Construction Up, New Businesses Openings and Jobs Down in Evanston

How was the first quarter of 2013 for the City of Evanston? According to the city’s economic development report, the city issued permits for $10.7 million in new construction projects compared with $5.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. 

The new $6.3 million Walgreens drug store at 635 Chicago Ave. tops the city’s biggest commercial projects by value, followed by Trader Joe’s, 1211 Chicago Ave., at $2.3 million and Starbucks, 1734 Sherman Ave., at $363,000. 

During the fourth quarter the top three commercial projects by value were:

• Alden Estates, 2520 Gross Point Rd., at $1.2 million
• Evanston Hospital, 2650 Ridge Ave., at $982,000
• NorthShore University Health System, 1301 Central St., at $711,000 

New business openings were also down during the first quarter of 2013 with the city reporting 11 new businesses opened compared to 19 in the fourth quarter of 2012. 

See a map of where new businesses opened in Evanston. 

The city saw a slower pace of new job creation during the first quarter of 2013 with employers telling city officials of plans to add 57 full-time jobs, down 50 percent from the 113 full-time jobs employers announced in the fourth quarter of 2012. 

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