County Board president latest to tour Evanston

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Brinshore CEO David Brint (foreground, holding sign) points out to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle the future site of Emerson Square, a mixed-income development planned for once industrial property, during a walking tour of the area Jan. 26.

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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:09AM

Another day, another walking tour in Evanston.

Last week, officials led the head of the National Endowment for the Arts on a tour of downtown.

Officials wanted him to see how they planned to use a $50,000 grant from the agency for an architectural study and financial plan, aiming to create a performing arts center downtown.

Thursday, it was Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s turn.

She was taken on a tour of some neighborhoods on the city’s west side to see results of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program work on once-distressed properties.

Officials see a possible role for the county becoming involved in the next component of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program — the development of Emerson Square, mixed-income housing to go on a former industrial site in the Emerson Street and Foster Avenue area.

“We’re always looking for help,” said Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, a little more delicately.

Tisdahl’s lobbying and Democratic ties helped the city land the original $18.1 million grant.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-9th, more involved the grant, had previously taken tours of the NSP2 property areas with officials.

On this tour, Preckwinkle and Tisdahl were joined by Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, D-13th; Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward; and Alderman Delores Holmes, 5th Ward. Much of the federal funds went to fix up properties in those wards.

At 1836 Brown Ave., Preckwinkle was impressed as Todd Lieberman, vice president of Brinshore, the developer on the federal project, showed what was done to transform the home, which was formerly vacant and in foreclosure.

Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, energy efficient furnace, new water heater — “virtually a new construction project,” said Lieberman, showing off the unit.

Pleased by closets

Preckwinkle performed a quality control check of her own, scoping out one of the unit’s closets.

“I like closets,” she said, satisfied.

To date, about 79 foreclosed housing units have been acquired or are under control under the NSP2 program, officials said. Of that total, two have been sold and two rented. An additional 15 rehabbed units are, or will be, on the market for sale or rent by the end of the month, they said.

At the Brown property, Brinshore already has a couple of prospective tenants, Lieberman told Preckwinkle.

In the Emerson Square project, Brinshore already has secured scarce Illinois Housing Development Authority funds worth $9.4 million to leverage against the city of Evanston’s investment.

County support, either financially or helping identify possible candidates for the housing, may be sought in the next phase, officials indicated.

Preckwinkle didn’t commit either way during her Evanston visit, but as a former alderman herself, in Chicago, she said she understands the importance of fixing up distressed properties on a block.

In such cases, leave them alone and “they can be a catalyst for decline,” she said, or “you can transform them as these buildings have been. I’m grateful everyone has worked so hard on this.”

Suffredin indicated the tour was more than academic. With Preckwinkle and a new administration in place, the county is looking at housing needs and other areas “and trying to figure out how we can be more dynamic.”