Urbana accepting proposals for Illinois Street development

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The City of Urbana is looking to develop a site of 1.46 acres on Illinois Street and is now accepting proposals from developers.

The city issued a Request For Proposal for five parcels of land along the Illinois Street last month.

Four of the parcels are zoned as a part of the Central Business District for retail business, office, and service uses high-density residential uses, while one parcel, behind the alley between Illinois Street and California Avenue, is zoned for Medium Density Multiple-Family Residential District.

“The City of Urbana owns the full site and intends for the developer to take ownership of the entire property, but would consider a partial-site purchase,” part of a slide from the city detailing the RFP reads. “The City will negotiate development incentives that will be contingent on the amount of private investment and the degree to which the City’s development objectives are met.”

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The proposal also notes the lots are just 3/4 miles away from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and half a mile away from Carle Foundation Hospital.

Urbana mayor Diane Marlin said the city has owned this land for more than 20 years.

“The intent was always to have them built on,” Marlin told WCIA. “So we’d like to see housing there or a mixed-use development. It fulfills our goal of having more people live in our downtown.”

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The mayor also noted the city initiated a similar project close by at 200 South Main Street.

To submit a proposal for the sites, interested parties can visit the city of Urbana’s OpenGov’s website. RFPs must be received by May 13 at 12 p.m.

The city will start reviewing proposals after the deadline to submit RFPs passes.

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