Evanston Will Open Howard Street Police Outpost in 2027
The city plans to establish a new office by summer 2027 to address neighborhood safety concerns.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Evanston officials intend to open a new police outpost on Howard Street by the end of summer 2027. The project aims to improve public safety near the CTA viaduct.
Why it matters
The outpost is designed to address local reports of criminal activity and manage the encampment of unhoused individuals in the area. It will provide a dedicated space for law enforcement, the CARE Team, and CTA personnel to coordinate.
The city has proposed a $100,000 budget for the facility to be located on the 300 block of Howard Street. Project funding is drawn from the Howard and Ridge tax increment financing district.
The players
Evanston Police Department
The law enforcement agency responsible for providing municipal police services to the city of Evanston.
CARE Team
The Evanston-based response team that works alongside police to provide support and social services to community members.
The details
The city plans to lease a privately-owned storefront to serve as a stop-in office for various safety and transit personnel. This initiative marks the return of a police presence to the corridor after the last outpost closed in 2017.
Timeline
The city closed its last Howard Street police outpost in 2017.
The city will finalize the project budget by the end of 2026.
The new police outpost is scheduled to open by the end of summer 2027.
The Howard and Ridge TIF district is set to expire after 2028.
Legal Context
This project utilizes the Howard and Ridge tax increment financing district to fund local infrastructure before the district expires after 2028. Such financing districts are commonly used by municipalities to stimulate development in specific geographic zones.
Residents near the 300 block of Howard Street may see an increased presence of police and support personnel once the facility opens in 2027. The outpost is intended to provide a visible safety point for those using the CTA station and surrounding businesses.
The takeaway
The city aims to utilize existing tax district funds to stabilize the area around the CTA viaduct. Neighbors can anticipate the project budget to be finalized by the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local public safety initiatives, visit the Law Enforcement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evanston RoundTable.
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