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Class B office space
Bill:
I had a thought about the apparent shortage of Class B office space. Isn't the lower level of the Civic empty. What about having the City putting that space on the market for $25 a foot. I think that could amount to about $500,000 per year plus an appropriate share of the common area maintenance.
You Thoughts,
Ron
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One of the things that has been lost in the hurry-up development in Evanston is space for non-profits and the arts community. If, and I realize that this is a big if, the Civic Center could be brought up to code, and the building designated 501(C)3 (with the municipality retaining ownership if that is possible) it would be a write-off for the City of Evanston. In addition space could be leased to folks tin the arts if they submit short and long term business plans and have leases. Just a thought.
On another note: personally I am not opposed the the tower proposed for downtown Evanston although I am concerned about off street parking. The reduced height proposed makes the visual impact more desirable.
Evanston has already changed from the familiar, comfortable little place it used to be. It is now a mini-Chicago with an accessible lakefront and still easy transportation to downtown. Lots of good reasons to stay here including access to all of the literary and music events on the North Shore.
Ron - it would be a good idea - to rent the space but in the past the city appeared to be renting a small amount of space to special groups not on the market for everyone. I would suspect the rent was low.
It has been my view -that the city should down size to 50,000 square feet of the building.(thus 50,000 sqft would be available) If you see the offices many employees have very large spaces, far more than they would have if they worked in the private sector.
The basement space is not very good - but a entire wing would be far more rentable. The problem I see the city is a "slum lord" that is the building is not maintained. What tenant would want to rent in a building that has a roof leaking?
The west door to the entrance has been broken for months - and there are large amonts of paint pealing in the lobby as you enter. The city would no doubt be sued and have trouble renting the spaces. As an example the Maple ave garage has rentable space not rented for seven years. The city never finished the work.
Ofcourse our alderperson's would get it rented at a discount to special interests -
which they liked and we taxpayers would susidize it! At one point the township was using the space but moved out . I am sure there is a interesting story behind that.
It would take a city council which wants real change to get the space rented and some leadership.
I notice that many of the upper levels of the buildings on Sherman Ave are rented out - apparently to students or other young people - like above Einstein's, above Cosi etc. There is even a garage above Unicorn. If there really is a 'shortage' of Class B office space, it seems that the owners of these buildings would seize the opportunity, and convert their apartments to office space. I am not sure this shortage exists.
Junad - I hear you say repeatedly that the aldermen are doing favors for the 'special interests'. I would like to know specifically, which aldermen are selling out to which special interests.
I live in the 1st Ward. Can you tell me if Cheryl Wollin is up to no good? Has she been doing favors for anyone? Is she a crook? For whom has she done favors, and what's in it for her? { No vague answers about 'waste' ...I want specifics}
And I want to know about my neighbors in Mr. Jean-Baptiste's ward. What is he up to? Is he part of the nefarious condo-loving , special-interest coddling, tower-building , tree-hating, icy-road and pothole gang?
And please, please, please tell me who these special interests are. I want names! OK, the developers of the proposed tower...but who else? Who is profiting from that empty city-owned garage storefront? Who is profiting from elms not being vaccinated?
I would like these special interests to be named - so that I can recognize their evil schemes.
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