Evanston Approves 29-Story Tower at 605 Davis Street

A major development is officially moving forward in Evanston, and it’s set to reshape the city’s skyline.

City Council has approved plans for a 29-story residential tower at 605 Davis Street, which will become Evanston’s tallest building once completed. The project sits in the heart of downtown near Chicago Avenue, replacing a vacant lot and a drive-thru bank just east of Orrington Plaza, the city’s current tallest structure.

A Scaled-Back Design That Still Sets a New Record

The project, led by Vermilion Development and designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB), has undergone multiple revisions before receiving approval.

Earlier versions of the tower proposed a 31-story, 330-foot structure, but after feedback from city officials and residents, the design was reduced to 29 stories and 299 feet.

Even with those changes, the building will still surpass Orrington Plaza’s 277-foot height and exceed Evanston’s long-standing 243-foot height guideline, marking a significant shift in how the city approaches high-rise development.

419 Residential Units With Affordable Housing Included

The tower will bring 419 residential units to downtown Evanston, offering a mix of:

Studio apartments
One-bedroom units
Two-bedroom layouts
Three-bedroom units designed with families in mind

Of those, 84 units will be designated as affordable housing, allowing the project to qualify for a tax incentive that phases in property taxes over a 12-year period.

This inclusion reflects a broader trend across the region, where larger developments are incorporating affordable units as part of city agreements.

Parking Strategy Takes a Different Approach

One of the more notable changes in the revised plan is the reduction in on-site parking.

The building will include 40 parking spaces, significantly less than earlier proposals. Instead, the development will partner with the city to lease 153 additional spaces in nearby public garages.

According to the development team, this approach not only reduces the building’s footprint but also helps the city better utilize existing infrastructure.

The arrangement is expected to generate approximately $211,000 in annual revenue for Evanston, while increasing usage of parking garages that currently operate below capacity.

Amenities and Design Features

Residents will have access to a range of amenities, including:

Fitness center
Resident lounges
Outdoor spaces and a dog run
Shared gathering areas

Architecturally, the building will follow a familiar pattern seen in many newer developments, featuring a brick-clad podium base with outdoor terrace space, topped by a glass and metal tower that adds a more modern profile to the skyline.

What Happens Next

With City Council approval secured, early site work is already beginning. The development team is targeting early 2028 for completion, though timelines may continue to evolve as construction progresses.

The project has not moved forward without debate. Earlier resistance, including a rejection by the city’s Land Use Commission, led to the revised design seen today.

That process reflects the balance many suburbs are trying to strike, adding housing and density while responding to community concerns around scale and infrastructure.

A Different Direction for Downtown Evanston

What stands out here isn’t just the height, it’s what it signals.

Evanston has historically been cautious with high-rise development, especially projects that push beyond existing height limits. Approving a tower like this suggests a shift toward accommodating more density in key downtown locations.

At the same time, the revisions show how much community input shaped the outcome. The building is smaller than originally proposed, parking has been rethought, and the project leans more heavily on existing city resources.

It’s not the original version, but it’s the one that made it through.

And once completed, it will redefine what the Evanston skyline looks like going forward.

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