Eye On Evanston: Thoughts on Design
Read our essays, published in the Evanston RoundTable, that discuss design issues of interest.
Thoughts on Design: Design Evanston reviews Central Street townhome project
December 7, 2025
On Nov. 3, Design Evanston professional members participated in a project review of the proposed 11-unit townhome project at 3233-49 Central St. by Krosha Properties. Following are Design Evanston project review standards (in bold) with comments on the
specific townhome proposal.
Thought on Design: Why Evanston Needs an Urban Design Commission
July 21, 2025
The prospect of what a small group of Design Evanston members and some city officials have been advocating for since 2022 – the creation of a new city commission – an Urban Design Commission (UDC), may be coming to reality after a two year delay since the first draft ordinance was presented.
Thoughts on Design: Evanston’s long history of building greater density
July 6, 2025
Although this story presents the local history of creating needed housing in landlocked Evanston, it is not about affordable housing — a highly charged topic discussed during the Envision Evanston 2045 hearings. But the idea of subdividing large estates does provide additional housing, and greater density, in a city looking for more options.
Thoughts on Design: Evanston’s Double Houses
April 19, 2025
Hidden in Plain Sight: Evanston’s Double Houses, published in 2024, features 42 examples of this unique housing type, scattered across Evanston’s neighborhoods. 22 additional homes are featured in the books’ catalog.
Thoughts on Design: Design Evanston reviews 605 Davis Street Project
April 5, 2025
Design Evanston members participated in a presentation of the proposed 605 Davis St. project by Kerry Dickson and Richard Choi of Vermilion Development, Chris Dillion of Campbell Coyle, and James Michaels of Solomon Cordwell Buenz on Nov. 8, 2024. They shared elevations and renderings for a 31-story, 445-unit residential high-rise with a retail space on the ground floor.
Thoughts on Design: Design Evanston reviews 900 Clark Street Project
March 23, 2025
Professional members of Design Evanston met with the development team: Aaron Galvin with Luxury Living Chicago; Evan Meador and Will Hunter with Continuum Capital; and Joseph Antunovich and Patrick Cusak with Antunovich Associates, Architects on Jan. 28 to review their proposed project at 900 Clark Street for a 27-story, 358-unit residential high-rise with a retail space on the ground floor.
Thoughts on Design: Design Evanston reviews 2206 Maple Ave. apartment building
March 1, 2025
Professional members of Design Evanston met with the developer Paul Harb and architect Gregory Geslicki on January 23 to review the proposed multifamily apartment building at 2206 Maple Ave.
Thoughts on Design: Design Evanston reviews proposed Civic Center Plaza plan
January 5, 2025
On Nov. 6, Design Evanston participated in a Zoom presentation of the Civic Center Plaza proposal by City of Evanston Economic Development Manager Paul Zalmezak, Living Habitats consultant Heidi Natura and other members of her team.
Thoughts on Design: Design Evanston reviews proposal for 910-938 Custer Avenue
October 16, 2024
On Oct. 7, Design Evanston professional members met to evaluate the proposed 910-938 Custer Ave. project, as presented by Max Charles Davidson of CDG Capital, Paul Dincin of Catapult Real Estate Solutions and Andy Ahitow of CityPads.
Eye on Evanston: Archive
October 4, 2024
August 16, 2023
July 30, 2023
Architect Hans Friedman, Design Evanston founding member
June 28, 2023
New Deal Art in Evanston
May 8, 2023
April 11, 2023
March 15, 2023
February 14, 2023
January 24, 2023
January 12, 2023
December 21, 2022
December 6, 2022
November 21, 2022
November 9, 2022
October 26, 2022
October 12, 2022
September 6, 2022
August 8, 2022
June 16, 2022
April 13, 2022
March 18, 2022
February 14, 2022
January 13, 2022
December 15, 2021
November 15, 2021
October 15, 2021
September 24, 2021