Keystone Parke seeks easement to allow public access

The developers of the Keystone Parke office complex in Evanston are seeking an easement that will allow the public to access its private street and public parking garage.

The private street will be built behind the development's first building and will connect Realistic Avenue with Dana Avenue, opposite the I-71 southbound ramp.

Neyer Properties has been working with the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to allow for direct access from southbound I-71 into the development.

FHWA requirements for breaks within their limited access rights of way dictate that there must be an easement established between the two public rights of way, in this case Dana and Realistic avenues.

The new private street will also provide access to the public parking garage located underneath the four-story, 69,000-square-foot office building, which is nearing completion.

Without the easement, it is possible that the tax increment financing bonds that will be issued to fund the garage could be subject to federal income tax.

An ordinance accepting the easements is will appear before the City Planning Commission before consideration in City Council's Finance Committee.

At buildout, Keystone Parke will also include a 10-story, 240,000-square-foot office building with restaurant and/or retail space; a 7-story, 160,000-square-foot office building; a restaurant/retail outlot; a Dana Avenue streetscape; and improvements to Evanston Playfield.

Previous reading on BC:
Keystone Parke seeking zoning change for retail outlot (3/7/08)
Keystone Parke photo update, 2/3/08 (2/4/08)
Keystone Parke tweaked (1/22/08)
AndyHemmer.com: Green building and Keystone Parke (1/2/08)
Keystone Parke photo update (11/6/07)