When Evanston selected Celadon to negotiate a Harley Clarke lease, residents were presented with a $29.3 million rehabilitation plan. The same proposal contained a developed $74.85 million alternative pairing the mansion with the Civic Center—an option absent from the public copy and later described more narrowly.

The redactions concealed more than financial details. Part Three examines what was actually behind the black boxes — including Celadon’s alternative development plans for the Civic Center, the projected public financing involved, and other material the public could not see when the Harley Clarke proposal was under consideration.

A forensic comparison of Celadon’s 259-page Harley Clarke submission shows that the public record was materially incomplete — including three additional City-only redactions that concealed references to the Evanston Civic Center. Part Two examines what was withheld, the City’s explanations for those redactions, and the still-unresolved question of who inside City government actually saw the full proposal.

Celadon’s May 2024 proposal for Harley Clarke contained far more than the $29.3 million hotel-and-event redevelopment later presented publicly. The full submission also included a separately developed 110-unit low-income housing plan combining Harley Clarke with Evanston’s Civic Center at 2100 Ridge Avenue.

FOIA records and City statements show repeal advocates helped shape Evanston’s panhandling repeal, its legislative findings and the public case for eliminating the ordinance.

Newly obtained public records show Celadon was seeking City assistance to position an adaptive-reuse project at Evanston’s former Civic Center for tax-credit financing weeks before its proposal appeared in the public Putting Assets to Work process—raising new questions about what was happening behind the scenes while residents were being asked for ideas.

A written estimate from Redmond Construction supports treating renovation of Evanston’s former Civic Center as a serious option. The firm estimated a partial modernization at $20–25 million and found that most or all City operations could fit within roughly three-quarters of the building.

EAC’s vision for a restored Civic Center, modern public-safety facilities, protected green space—and a serious public-use alternative before 2100 Ridge is directed toward private redevelopment.

After strong public opposition from residents, municipalities, civic organizations, and local officials across Illinois, SB 640, SB 643, and SB 635 did not pass before the end of the General Assembly’s spring session. Evanston Action Coalition welcomes this outcome, but urges continued vigilance as statewide zoning preemption proposals may return.

Evanston Action Coalition filed an opponent witness slip and written statement opposing SB 635, a statewide faith-based land development bill that would limit local zoning authority, reduce public review, and preempt municipal decision-making.

Evanston Action Coalition supported important amendments to Housing4All but opposed final adoption because the plan still points toward broad zoning changes, expanded by-right development intensity, and land-use deregulation without sufficient baseline analysis, preservation review, or public accountability. The adopted guardrails matter, and the zoning debate is not over.

Evanston Action Coalition has filed formal opposition to Illinois’ BUILD housing package, urging lawmakers to preserve local control over zoning and land-use decisions.

A letter to the editor by Evanston resident John Storey Williamson, published in the Evanston RoundTable on Feb. 21, 2026, addressing the relationship between federal PRO Housing grant certifications and the sequencing of local zoning deliberations.

The Evanston Action Coalition condemns the contentious adoption of Envision Evanston 2045, calling for immediate disclosure of all commitments made by the City of Evanston to secure federal housing grant funding.

A comprehensive, source-documented timeline prepared by Evanston residents tracing how Envision Evanston 2045 evolved from a traditional comprehensive planning effort into a grant-aligned implementation process shaped by federal funding requirements, procurement decisions, and administrative sequencing.

An independent analysis by Evanston resident Paul Breslin examining housing policy, demographics, and local planning issues. Includes links to his full paper and City Council presentation.

The Evanston Action Coalition (EAC) urges the City Council to reject the proposed 605 Davis Street development. Our full statement details why this project threatens Evanston’s fiscal health, zoning integrity, and neighborhood livability.

Evanston Action Coalition is now a registered nonprofit! Help shape what’s next—get involved, donate, or stay informed.

A new voice for Evanston residents. Join us in advocating for transparency, accountability, and community-driven leadership.