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The Evanston City Council Monday night unanimously rejected a proposed Green Building Ordinance that would have required from building owners a $50,000 deposit and LEED silver certification for any interior or exterior renovation of a commercial or multi-family building with more than 10,000 square feet.

Under the plan, building owners would have been required  to submit a $50,000 deposit to ensure they receive the LEED Silver certification for each renovation project.  If the certification could not be obtained, owners would risk losing the deposit, which would  be directed to a Sustainable Evanston Fund.

The proposed Green Building Ordinance was strongly opposed by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and the North Shore Board of Realtors.  In a written statement after the Council vote,  Jonathan Perman, executive director of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce,  said the proposed ordinance “took a punitive approach” that sent a message: “We don’t trust you.”

“The ordinance, as written, would have placed an enormous burden upon the business and commercial building owners of Evanston and would have taken the city down a dangerous path of enforcement by security deposit,” Perman wrote.

The proposed Green Building Ordinance was passed by the Evanson Environment Board and supported by the Citizens for a Greener Evanston (CGE).

 
Closed Properties
8947 Lacrosse #2S – Skokie – $109,000 (foreclosure)
1027 Windsor – Highland Park – $185,000
7601 Lincoln #207 – Skokie – $189,500
831 Forest #1W – Evanston – $200,000
1250 McDaniels – Highland Park – $235,000 (short sale)
8548 Springfield – Skokie – $245,000
1660 First #104 – Highland Park – $275,000
724 12th #304 – Wilmette – $275,000
3951 Lee – Skokie – $345,000
1406 Ashland – Evanston – $502,000
28525 Oakhaven – Lake Bluff – $545,000
996 Beverly – Lake Forest – $665,000
1086 Spruce – Winnetka – $962,500
81 Locust – Winnetka – $4,950,000

Contract Pending (LP=List Price)
2012 Brown – Evanston – $129,900 LP
360 Ridge #7-2 – Evanston – $146,900 LP
823 Forest #1E – Evanston – $219,000 LP
9655 Woods #610 – Skokie – $375,000 LP
752 Beverly – Lake Forest – $489,900 LP
642 Prairie #642 – Wilmette – $550,000 LP
872 Edgewood – Highland Park – $649,000 LP
1126 Judson – Evanston – $700,000 LP
780 Green Bay – Lake Forest – 729,000 LP
462 Chestnut – Winnetka – $950,000 LP
1050 Forest – Wilmette – $1,829,000 LP
875 Gordon Terrace – Winnetka – $2,095,000 LP
1149 Laurel – Winnetka – $2,495,000 LP

Based on information  from Midwest Real Estate Data for the period June 21, 2009 through June 24, 2009. Listing and solds by various participants of MRED.

For more real estate information, please call me at 847-512-2724 or email me at TPareti@rubloff.com