Co-developers Fifield Cos. and Carroll Properties have broken ground on E2, a 356-unit luxury apartment project in downtown Evanston.
“This will be a landmark development for the North Shore and will provide a new luxury lifestyle that has no peer in this market,” said Randy Fifield, vice chair and principal at Fifield Cos. “Evanston is a unique, dynamic city that caters to a very diverse, well-educated population. E2 will appeal to a large swath of residents and will be a viable option for a multi-generational clientele in different stages of their careers and life.”
The development will consist of two buildings at 1881 Oak Ave. and 1890 Maple Ave. in downtown Evanston. The property at 1881 Oak will be 16 stories and 1890 Maple will consist of 14 stories. The buildings will be connected by a four-story structure that will include three floors of parking and a fourth-floor amenity deck. The majority of the development will be luxury rentals, but the property will also offer 4,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and 12 street-level, three-bedroom townhomes along Emerson Street. The three-story E2 townhomes range in size from 1,600 square feet to 1,750 square feet and have three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and a third-floor outdoor deck.
“New construction townhomes are a unique and underserved product in today’s rental market,” said Steve Fifield, chairman and CEO of Fifield Cos. “There is pent-up demand for rental townhomes of this size, especially in a prime location like Evanston. They are the only new-construction rental townhomes in this area and will be a great option for families in need of a rental.”
Apartment tower units at E2 will range from 500-to-1,300 square feet and offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Amenities in both products will be top-flight in keeping with Fifield’s current luxury apartment developments in downtown Chicago. Units will come equipped with quartz countertops, plank floors, stainless steel appliances, in-unit laundry, oversized windows and high-end lighting and plumbing fixtures. The residences at E2 will also be appealing to the high-tech crowd, as each unit has a built-in Bluetooth audio system and electronic access control.
E2’s amenity deck will be open to residents of both towers and the townhomes and will offer a full-size sports court, state-of-the-art fitness center, lounge area, theater, business center with conference room, coffee bar, and an outdoor pool and spa with cabanas and grills. Biking enthusiasts will feel at home at E2 as well, with the building’s ample bicycle storage area and “bike kitchen,” which offers residents space and supplies for quick repairs.
“No other rental property in Evanston will be able to compete with the amenities that E2 has to offer,” said Randy Fifield. “As our developments in Chicago have proven, people are drawn to buildings that promote and encourage an active lifestyle. In this market, we expect E2 to be an attractive option for everyone from young professionals and empty nestors seeking a more urban lifestyle, to families and students.”
Located on the north side of Evanston’s downtown area, E2 will be within walking distance to dozens of dining, shopping and entertainment options. From May through November, the Evanston Farmer’s Market will be held every Saturday in a property adjacent to the building. Residents will also have immediate access to all of the cultural amenities provided by nearby Northwestern University’s campus.
“People of all ages have been drawn to our rental towers in Chicago, many of them from the North Shore,” said Steve Fifield. “This will be a great opportunity to give North Shore residents what they want, but closer to home—a luxury lifestyle without the commitment of owning a home.”
Public transportation offers residents convenient access to the City of Chicago, as the development is within a two-block walk to the Foster stop on the CTA’s Purple line and three blocks to the Davis Street station that services both Metra trains and the CTA’s Purple line.
FitzGerald Associates Architects has been retained as the principal architect for the project, while Evanston-based Morgante Wilson Architects will be the interiors architect and will design three models for E2.