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Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Awarded to Aspen Court Redevelopment

The City of Urbana is pleased to announce that the Illinois Housing Development Authority awarded TWG Development, LLC, in partnership with the City of Urbana, low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) for Aspen Court.

Since 2011, the City has been working to identify a developer to redevelop this property into decent, safe and sanitary affordable housing. After TWG Development, LLC purchased the property City staff met with TWG and provided information for the LIHTC application to IHDA.

“We are looking forward to working with TWG on this important, long anticipated, redevelopment project that is the next step in improving the Lierman Neighborhood area,” according to John Schneider, Community Development Manager.

Renovation of Aspen Court, a 140 unit multifamily housing complex in southeast Urbana, will address a property that has needed significant improvement after the bankruptcy of one of its previous owners during the economic downturn in 2008. Receiving 9% LIHTC provides gap funding (the difference between cost of construction and the after rehab value of the property) that will make rehabilitation/renovations economically feasible for the developer.

Draft FY16-17 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) Available for Public Review and Comment

Date: 
September 8, 2017 - 4:00pm to September 28, 2017 - 5:00pm

The City of Urbana has completed the draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) documenting programs and activities undertaken through its federally-funded affordable housing and community development programs during the year ending June 30, 2017. The draft CAPER will be available for public review and comment during the period beginning Monday, September 11, 2017 through Tuesday, September 26, 2017. The draft CAPER will be available during regular business hours at the following locations:

Urbana to Host Ribbon Cutting for Completion of the Bradley Avenue Bike Lanes Project

Date: 
September 8, 2017 - 2:30pm to 3:00pm

The design update of a portion of Bradley Avenue in Urbana is complete. The Bradley Avenue Bike Lane Project, proposed in the 2016 Urbana Bicycle Master Plan, extends west on Bradley Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to the western city limit of Urbana.

Previously, Bradley Avenue was a forty-foot, two-lane road that posed safety concerns for all roadway users. A key component of the updated layout on Bradley Avenue includes narrowing of the travel lanes and the addition of a six-foot wide buffer and four-foot bike lane on the eastern portion of the roadway. The western portion of the roadway now includes narrowed and shared parking/biking lanes. The shared lanes will accommodate not only bicyclists, but also the pedestrian and vehicular traffic occurring on Bradley Avenue.

According to Urbana Public Works Director Bill Gray, “The bike lanes and two-lane pavement striping have added clear definition of the driver’s and bicyclist’s space, which will result in less confusion and greater safety for all users.”

Kickapoo Rail Trail Connectivity Public Workshop

Date: 
September 7, 2017 - 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Weaver Park & East Urbana KICKAPOO RAIL TRAIL Connectivity Study

Public Workshop:
Thursday, September 7, 2017
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Champaign County Highway Department
1605 East Main Street, Urbana

Hosted by:  Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Urbana Park District, Champaign County Forest Preserves and the City of Urbana

Join us to:

  • Provide ideas about connecting the Kickapoo Rail Trail (KRT) to Weaver Park;
  • Provide input on what trailhead features you want to see at Weaver Park; and
  • Learn more about the KRT section opening between Urbana and St. Joseph on August 25, 2017

More Information:  KickapooRailTrail.com

Broadway Food Hall To Open This Fall

Broadway Food HallIt’s still a few months away from opening, but the Broadway Food Hall in downtown Urbana is beginning to take shape.

The food hall at 401 N. Broadway Ave. will be the first of its kind in Central Illinois, and will be host to five different restaurants and a small bar, all under one roof.

All of the restaurants will be housed in one building, with 10,000 square feet of communal dining area. Seating will mostly be at long wooden tables.

The food hall will be located in the former Four Seasons Garage Sales building, which is undergoing an extensive renovation.

Downtown Urbana developer Matt Cho is managing director of the food hall, which he described as similar to a food court, but with some noticeable differences.

“A food hall is more downtown focused, with less franchised restaurants,” he said. “There’s a local aspect to it; It’s more modern.”