Jennifer Johnson

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Jennifer Johnson

The Evanston City Council last week took a historic step as it adopted an ordinance, the first such ordinance in Illinois, aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions created by large buildings. Aldermen on March 10 voted 7-1 to pass the Healthy Buildings Ordinance, or HBO. The ordinance calls for buildings over 20,000 square feet —and municipal buildings over 10,000 square feet — to be powered by renewable electricity and create zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Jennifer Johnson

Two Northbrook elementary school districts are seeking funds from taxpayers, and voters will have a chance to say yes or no  in the April 1 Cook County Consolidated Elections. Northbrook School Districts 27 and 28 each have a referendum on the ballot that, if approved, will increase property taxes for the purpose of funding millions of dollars in school infrastructure improvements.

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Jennifer Johnson

Repairing Evanston’s battered beaches and protecting them from further deterioration in future years could cost an estimated $28.7 million, elected officials were told last week. The Evanston City Council on Feb. 24 heard a final report from Smith Group, the design and engineering firm contacted by the city to explore long-term shoreline stabilization options following record-high lake levels, erosion and storm damage in 2020.

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Jennifer Johnson

Action was again postponed on an Evanston City Council measure that, if adopted, would require certain Evanston buildings to convert from natural gas to renewable electricity over the next 25 years. The Evanston City Council on Feb. 24 voted 7-1 to table action on the Healthy Buildings Ordinance until its next meeting on March 10 so aldermen could finalize the language in a series of newly proposed amendments and review them. Twelve previous amendments were approved during a Feb.

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Jennifer Johnson

A proposed development of single-family homes on the site of the former Scott Foresman textbook publishing headquarters in Glenview has received approval from village elected officials. The Glenview Board of Trustees on Feb. 18 voted 5-1 in favor of the plan, which calls for the construction of 60 homes in four different model styles on the 19-acre property at 1900 East Lake Avenue. The board agreed to waive a required second vote on the proposal, which would have taken place March 4.