Envision Evanston 2045: A Documented Timeline of Process, Grants, and Governance

Evanston residents John Storey Williamson and Korey R. Neibarger, with contributions from Paul Breslin and Mary Rosinski, have prepared a detailed, source-documented timeline examining the evolution of the Envision Evanston 2045 process.

The timeline draws exclusively from contemporaneous public records, FOIA-released emails, City Council and commission minutes, procurement documents, HUD grant applications, and published reporting. It documents how key decisions related to consultant selection, zoning scope, and federal grant commitments unfolded over time — often before the public and advisory bodies were fully aware of their implications.

Rather than focusing on policy outcomes alone, the timeline emphasizes process, sequencing, and governance, highlighting how federal PRO Housing grant requirements, staff-driven timelines, and recurring coordination with a narrow set of housing advocacy organizations shaped the planning pathway.

The document is intended to support informed public discussion, civic accountability, and careful review as the City approaches a final decision on Envision Evanston 2045.

• Envision Evanston 2045 Timeline (PDF)
A comprehensive chronological record with sources and interpretive themes

• Envision Evanston 2045 Graphic Timeline (PDF)
A visual accompaniment illustrating parallel processes

This timeline reflects the authors’ independent analysis based on publicly available and FOIA-released records. Evanston Action Coalition is sharing it as a resource for residents seeking deeper background information on the Envision Evanston 2045 process.