North Cook News

Bobby Burns, an alderman for the city of Evanston, has been working to ensure the city's purchase of land in the Fifth Ward.

There was a motion in the City Council meeting to approve a plan that pertains to the city purchasing a plot of land, on Jackson Avenue and Emerson Street, for $1,675,000. 

"And so over the last several weeks, I have worked with the property owner to negotiate a deal that gets the city site control of these parcels so that we can make sure that the affordability that was there is preserved and that we also have an opportunity to expand it," Burns said on June 27. 

The city intends to buy seven parcels of land to turn them into affordable housing. In the past, the land there had naturally occurring affordable housing, but at some point, all the leases were never continued or signed, whether by force or by choice of the residents. The city is now looking to purchase the land instead of allowing a developer to do so. 

There were multiple residents that came out to the City Council meeting to let out their views pertaining to this purchase and development. Some were strongly against it, saying that more Black neighborhoods were being forced out of their homes and moved around. Others were in great support of it, as they felt a serious need for affordable housing amidst rising costs and a housing crisis.