On Sept. 12, City Council approved next steps for the Harley Clarke Mansion and coach house, located at 2603 Sheridan Road.
The City will own and operate the mansion and its coach house, and the City will allocate a total of $250,000 for immediate improvements at the property, focusing solely on “critical repairs to the property.”
Council also directed the City Manager to use the property in 2017 only for City-sponsored summer recreation activities only, including the programs that use the fog houses. The City will not allocate additional staff for the uses.
In the meantime, the City’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Board and the Lighthouse Landing Complex Committee, working with the City Manager and staff, will develop a plan for the operation of the property beginning in 2018. The plan, which will include identifying community groups and non-profit organizations that may wish to use the property, is to be brought to City Council next July. If Council approves the plan and allocates funds, the property would be regularly open to the public beginning in 2018.
The City will establish a Harley Clarke Mansion account within the Evanston Parks Foundation to receive donations to support the improvements of the property.