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Evanston faces almost approaching deadline for 5th ward school

The Evanston City Council received an update on Jan. 9 regarding District 65’s potential kindergarten through eighth grade school to be located in the Fifth Ward near Family Focus and the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center.

The council was reminded of the almost-approaching deadline to help the district decide which building proposal, at the northwest corner of Ashland Avenue and Foster Street, should be used. Evanston’s City Planning and Engineering Bureau Chief Lara Biggs said the initial Jan. 1 deadline was extended for the Jan. 9 update.

Several factors like parking and what to do with the current Fleetwood-Jourdain facility are delaying the decision, Councilmember Bobby Burns said. Other City Council members, like Councilmember Claire Kelly, cite uncertain financial obligations as another contributing factor to the pressing deadline.

“We don’t have time,” Burns said. “We have to make decisions about where the building (will be) but we also need to settle parking. This is an area already stressed with parking congestion and we will not move forward without necessary parking.”

Four primary design options were surveyed by 342 Evanston residents. The survey showed most residents prefer site plan option one, which would keep Fleetwood-Jourdain at its current location with minimal cost for the City of Evanston.

Survey participants showed option three, that would demolish Fleetwood-Jourdain and rebuild it at its current location, as the second choice. This would require the community center to relocate for more than 18 months, according to a report by Biggs.

The option 3 plan for the 5th Ward school in Evanston would demolish the existing Fleetwood-Jourdain Center and rebuild it in the same space while it relocates for 18 months.  - Original Credit: Handout

88 of the 342 survey participants reported they are Fifth Ward residents. These residents prefer option four over option one — their second choice — by 12.5%. Option four would rebuild Fleetwood-Jourdain at the Emerson Park area and require additional City of Evanston land acquisition, according to Biggs. There are two variations of this plan with the play field and school sites adjusted slightly.

The option 4 plan for the 5th Ward school in Evanston is a more expensive option as it requires demolition of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center and land acquisition.  - Original Credit: Handout

The option 4a plan for the 5th Ward school in Evanston is a more expensive option as it requires demolition of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center and land acquisition.  It is slightly different than the option 4 plan with the play field and school sites adjusted.  - Original Credit: Handout

Option four is more costly than the overall preferred option one because it includes the cost of a new Fleetwood-Jourdain building, demolishing the new building and acquiring additional property.

Proposed options two and three would also require demolishing Fleetwood-Jourdain but wouldn’t require additional property acquisition.

The option 2 plan for the 5th Ward school in Evanston would include demolition and rebuilding of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center and its relocation for 18 months.  - Original Credit: Handout

Biggs’ next steps include hiring a consultant to specifically look for the city’s best interests. She told City Council that sharing a consultant with the school has been “instrumental,” it would be beneficial to have a consultant independent from the school district to explore the city’s best interests.

Biggs said she will try to amend the existing memorandum of understanding with District 65 to get a new timeline established that will allow the district to move forward while also giving the city time to figure out what to do with Fleetwood-Jourdain.

“They need certain information, including where to build the building,” Biggs said. “We received some feedback that we can provide them (with) some very general terms and make that decision. But, what happens to Fleetwood-Jourdain (and) what that building (will) include in it, that is still open for debate.”

Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.

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