Evanston Police Chief Moves Into Home Of Historic Former Mayor

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston's new police chief has moved into the former home of the city's late mayor in the 5th Ward. Chief Demitrous Cook and his wife last month purchased the remodeled 5th Ward home of former Mayor Lorraine Morton, originally built in 1911 at the corner of Simpson Street and Darrow Avenue.

Morton died last September at the age of 99. She was Evanston's longest-serving and first African-American mayor, serving on the City Council for 10 years as 5th Ward alderman before her election as mayor in 1993.

Shortly after her passing, her family sold the home for $240,000, as well as two adjoining vacant lots to its north for another $140,000, to Rita Kats. The land was subsequently resubdivided to allow for a two-family home and another home on the north end of what was formerly Morton's yard, which builder Arkady Kats plans to construct.

The former Morton home was rehabbed with a new deck and stairs, new plumbing, wiring and service, windows, doors, milwork and more, according to its listing.

Records show it was put on the market in February asking for nearly $500,000. The price was reduced twice to $468,000 before an offer was accepted in March. The sale closed May 23 for $448,000.

Announcing the move to applause at a 5th ward meeting on May 8, Cook said he would be "walking the beat" in the neighborhood and hoped to reduce the amount of criminal activity in the area, according to EvanstonNow. Ald. Robin Rue Simmons said she was overjoyed at the news, according to the website, which first reported the sale.

Cook said his wife was unaware of the previous ownership of the house, but after she saw photos of the remodeled home online and fell in love with it, "there was no turning back," he told Pioneer Press.

Former 5th Ward Ald. Delores Holmes described the purchase as a "passing on" of an important space, the Evanston Review reported.

"When he told me he was going to put a bid in on it we were so excited," Holmes told the paper. "Somebody of importance and significance to the black community will be living right there."

The other two homes the Katses propose building on the former Morton property include a single family home with an $798,000 listing price on the north side of the lot and a pair of row houses in the middle of the lot at 2106 and 2108 Darrow for $747,000.

• Address: 2102 Darrow Ave, Evanston
• Built: 1911
• Lot Size: 0.27 acres
• Square Feet: 1,752
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2
• Price: $448,000 on May 23

Listing information originally appeared on realtor.com, where you can find more recently sold homes in Evanston.