EVANSTON—The developers Fifield Cos. and Carroll Properties have broken ground on E2, a 356-unit luxury apartment project in downtown Evanston which will include 12 street-level, three-bedroom townhomes, the only new-construction townhomes in the area.

“New construction townhomes are a unique and underserved product in today's rental market,” says Steve Fifield, chairman and CEO of Fifield Cos. “There is pent-up demand for rental townhomes of this size, especially in a prime location like Evanston.”

The development will consist of two buildings at 1881 Oak Ave. and 1890 Maple Ave. The Oak building will have sixteen stories and the Maple will have fourteen. A four-story structure that will include three floors of parking and a fourth-floor amenity deck will connect the buildings. The developers will also create 4,000-square-feet of ground floor retail space. The twelve townhomes along Emerson St. will range in size from 1,600-square-feet to 1,750-square-feet and have third-floor outdoor decks.

The apartment tower units will range from 500-to-1,300-square-feet and offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Units will come equipped with quartz countertops, plank floors, stainless steel appliances, in-unit laundry, oversized windows and high-end lighting and plumbing fixtures. The residences at E2 should also appeal to high-tech enthusiasts, as each will have a built-in Bluetooth audio system and electronic access control.

“In this market, we expect E2 to be an attractive option for everyone from young professionals and empty nestors seeking a more urban lifestyle, to families and students,” says Randy Fifield, vice chair and principal.