Sue Carlson's blog

On Monday, June 25th, the Citizens' Lighthouse Community Land Trust (CLT) achieved another milestone. The Evanston City Council approved its request for funds to support the purchase and rehabilitation of its first property. A grant of $99,500 in HOME (HUD) funds was approved for the purchase of a single family house. Located in the 2nd ward of Evanston, the home will be marketed to families of low to moderate income with priority given to residents or workers in Evanston. 

At its first annual meeting on May 6, the Citizens' Lighthouse Community Land Trust (CLCLT) honored Evanston Alderman Edmund Moran.

Affordable housing activists are proposing a potentially controversial solution to create more affordable housing in Evanston and they are inviting interested persons to participate in the discussion.  The community land trust model envisioned by the founder of and the current Board of the Citizens’ Lighthouse Community Land Trust would place private lands into a public trust that would be designated for affordable homes.

I want to present my understanding of the ordinance passed on Monday evening. Bill is right that this can no longer be called, in the strictest definition, an Inclusionary ordinance.

Earlier this month, with virtually no resident input, no publicity, our City Council betrayed affordable housing in Evanston with a kiss.

Remarks before the City Council Planning and Development Committee meeting Monday night:

I want to make it clear this evening that I support the alternative proposals of the Housing Commission regarding the set aside percentage, the fee-in-lieu option, the affordability period and allowing not-for-profits to purchase inclusionary units. However, I also wish to raise other issues about the ordinance, dated 3/22/06 to which I will make reference.