More Homes, More Choices, More Evanston

We believe that no matter where we come from or what we look like, we all deserve a place we can afford to call home.

By allowing duplex development again throughout Evanston, we can increase housing options, reduce housing costs, and create more vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods.

Join our movement!
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Why Duplexes?

Duplexes offer numerous benefits to our community:

More Homes to Choose From: More housing options mean more choices for families.

Affordability: Duplexes provide more affordable homes—especially for young families, seniors, and the people who make Evanston a great place to live, like our teachers and small business owners.

Diversity: A mix of home options creates more dynamic neighborhoods with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.

Reduced Carbon Footprint: Duplexes can help reduce our dependency on cars and promote sustainable living.

Evanston’s Historic Duplexes and Double Houses

Duplexes and "double houses" have played a significant role in Evanston’s history. In the Victorian era, double houses offered a way for families to share costs while enjoying living in desirable locations. Today, duplexes continue to offer a unique living option in Evanston, contributing to the diversity of our neighborhoods.

Do you love your Evanston duplex? Contact us to be featured on our site!

What’s Standing in Our Way?
R1 Zoning

A Brief History of R1 Zoning

Duplexes and other kinds of multi-family housing were allowed throughout Evanston from its founding through 1919.
Single-family zoning, like R1 zoning, was introduced in the early 20th century with the goal of creating homogenous neighborhoods.

However, this zoning has had consequences, such as limiting housing supply, increasing home prices, and exacerbating racial segregation.

The Negative Impacts of R1 Zoning in Evanston

Housing Shortages: Restrictive zoning keeps us from building new homes, contributing to housing shortages.

Affordability Crisis: Limited housing supply drives up home prices, making it difficult for many residents to afford to live in Evanston.

Segregation: R1 zoning has been used as an excuse to exclude people from certain neighborhoods because of the color of their skin. Read more about the history of housing segregation in Evanston.

So, What Can We Do About It?

To address these challenges, we need to update our zoning code to allow for more diverse housing options. We urge you to join us in advocating for zoning reform. Attend public meetings, contact your elected officials, and support organizations working to make Evanston a more welcoming and affordable place to live. Together, we can legalize duplexes and create a more equitable and sustainable Evanston.

Zoning Reform in Evanston
The City of Evanston is currently considering zoning code amendments that would allow for more diverse housing options. By supporting these changes, we can create a more inclusive and sustainable community.

Tell Our City Officials to Say YES! To Duplexes
City officials play a crucial role in shaping zoning policy. By advocating for zoning reform, we can encourage our elected officials to prioritize housing affordability and sustainability.

Attend public meetings
The City of Evanston holds public meetings to discuss zoning reform proposals. Attending these meetings and sharing your views is a great way to get involved. The Land Use Commission, made up of volunteer community members, plays a key role in shaping the city's zoning code. You can attend their meetings, which are typically held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Morton Civic Center.

MYTH-BUSTERS

Property Values
Studies have shown that zoning reform can actually increase property values by making neighborhoods more desirable and livable.

Traffic and Parking
Well-designed duplexes minimize traffic and parking headaches.

Neighborhood Character
For over 140 years, duplexes have enhanced Evanston’s neighborhood character by adding diversity and vitality. They’re compatible in size, scale, and style with other forms of homes.

Single-Family Homes
Zoning reform won’t force anyone to sell their home if they don’t want to. Evanston’s building codes, especially in historic zones, limit what changes can be made.

Affordable Housing
Nobody claims that zoning reform will fix our affordable housing crisis by itself—it’s a critical part of the larger solution. Allowing more housing of all types helps moderate home prices overall. By increasing supply, we can help keep prices in check and make Evanston more affordable for everyone. And offering more homes at a variety of price points helps create a more balanced housing market.