6/3/04 - Historic Evanston Architecture Inspires 21st Century Townhomes

 June 3, 2004
Historic Evanston Architecture Inspires 21st Century Townhomes

The Courts of Evanston is a new townhome community by Chicago-based Dubin Residential that is reminiscent of the classic turn-of-the century architecture and human-scale of the residences of north-suburban Evanston, according to Mike Kelahan, director of sales and marketing for the developer.

As the result of extensive research and analysis of the city’s existing structures, Hartshorne + Plunkard Architecture designed this new community to blend into the context of the neighborhood, while offering the modern conveniences new homebuyers expect, he added.

Located at Chicago Avenue and South Boulevard, The Courts of Evanston offers three-story, maintenance-free townhomes with two to four bedrooms, 2 to 3½ baths, family rooms, roof decks and attached two-car garages. Eight floor plans range in size from 2,200 to 4,110 square feet and are base-priced from the $390s to the $730s.

“Homes and buildings in Evanston are renowned for their character and charm, and we wanted this new community to complement the existing structures,” said Jim Plunkard, a principal with Hartshorne + Plunkard Architecture. “Some of the key traits we replicated are brick color, roof lines and the courtyard layout of many of the residential buildings.”

The Courts of Evanston is located on the site of a shuttered supermarket and encompasses an entire city block bounded by Keeney Street to the north, Chicago Avenue to the west and South Boulevard to the south.

“We saw an opportunity to convert an underutilized commercial space into an ideal residential location,” he added. “The community is conveniently near the “L” that goes to downtown Chicago and trendy shops and restaurants. Plus, it’s only a four-block walk to Lake Michigan.”
According to Plunkard, architects conducted a comprehensive study to determine characteristics of Evanston’s buildings to mimic in the design of the new townhomes. The process included numerous visits to Evanston and a careful analysis of photographs taken by the firm of existing homes and structures.

“Hundreds of pictures were hung in a room, and we reviewed them over and over again to pick up on key themes,” said Plunkard. “We studied the way existing buildings create a sense of scale, such as the way the brick is detailed and its color, as well as the horizontal banding details of limestone that tie buildings together.”
The result is a series of five, three-story buildings comprising The Courts of Evanston that are similar in scale to the structures on the surrounding streets of the community.

“We deliberately reflected details of nearby buildings on each of the three sides of the community,” said Plunkard. “According to the street it faces, buildings feature varied brick color, rooflines and doorways. We also included two curved corner homes that are a throwback to the old-fashioned architecture of the area and anchor the community on each side.”

One of the primary ways the new community reflects existing architecture is in the color of the brick, said Plunkard. “Colored mortar was used to match the brick on surrounding homes,” he explained. “Most of the existing structures are brick, not stone or limestone, so we wanted to remain consistent with that key exterior feature.”

Another way The Courts of Evanston mimics its surroundings is in the horizontal banding details on the buildings, said Plunkard. “The banding across four levels of the exteriors of the homes helps to unify the series of buildings. It also breaks up the vertical plane of the structure, making it appear shorter and, hence, more pedestrian in scale. ”
The community’s garages also recall the design of existing Evanston buildings. All garages are hidden from sight, with garage space accessed from the rear of each building.

“Many existing structures in Evanston pre-date the automobile, so we wanted to reflect that detail and ensure that garages are not visible from the street,” said Plunkard.

Buildings were also designed in a stepped pattern, with each home slightly offset from its neighbor, said Plunkard. This breaks up the mass of the structure by allowing for more individuality and separation of the homes visually, he said.

Green space is another important factor in the design of the community. Public courtyards between buildings were inspired by existing residential buildings, said Kelahan. Yard space in front of many of the homes is another way the landscaping reflects existing homes, and is a feature not included in many new townhomes today, he noted.

Dubin Residential is also working with the City of Evanston on its Streetscape Program to improve green space across the city, said Kelahan. “The city is planting trees and installing new sidewalks, and we are working with them so that the landscaping of The Courts of Evanston accents their efforts.”

All townhomes at the community feature first floors with a garage, den and full or half bath; second floors with a living/dining room, kitchen and balcony; third floors with bedrooms and additional baths; and roof levels with laundry rooms and rooftop decks.

In addition, the homes include a high level of standard finishes such as hardwood floors throughout the second level; a fireplace in the living room; and a peninsula island, granite countertops and an appliance package including refrigerator, range, dishwasher, food disposal and built-in microwave in the kitchen.
The Courts of Evanston sales center is located at 517 South Blvd. Sales hours are Saturday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. To reach the sales center from the Edens/Interstate 94 Expressway, exit at Dempster Street and head east. Turn right at Chicago Avenue and left at South Boulevard. For more information, call (847) 328-1888.

Building townhomes in Chicago since the early 1990s, Dubin Residential has earned a reputation for quality and value. The company is currently developing nearly 400 townhomes, condominiums and lofts in the Chicago area, at such properties as Arcadia Place in the West Loop, Kilbourn Court on the Northwest Side and Welbourn Row in Lakeview.

Prices are subject to change.