Chicago Suburb Evanston Could Ditch Single-Family Zoning

Opportunities for small multifamily developers could be opening in Evanston.

Officials are considering a bold proposal to eliminate single-family only zoning in an effort to boost local housing options.

The initiative, part of a citywide zoning rewrite, would position the North Shore suburb among the first municipalities in the Chicago region to take such transformative action, Crain’s reported.

Under the plan, led by Chicago consultancy HDR, single-family lots could be redeveloped into buildings with up to four units, adhering to existing size and height restrictions.

Evanston has a history of progressive housing policies. The city has implemented measures like allowing accessory dwelling units, establishing affordable housing initiatives and introducing the nation’s first reparations program to address historical housing inequities. The city recently began mulling plans to eliminate minimum parking requirements for developments.

However, similar to the minimum parking proposal, this latest consideration has also been met with resistance. Opponents argue the change could impact the town’s public safety and beauty.

Allowing existing homes to be demolished and sent to a landfill runs counter to the city’s goal of increased sustainability, said Brian Johnson, a member of the land use commission.

But there are economic benefits, as single-family zoning “sets a really high floor on housing prices,” said Daniel Kay Hertz, housing director for Impact for Equity. This sentiment was shared by Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, who praised the initiative for tackling exclusionary zoning practices.

“Density is a powerful tool for growth,” Buckner told the outlet. “By allowing for a wider variety of housing options, we can attract new families, retain current residents and support the economic and cultural vitality that makes our communities strong.”

—Andrew Terrell