New Northlight Theater would anchor 37-story Evanston high-rise proposal

Last night, Farpoint Development unveiled its plans for a glassy 37-story tower for downtown Evanston, Illinois. Designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the 395-foot building would bring 152 rental apartments, 153 hotel rooms, 258 parking stalls, a restaurant space, and a new home for the Northlight Theatre to the 1700 block of Sherman Avenue.

If approved, the plan would see the suburban theatre company return to downtown Evanston after 20 years in a shared space at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in neighboring Skokie, Illinois. SOM’s design includes a 350-seat main stage as well as a second, 100-seat performance venue, reports Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune.

Google Street View.

While Farpoint’s plan has yet to begin the city’s formal review process, Evanston Now reported that no official follow-up meetings were announced at last night’s presentation. Under Evanston’s zoning code, a planned development of this size would require a two-thirds vote by the City Council to move forward.

As currently proposed, the mixed-use skyscraper would become Evanston’s tallest building—eclipsing a 33-story proposal for 601 Davis Street presented earlier this year by Vermillion Development. Chicago’s immediate neighbor to the north is also entertaining proposals for a new 14-story office building at 1720 Chicago Avenue and a 16-story transit-oriented apartment development at 1450 Sherman Avenue.

• Northlight Theatre unveils plans for a bold return to Evanston [Chicago Tribune]
• Northlight tower would be tallest in town [Evanston Now]
• Previous Evanston coverage [Curbed Chicago]