In December, the City of Urbana announced plans for an arts-centered housing development on Illinois Street near Lincoln Square Mall. Now, the developer has pulled out of the project, citing “external funding factors.” Here is the full press release:
It is a top priority of Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin and the Urbana City Council to plan for the transformation of the nine-square block Lincoln Square site in downtown Urbana into a regional destination. A community visioning initiative was launched in 2018 to gather input and ideas which will inform long-term planning for the site. A number of themes emerged through 44 information-gathering events over the past year. Community members expressed support for Urbana’s Market at the Square, Common Ground Food Coop and other mall businesses, desire for housing for a range of income levels, a venue for the arts, interest in all-ages activities and events, and public gathering spaces.
In late 2018, the City was approached by Northbrook, Illinois-based Brinshore Development with a proposal for an arts-centered, affordable housing development on a city-owned parking lot south of Illinois Street, near Lincoln Square.
“Brinshore’s vision was right on the mark,” Mayor Marlin said. “They did an excellent job anticipating the desires of our community in the project proposal and the public response was very positive, especially for the idea of a community arts center.”
The City and Brinshore announced today that the project is unable to move forward.
“There are external funding factors that would keep us from delivering the community arts center and making this project arts-centered was a key component of our initial vision,” Richard Sciortino said, founding principal and director of acquisition, development, and construction at Brinshore. “However, we remain committed to continuing to work with the City of Urbana and the Champaign County Housing Authority to complete an affordable housing project at South Lierman Avenue in East Urbana.”
Brinshore tentatively plans to apply for Low Income Tax Credits with the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the South Lierman Avenue project later this year. Previously, Brinshore developed the Crystal View Townhomes in 2012 and Highland Green in 2016, both in North Urbana.
This spring, Green Street Realty will begin construction of 42 market-rate townhomes on the City-owned 200 block of South Vine Street, immediately east of Lincoln Square. The project will be the first new residential construction in Downtown Urbana since the Stratford Apartment building was constructed thirteen years ago.
“We are turning a corner in Downtown Urbana and there is more in the works,” Marlin said. “The City of Urbana will assess the possible uses of the Illinois Street parking lot and other infill sites. The public’s vision of a creative, vibrant and livable downtown will help guide our development decisions.”