Category: Planning & Development Department News

Planning Staff Attends Launch Event for Community Solutions Incubator

City Planning and Development staff attended the launch of the Community Solutions Incubator at the Krannert Center on Wednesday, September 27. The City of Champaign is a Founding Partner of the Community Solutions Incubator, which was set up to meet the needs of nonprofits focused on solving social problems in Champaign County. At the event, […]


PARK(ing) Day Engages Public on Downtown Plaza and Neil Street Corridor Studies

On September 22, Planning and Development staff participated in PARK(ing) Day in downtown Champaign. Hosted by the Student Planning Organization at UIUC, PARK(ing) Day reimagined 10 street parking spaces around the corner of Walnut Street and Chester Street as places for people. Staff transformed one parking space into a “temporary plaza” to generate interest in […]


Redevelopment of Hill & Neil Parking Lot in Downtown

Redevelopment of Hill & Neil Parking Lot in Downtown To allow for construction of a new downtown development, the City parking lot located at 401 N. Neil St. (corner of Hill St. & Neil St.) will close to the public at 9:00 p.m. on October 26, 2017. Alternate public parking will remain available in the […]


Neil Street Corridor Improvement Plan and Downtown Plaza Plan Website Launch

The Neil Street Corridor Improvement Plan and the Downtown Plaza Plan’s websites have been launched. These websites create critical communication portals for City of Champaign and the general public to learn about the on-going status of the projects, and keep up to date with the latest developments in the plans. The respective projects can be […]


Planning and Development Department Completes Website Upgrade

The Planning and Development Department recently launched their redesigned department webpages. The new pages include several updated features, including a new visual interface, quick links to the services most commonly requested of the department, and several new features, like assistance with conducting historical research on a property. The site is organized by the department’s major areas of […]


Hopscotch Bakery Opening is Sweet News for Small Business Incentive Program

Hopscotch Bakery and Market had their soft opening on July 14. Hopscotch is a woman-owned business registered in the City of Champaign’s Small Business Incentive Program. Business owner Kaya Tate showed patrons her new store and offered samples during the open house. Hopscotch officially opened its doors to the public on July 19. They sell desserts, […]


Planning Staff Helps Kids with Bikes, Bike Skills

Ben LeRoy, Associate Planner in the Planned and Development Department, assisted in the Let’s Get Rolling C-U Earn-A-Bike Program for local middle and high school students. This program was led by a partnership of the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, the Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign, and the Champaign Urbana Safe Routes to School Project. […]


Planning Staff Attends Ameren Act on Energy Symposium

Lacey Rains Lowe, Senior Planner in the Planning and Development Department, attended the 2017 Ameren Act On Energy Symposium in Springfield, IL to learn about changes to Ameren’s energy efficiency programs.  The symposium was very informative.  Sessions included information on Senate Bill 2814, known as the Future Energy Jobs Bill, which took effect this June.  […]


Planning Process Begins for Future Plaza

Members of the consulting firm MKSK joined Planning and Development Department staff for a series of on-site meetings to begin the planning process for the future downtown plaza.  MKSK project managers Eric Lucas and Aaron Kowalski joined the project team and other staff members for an initial discussion of issues and opportunities impacting the space.  […]


Land Connection Farmers’ Market Opens Third Season

Champaign’s Land Connection Farmers’ Market kicked off their third season on Tuesday, May 16. Planning Staff was at the Community Tent on May 30 for the first Market Seedlings Event for kids. Staff passed out pollinator and vegetable seed packets, and taught kids how to plant seeds. The City’s recycling programs were also promoted. Come […]