The rezoning and planned development project for the Evans Scholar Rooming House is one step closer to coming into fruition.

The organization’s proposal is to raze the current house at 901 Greenbrier Road, and the residents of the Evans Scholar Rooming House will live in the Theta Kappa Epsilon house, 907 Greenbrier Road, until the new house is complete according to Northern Star archives. After the new rooming house is complete, the TKE house will be knocked down to make a new parking lot.

“Such private development is needed in this area,” said City Manager Mark Bernacki.

Jim Moore, senior vice president for the Evans Scholar Rooming house, briefed the council on the group.

“This is not a fraternity, sorority or boarding house,” Moore said. “Each of the students [in the house] receive full tuition and boarding for four years.”

By building a new house, Moore said they will be able to award 20 more students with scholarships.

Moore believes building the new house will bring more private development to the area.

“We’ve been at NIU for 21 years,” Moore said. “We’d like to stay on Greenbrier, but we don’t like the surrounding area, and we hope we will be a catalyst for private development in the area.”

The council passed this ordinance on first reading, however, 1st Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson and 3rd Ward Alderman Victor Wogen had to abstain from the vote due to a conflict of interest.

The vote to waive second reading did not pass, and this ordinance will come before the council at the April 27 meeting.