Construction crews showed up Thursday, July 30, at three Northwestern University-owned homes that have sat vacant for years, marking the university's first visible response to city fines and weeks of public pressure from neighbors and their alderperson.

A dumpster and portable toilet appeared in the backyard of 629 Haven St. A boom lift sat in the driveway of 624 Noyes St. Another boom lift and plywood were visible in front of 618 Colfax St., where a sign on the back door labeled it a construction area, the Evanston RoundTable reported.

Northwestern spokesperson Hilary Hurd Anyaso confirmed the work in an email but did not address the city's citations, saying only that the university is repairing some houses in its inventory.

The activity came the same day an administrative hearing on seven vacancy citations against Northwestern was originally scheduled. That hearing has been pushed to Thursday, Sept. 3, after Northwestern general counsel Matthew Kopp filed a motion requesting a delay until on or after Monday, Aug. 31. Kopp cited the number of citations being addressed and a desire to hold hearings after the next NU-City Committee meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

In his motion, Kopp listed "certain remedial actions" the university is taking: registering the properties as vacant, replacing and boarding up windows, repairing minor exterior issues, and investigating approaches for roof, foundation, and tuckpointing work.

Fines triggered the response

The city cited Northwestern on Thursday, July 9, for failing to register seven off-campus properties as vacant. Records showed none of the buildings had used any water since 2020. Each citation carries fines of at least $250 per day. As we reported July 19, the city's Vacant Building Ordinance allows penalties of up to $1,000 per day per property.

Days later, 1st Ward Ald. Clare Kelly and residents publicly called out what they described as a "double standard," arguing Northwestern was not being held to the same requirements as other Evanston property owners.

Kelly told the RoundTable she was glad to see repairs but pointed to the long road that led here.

"It's unfortunate it took so much time (years) and effort by myself and neighbors to get NU to maintain its properties in the heart of residential neighborhoods," Kelly wrote. "Going forward I'm hopeful the City will hold NU to the same standards to which it holds all Evanston residents."

Residents push for interior inspections

Tom Lubin, a neighbor of one of the vacant homes who has led residents' organizing on the issue, noted that the city's vacancy ordinance also requires interior code compliance inspections of each registered property. No such inspections have been scheduled for the recently registered homes, according to Lubin.

No building permits for the three properties under repair were visible in the city's online portal as of Thursday. City staff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The next NU-City Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25. The rescheduled administrative hearing follows on Thursday, Sept. 3.