacre

Penelope

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Maintenance of the public realm remains an issue in2003. The City, because its budget is stressed,declines certain responsibilities and looks to Evmarkfor expanded investment in maintenance. Evmark,because of the cap on its tax rate and non-marketingexpenses, is also financially stressed. In some cases,particularly new real estate development, someresponsibilities are being transferred to the adjacentproperty owners. Generally, this issue remains achallenge, though negotiations continue.

Another issue has surfaced at the City Council level - -waste in the public realm generated by fast foodbusinesses generally. Although all such occupancypermits are issued by the city with cleanupresponsibility specifically attributable to thebusinesses, some such businesses have been lax incleanup, and the city has been lax in enforcement.Therefore, in March 2003 the City Council denied anew business permit and vowed to enforce thecleanup responsibility on existing businesses.

Many Evanston citizens want to go even further toenhance the amenities of the community and itsdowntown. In February, 2003 a group of citizensformed a new non-profit organization - - Friends of theArts (FOA). It has three basic purposes:

• To support a donor-advised fund within theEvanston Community Foundation that willfund unique arts activities and projects,including works of public art;

• To provide financial support for those artsprograms and projects that require privatematches to public or outside funding and toact as a private applicant for such funds asneeded;

• To promote the importance of the arts to theoverall quality of life in Evanston and tomake the arts more viable within the dailylives of all Evanstonians.

Downtown Evanston has fifteen railroad viaducts,most of which exhibit advanced deterioration or needof maintenance. In the 1980s a new CTA viaduct offunctional, yet not artistic, merit was constructed ofsteel at Lake Street. In 1989 a more attractive CTAviaduct was constructed of concrete to accommodatethe extension of Clark Street to Maple Avenue. In2001 the Downtown Transit, Circulation and

Development Study strongly recommended the needto replace CTA viaducts and abutments at Davis Streetand Church Street with new facilities that are not onlyfunctionally satisfactory but attractively designed. Thestudy also recommended the removal of two UnionPacific viaducts, the reconstruction and landscaping ofabutments, and the refurbishing of two remainingrailroad viaducts.

Clark Street Viaduct

Handicapped access has become a nationwide goal,anchored by the federal Americans with DisabilitiesAct. In downtown Evanston, new street and sidewalkimprovements have incorporated gentle ramps for thehandicapped at intersection crosswalks; parkinggarages and the CTA Transportation Centerincorporate elevators; and new inclined ramps leadingto and from the Union Pacific (Metra) platform werecompleted in 2002 with attractive lighting fixtures andlandscaping.

Handicapped Access Ramp on Maple Avenue

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Amenities include more than physical improvements.As far back as the 1960s the Orrington Hotel offeredthe sole outdoor sidewalk café in downtown. Fromtime to time it also offered horse and carriage ridesthroughout the downtown. Although the hoteldiscontinued its sidewalk café in the 1980s, otherrestaurants introduced new sidewalk cafes beginningin the 1990s. By the year 2003 there were over 25sidewalk cafes in the downtown, greatly enhancing itsappeal as a people place, not simply a dining center.In 2005 the restored Hotel Orrington will reestablishits sidewalk cafe.

Sidewalk Café

Other amenities recently added in 2000-2005 includea city-wide wayfinding signage system designed byJack Weiss Associates. The firm has also designed asimilar pedestrian-oriented wayfinding signage systemfor downtown, yet to be installed.

City-wide Wayfinding Signage System

Downtown Evanston has also become a trend setter in“green architecture,” a concept gaining acceptancethroughout the nation. Several new mixed-usedevelopments, some already constructed and someapproved and under construction incorporate thisenvironmentally sensitive upper-story landscapedterraces and roof gardens.

Upper Story Roof Garden at Optima Horizons

Completion of Sherman Plaza in 2006 included newstreetscape around virtually the entire block. A site atthe corner of Sherman Avenue and Davis Street wasreserved for a sculpture as part of the city’s Public ArtProgram associated with new construction projects- -in this case the new parking garage.

In response to a widely circulated Request forProposals, the City’s Purchasing Division receivedproposals from 155 experienced artists located in 33states and 10 countries outside the U.S. The RFPstated the City’s desire for “a monumental work of art”that is “imaginative and aesthetically pleasing”. ASelection Committee of Evanston representatives wasappointed and met on several occasions to evaluateall proposals and select five finalists.

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Sherman Plaza Sculpture Selection Committee

Voting Members

Valerie Calloway, Evanston Arts Council ExecutiveCommitteeDan Coffey, Garage ArchitectLyn Delli Quadri, Public Art Committee Co-ChairPaul Giddings, Parking CommitteeBarbara Goldsmith, SculptorDan Kelch, Lulu’s OwnerGerry Macsai, Public Art Committee Co-Chair Ann Rainey, 8th Ward AldermanLaura Saviano, Ross Barney + Jankowski MarketingDirectorBob Teska, Teska Associates Chairman of the Board

Non-voting Members

Judy Aiello, Assistant City ManagerJeff Cory, Cultural Arts/Arts Council DirectorDoug Gaynor, Parks/Forestry & Recreation David Jennings, Public Works DirectorMax Rubin, Facilities Director

The finalists submitted scale models for review by thecommittee and general public. They participated ina public forum to present their design concepts andanswer questions. Subsequently, the SelectionCommittee recommended to the Public ArtCommission and the City Council the comtemporysculpture designed by Takaski Soga of Utica, NY.This unique sculpture features a ring whichmysteriously floats in the breeze within the spaceprovided in its vertical wall.

It is anticipated that installation of the sculpture willbe completed in 2007 for a total cost not to exceed$300,00.

Selected Sculpture for Sherman PlazaSource: City of Evanston