City of Evanston
Downtown Evanston City Center Plaza

The City of Evanston received federal funds for placemaking revitalization at an existing plaza site in the heart of the Downtown District. While centrally located between businesses, primary transit nodes, and major downtown thoroughfares, the existing plaza funneled pedestrians to their destinations but lacked warmth, identity, and needed reasons for visitors to stay. The site will be highly visible in the neighborhood, as the City of Evanston will be relocating to an office building on the property in 2025. Living Habitats’ role on this project began with stakeholder engagement through identifying primary stakeholders and conducting a series of engagement events, in the form of digital surveys, workshops, site walks, and virtual meetings. It was clear that stakeholders were looking for ways that the plaza could be activated through food vendors, seasonal events, and bold placemaking enhancements. Through the engagement process, a plan was developed that will meet the everyday needs of stakeholders while offering a new space for pop-up and seasonal Downtown Evanston events.

Working with the City of Evanston and the 909 Davis Street ownership team, the City Council Approved Plan will provide visitors and residents of the Downtown District with a newly enhanced urban plaza, equipped with additional planters, fixed and flexible seating, enhanced on site tree health, new gateway and wayfinding signage, additional lighting, and identified surfaces for community art that will complement the site’s existing vibrant artworks. Living Habitats’ plans for the site encompass future phase recommendations, including plaza expansion and traffic calming measures to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety at the site’s northern edge.

 

Location:
Evanston, Illinois

Date:
2024 – Present

Client:
City of Evanston Economic Development Committee

Team:
LIVING HABITATS: Prime Consultant