Nearly two years after a fire destroyed a commercial building at Wesley Avenue and Greenleaf Street, the property owner is hoping to have it rebuilt and reopened early next year. Once completed, the building will look slightly different than it did before the blaze in January 2024. The faux mansard roof will be removed, and the old blue wood siding has been taken off to reveal the original brickwork underneath.
Scott Rodgers, who owns the property, originally anticipated the building would be rebuilt within a year. However, the project faced several delays, including a change in contractors. “It’s been a long process,” Rodgers said.
During a recent ward meeting, Alderman Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) shared that the building is currently on track for its tenants to move back in by next February. While Rodgers hopes to reopen the building by then, the timeline could be pushed back to April.
One of the remaining steps is the installation of a fire sprinkler system connected to the water main, which will require a few days of ground excavation. However, Evanston enforces an annual moratorium on openings, holes, or excavations in public streets and improved alleys from November 15 through March 31. To work around this, Rodgers is exploring other options, including applying for a temporary occupancy permit.
When the building reopens, three or four of its previous tenant businesses will be returning. These include Stuart-Rodgers Photography (run by Rodgers himself), Fireheads Clay Studio, and Shaina Young Wellness. Ware Ceramic Studio, which has relocated three blocks west on Florence Avenue, will be replaced by a new hair salon, according to Rodgers.
https://evanstonnow.com/fire-damaged-greenleaf-building-to-reopen/
