Evanston land use fee to weigh in on Ryan Discipline revamp plans; Northwestern soccer hazing scandal casts shadow over debate

EVANSTON, Ailing. (WLS) — After two delays, the Evanston land use fee will weigh in Wednesday night time on plans by Northwestern College to revamp Ryan Discipline.

The listening to is anticipated to be lengthy and contentious. The varsity is proposing internet hosting further summer season concert events on the stadium, a problem that has divided residents and the Evanston Metropolis Council.

For many of the 12 months, Ryan Discipline sits empty.

“Seven days out of the whole 12 months is when the Ryan Stadium is used at full capability,” stated Dave Davis, Northwestern College.

Davis stated the college is proposing to rebuild and rezone the stadium for industrial use, permitting it to host as much as six concert events a 12 months on the venue.

“We predict that is a modest ask for a venture that may herald as much as $1 billion in financial affect over 10 years,” he stated.

The varsity stated it is participated in additional than 100 public conferences for the reason that venue change was proposed two years in the past. However there was sturdy pushback from some group teams, who say including concert events would negatively their neighborhoods.

“Their issues have largely gone unanswered, whether or not the potential environmental affect that the stadium and subsequent industrial zoning would have on their houses,” stated Sebastian Nalls, Neighborhood Alliance for Higher Authorities.

Nalls stated his group desires Northwestern to conform to a group advantages settlement.

“We’re on the level the place we need to see commitments to reasonably priced housing,” he stated.

Some Northwestern school additionally voiced issues over plans for the brand new stadium, saying they need to be paused whereas former U.S. Lawyer Normal Loretta Lynch conducts her investigation into the hazing allegations that rocked the college’s athletics division.

“We predict we must always separate the 2, the hazing incident from the way forward for the Ryan Discipline stadium, and once more our full consideration is. On the desire being well being and security of our college students,” Davis stated.

The land use fee is an advisory unit; the ultimate choice on stadium plans comes from metropolis council. Public remark is anticipated to be prolonged, with one other potential listening to scheduled sooner or later.