Downtown

Report sees hope for Varsity as arts center
May 2 2011 - 10:32am  |  Bill Smith

A preliminary report from a consultant says it may be possible to convert the former Varsity Theatre downtown Evanston into a performing arts space without a major commitment of city funds.

Hotel sign held up in committee
Mar 24 2011 - 10:44am  |  Bill Smith

Evanston's Economic Development Committee Wednesday postponed a vote on plans for a big new sign at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown.

Snow cleanup continues yet another day
Feb 4 2011 - 10:25am  |  Bill Smith

Crews were still at work this morning removing snow from streets and alleys across the city.

Four 13-year-olds nabbed for iPhone robbery
Jan 18 2011 - 6:03pm  |  Bill Smith

Evanston police say four 13-year-olds from Chicago accosted a man near the Davis Street CTA station Saturday evening and stole his iPhone.

New monthly parking discount plan launches
Dec 20 2010 - 1:45pm  |  Bill Smith

The City of Evanston today launched sales of new discounted monthly parking passes at the Maple Avenue garage downtown.

The only catch is that to qualify for the discount patrons have to be willing to brave the elements on the top deck of the structure.

The program offers a monthly parking pass for $50, instead of the normal $85 rate.

The program is designed to encourage more people who work downtown and feed meters now to park their cars in the garage instead.

Downtown: Remember when?
Dec 17 2010 - 7:45am  |  Bill Smith

When Evanston closed out its Downtown II tax increment financing district this year, the area was generating $9 million more annually in property tax revenue than it had 23 years earlier when the district was formed.

Santa visits downtown Saturday
Dec 16 2010 - 3:42pm  |  Bill Smith

Santa will pay a special holiday visit to the Downtown Evanston office at 820 Davis St. on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

He'll be there for kids to share their holiday wish lists with him and to give parents a chance to take pictures of their children with the lively symbol of the holiday.

Adult daycare OK'd for Davis
Dec 16 2010 - 3:27pm  |  Bill Smith

Despite objections from some neighbors, Evanston aldermen voted 8-1 this week to approve plans for an adult daycare center in storefronts at 524-526 Davis St.

Landlord Ted Mavrakis.

Slow going for sales at Grand Bend
Dec 15 2010 - 2:21pm  |  Bill Smith

The glutted condo market is making it slow going for a developer trying to sell remaining units at the Grand Bend at Green Bay condo project in Evanston.

Sexy bar concept draws opposition at liquor board
Dec 10 2010 - 4:14pm  |  Bill Smith

Amid concerns about sexism and traffic congestion, Evanston's Liquor Control Board Friday postponed action on a license request for a proposed Tilted Kilt bar and restaurant in the Fountain Square Building downtown.

Building owner Ted Mavrakis said he would be the franchisee for the bar, adding that he's operated a Giordano's restaurant with a full liquor license in downtown Evanston for 28 years "with not one single violation."

Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, the city's liquor commissioner, told Mavrakis, "Your character is absolutely wonderful, and I appreciate all the business you've done in Evanston."

"But the Tilted Kilt is a different kind of restaurant than what Evanston has had," she added.

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