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January News in the 9th Ward

Happy New Year!

Please mark your calendars for the next 9th Ward Meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, February 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Levy Center. This is a good opportunity to meet the new 9th Ward Problem Solving Team Police Officer Chris Teasley.

A meeting to present the findings of the new Yellow Line Station feasibility study will take place from 7:30 to 9:00 PM on Tuesday, January 24 at the Levy Center. Website: www.evanstonyellowlinestation.org.

Thank you to the 9th ward residents who, in 2011, served on several City of Evanston Boards and Commissions.

Aaron Adams (Arts Council)
Likwan Cheng, Paige Finnegan, Jill Franklin, and Ellen King(Environment Board)
Anjana Hansen, former 9th ward alderman (Housing and Community Development Act Committee)
Clark Chipman and Dori Mendoza (Human Relations Commission)
Pamela Johnson (Ladd Arboretum Committee)
Schona Buranda (Minority/Women/Evanston Business Enterprise Development Committee)
Geoffrey Cochran (Mental Health Board)
Marcella Landis (Utilities Commission)
Andrew Gallimor (Zoning Board of Appeals).

Best regards,

Coleen Burrus
9th Ward Alderman

If you have any questions about upcoming events or issues with the website, please don't hesitate to contact the 9th Ward Intern, Josh Brechner.

Josh

Josh Brechner
9th Ward Intern
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The Evanston 9th Ward Message Board is a great venue to communicate with both the Alderman as well as other residents. Please add your voice!

ETHS Health Center

Alderman Burrus recently toured the Health Center at ETHS which is to be renovated in 2012

Through a partnership with Evanston Township High School (ETHS), NorthShore University HealthSystem and the City of Evanston's Health Department, along with funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services, the ETHS Health Center provides much needed health services to almost two thirds of the entire high school student population. These services include, evaluation and treatment of acute illness, follow-up and management of chronic illness (primarily asthma), and health maintenance visits which include routine and sports physicals, immunizations, contraceptive counseling and prescriptions, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and treatment.

Through its social services network, the Health Center provides case management, referrals to community resources, individual and group counseling, classroom presentations, crisis intervention, and assistance with All Kids (Illinois’ children’s health insurance program) enrollment.

Snow Shoveling for Seniors and Disabled

The City of Evanston is happy to connect the elderly and disabled with volunteers that are willing to assist with snow shoveling. Contact the Levy Center at 847/448-8250 or by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a list of individuals in the community that are willing to assist!

Corrado Cutlery is Back!

After a seven-year hiatus, Corrado Cutlery is reopening! The new store will be at 716 Main Street, just west of the Metra. The store is owned by 9th ward resident Jim Bilger, and will once again offer its selection of knives, scissors, and other goods.

Update on Former Osco Property

Since I became Alderman, I have fielded a number of inquiries as to the status of the former Osco at the intersection of Oakton and Asbury . For the benefit of all, here’s the answer:

When the property was originally developed, it was developed as a standalone Osco Drug. A number of years ago, Osco’s parent company at the time, Albertson’s, made the decision to close all standalone stores. Most of these properties were sold to CVS Pharmacy; CVS was interested in accessing this region’s marketplace and therefore was compelled to take over as many of the standalone Osco locations as possible.

In the case of the property at Oakton and Asbury, the decision was made not to turn the space into a CVS Drugstore, but rather sublease the property to a new tenant. As many of you know, at the time CVS had just invested in a new store at the northeast corner of Howard Street and Asbury Avenue and did not want to add a store that would potentially compete.

The depressed economy and national recession has also taken its toll on the potential release of property. Large users that would need 14,000 sq. ft. are not making expansions in this region. Finally, a further challenge to the re-occupancy of this property is that CVS continues to have a lease at this property through early 2020. Unfortunately, this represent a drawback to potential tenants that are interested in ownership of the property because the current property owner has not had an interest in selling.

Since the closure of the Osco, City staff, Alderman Rainey, my predecessor, Alderman Hansen and I have each worked to fill the store with a use that would benefit not only the surrounding neighborhood but all of Evanston. Several commercial prospects from a Chicago area produce store to a national grocery store chain including Trader Joe’s have looked at the site but at this time the space remains vacant. As the commercial real estate market begins to warm up and more national and regional retailers indicate willingness to expand, it is our goal to bring that wave of expansion to Oakton and Asbury.

If you have additional questions please contact me.

Regards,
Coleen Burrus