Northwestern has requested massive zoning alterations that would allow them to operate a for-profit open-air concert venue and football stadium, larger than the United Center, in the middle of a residential district. Not surprisingly, Evanston and Wilmette residents have mounted huge, organized opposition to the proposal. Opponents are not objecting to the reconstruction of the football stadium, but rather to the creation of a for-profit, mega concert venue and all the noise, pollution and disruption that would accompany its operation – factors that are protected by the current building code.
Northwestern does not need a zoning amendment to rebuild Ryan Field into a state-of-the-art TV camera-ready football stadium. They only need the zoning amendments to create a for-profit mega concert venue on tax free property. If Northwestern drops their zoning amendment requests, much, if not all, of this adversarial strife would disappear.
But Northwestern has other plans. As justification for their proposed creation of an untaxed profitable concert venue, Northwestern offers the following benefits that would evidently accrue to the community. The fallacy in their argument is that these benefits could be accomplished without a change to the zoning ordinance.
1. NU promises the creation of a facility that will host community-oriented events such as winter festivals, holiday celebrations, family movie nights, and youth sports events, as well as additional student and community programming. All these events and more could be held at the existing or reconstructed facility. NU could have held these events throughout the history of Dyche Stadium/Ryan Field. If NU chooses to rebuild Ryan Field, they would not need a zoning ordinance change to hold these events. They only want a zoning change to hold for-profit mega concerts.
2. NU proposes the creation of a sustainable facility. NU would not need zoning amendments to include all the proposed sustainable improvements cited in their submitted documentation including ADA accessibility, a bicycle valet, electric vehicle charging stations, drip irrigation and engineered lighting.
3. NU is offering a one-time $10 million contribution to a workforce technology upskilling program. It is unclear if this offer is contingent on changing the zoning ordinances or not. What is clear is that Northwestern does not need a zoning ordinance change to contribute to a workforce technology upskilling program. Evanston currently runs a very successful work force development program that is creating jobs and training Evanston residents to fill them. This program has corporate sponsorships such as Whole Foods, S&C Electric and Curt’s Café. I am sure they would welcome Northwestern as a new sponsor. If, as it appears, this offer is a poorly camouflaged bribe to the City Council, this offer reflects poorly on Northwestern, its administration and the Ryans. It demonstrates that NU feels they can simply buy a change in the Evanston zoning ordinance. Zoning ordinances must not be for sale to the highest bidder.
4. Northwestern promises the creation of jobs for Evanston residents with the creation of a mega concert venue. Their proposal estimates that over 2,924 jobs will be created in the city during the planning, design and construction of the project. While it is doubtful that this many planners, designers and construction workers live in Evanston and are available to work on this project, it is clear that these same jobs could be created if the stadium was rebuilt to the existing code.
5. Northwestern promises contributions to the City of Evanston if they are allowed to change the zoning ordinance. There is nothing in the zoning ordinance that prevents Northwestern from making monetary contributions to the City of Evanston. It is time for NU to acknowledge the contributions the City of Evanston has made toward the long-term success of Northwestern by providing it a safe, secure and inviting community in which to operate their institution of higher learning. Northwestern should enter a memorandum of understanding with the City of Evanston in which Northwestern agrees to pay their fair share toward the benefit of the community that helps sustain them. To borrow a phrase from Michael Schill in his last open letter to the citizens of Evanston:
“I firmly believe that this action alone will help Northwestern create an opportunity to build toward a positive and exciting future where Northwestern does what it does best – bring people together and positively impact communities.”
David Cook
Letter to the editor: Rebuild Ryan Field to code
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How many more of such clear, concise, and cogent letters and arguments against a rezoned NWU concert venue are needed to convince the pom-pom blinded cheerleaders of this profit-driven boondoggle to just rebuild Ryan Field under its current zoning while still being perfectly able to offer Evanston the proposed benefits instead of desperate bribes?
Maybe Northwestern University should resolve the stadium issue after it addresses the sexual assault scandal. Real people were injured. Many were students of color. I would respect them if they fixed that.
I agree with Cook. NU proposing special events/festivals (could this also mean huge high school graduations from all over Cook County?) to help cover the $400 million+ shortfall is a red flag. I believe these types of events will be more problematic for the neighborhood than 6 concerts. In order to move forward, there needs to be a way to prevent these events from being allowed.
This really is the bottom line: there is no need for the zoning amendments for NU to rebuild the stadium.
Well written David. Thank you. NU only wants what’s good for them. If the cared about the City, all these years, they would have been actively participating and working with the City. Build a new stadium. No concerts.
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve long tended to be generally opposed to proposals which require a change in the zoning ordinance. The entity which has such a project in mind should modify the project to conform to current zoning, or find a location whose zoning is compatible with the project.
Bravo, Mr. Cook.
Indeed, zoning ordinances should not be for sale.
YES! This !
YES!
Well said!
Divide and conquer seems to be the NU plan, and some elected and City officials seem to have swallowed the bait.
Mary Anne Wexler
Oh, wow. Excellent letter, David—you’ve said everything I tried to say in a similar letter!!!! Thank you so much. So true: if NU was really interested in providing all these benefits to our community, it could have been doing so all along. I can’t be the only one who resents that they’re dangling bribes to get what they want. SO arrogant! It’s not Evanston that needs to change its zoning codes, but NU that needs to change its approach. Hope the Land Use Commission reads this—you should make sure they get a copy!!
Thanks for this David. Clarifies the situation considerably. From the first “push poll” phone call I got from NU last year, it’s been clear that this is an operation, not an honest attempt to improve the community.
Yes! This is right. 100% agree. Thank you.