Land Use Commission Recommends Approval of Church’s Move to Maple Avenue

The Evanston Land Use Commission has recommended approval of the Second Church of Christ Scientist’s plan to relocate to a new location at 1567 Maple Ave. The commission voted 7-1 in favor of the proposal during its May 8 meeting, with the only dissent coming from Commission Chair Matt Rodgers.

The church sold its previous building on Hurd Avenue last year. Church officials stated that declining membership had prompted the decision to move. The new location, they said, would offer a more suitable space for the congregation, featuring a meeting area, a small reading room, and a Sunday school space. The church also expressed interest in allowing local nonprofit groups to use the facility.

The new site would replace the church’s current Central Street reading room, which the congregation had considered expanding. However, parking challenges along Central Street made that option impractical. The Maple Avenue location, they believe, would provide better street parking, and the church requested a waiver of the requirement for four on-site parking spots. The building already has parking spaces, but the cost of acquiring and maintaining them would be burdensome for the congregation, according to Chuck Carrington, the church’s board chair.

Commissioner Kristine Westerberg raised concerns about whether the storefront location would be large enough to accommodate the church’s planned facilities. Jeffrey Clements, the church’s board vice chair, responded that membership numbers have been low, and the smaller space represented a “welcome change from being spread out in a 350-seat auditorium.”

While most commissioners supported the project, they emphasized the need for clear signage and for the space to be actively used during the week. Commissioner George Halik noted that the area on Maple Avenue is “not a primary retail street” and questioned whether it qualifies as a retail district at all.

An audience member raised concerns about the potential impact of the property being removed from local tax rolls once it is purchased by a tax-exempt organization. The discussion highlighted the broader implications of the church’s relocation on the community and local governance.

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