University of Illinois Art Gallery Opening in Downtown Champaign

“A laboratory that supports student-initiated projects, exhibitions, and events from all areas of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels,” is the mission statement for the new gallery that will be going in next to Cakes on Walnut at the location of Old Main Book Store. “As an off-campus venue, the gallery/exhibition space is a public test bed for new ideas to take shape in the space between the safety of the classroom and the rigor of the professional world. The goal of the space is to fuel critical dialogue between students of the School of Art + Design and the broader University and local communities.”

This new Art + Design program will have a staff member as exhibition coordinator, but the space will be coordinated by a board of students. Students will be making the decisions on what art will be hosted, programs that will be developed, and all other arrangements. The space will be a teaching experience on curating, hosting shows, inviting visiting artists, and all other management of a gallery. This is just in time as the college has created a new minor focused on gallery curating. The new gallery space will be one devoted to all types of artwork and will also be open for music, crafts, lectures, and workshops- whatever the student board decides. The program will also be connected to the visiting artist program, for not only artists but architects and musicians as well.

Hours of operation will be decided by the board of students, but will be in the range of twenty hours a week. It will be run by possibly work study students, classes focused on gallery work, those pursing the gallery curating minor, graduate assistants, and/or interns. Some minor renovations on the building are taking place to prepare for the exhibit space. Keeping the original floor and ceiling, the building will be taken back to its original design with the changes of new restrooms, the outside area will be flush, the old Grubbs sign will be moved higher on the building, and a window is being put in between Cakes on Walnut and the gallery. Nan Goggin, the director of the Art + Design department, says everyone working on the program is very excited and that opportunities to connect with other businesses in downtown and be a part of the other area events is something they look forward to. The renovations will be completed as of September 15th and the Art + Design Gallery/Exhibition Space will be opening at the end of September.

Downtown Champaign Real Estate Continues to Flourish

A personal testament from a downtown real estate owner to the growth and development of the area.

Hello -
        As many of you may know we decided to add this season an additional five apartments on the first floor of our building The Hickory (northwest corner of Washington and Hickory).  This brings the total number of apartments in our building to sixteen – fourteen two bedrooms and two one bedroom apartments – total residential living space of 21,600 square feet.

        I am pleased to report that this morning we leased the last of the sixteen apartments for the August 2010 thorough July 2011 rental season.   You may find our tenant mix of interest.

       We have a certain number of graduate students.  However the bulk of our tenants are not students.  Among the non-student tenants are:  U of I professors, an Urbana business owner, two executives with Archer Daniel Midlands, a retired school teacher from the Chicago area, a post doc at the Beckman and an empty nester couple selling their home in Cherry Hills subdivision in southwest Champaign to move downtown. 
   

     I would suggest that our tenant mix is an indication and a good sampling of who is seeking to live in downtown. A major change for East Columbia and North Hickory from just eight years ago when I purchased the empty Vans Wholesale Florist building with the idea to convert it into Uptown On Columbia.  Now with Uptown as custom boutique condominiums, Escobar’s Latin Fusion Restuarant with its upscale second floor apartment and The Hickory a mixed residential and retail development there are over forty people living in that small area centered on the 500 block of N. Hickory. 
        In 1994 it was a semi-abandoned low rent warehouse district.  Now one of Escobar’s weekly customers is former Governor Edgar.  Nine years ago most of those living, dining and shopping in the N Hickory/ E Washington/E Columbia Neighborhood would not have even been able to find it.  If they had found it they likely would have been afraid to get out of their cars.

 In additional to those mentioned already there are B. Lime, Columbia Street Roastery, Evolve Gym, Bentleys Pub, Carmon’s Restaurant, PACA, The Holy Land Restaurant, and Simply Amish.  Perhaps we should call it the Mulberry St Neighborhood as that was the original name for Hickory Street when Champaign was founded. But then again at that time Washington was Kentucky Ave and Columbia was Bloomington Rd.  No matter what it is called it is clear that the Downtown’s north side is alive, booming and vibrant.
All the best,
 
Michael Markstahler

Ride the MTD for free April 22nd!

Celebrate Earth Day with the MTD by riding any MTD bus for FREE. That’s right, you can do your part to help the environment by riding a bus on Thursday, April 22 and you can save money! Help create healthier community and healthier planet. Ride MTD free on Earth Day.

Art Theater Continues Under New Management

On January 1, the Art Theater will open under new management. The new operator, Champaign local Sanford Hess, promises that the Art will continue to show great Art and Independent films that the multiplexes may overlook. He also promises some changes in terms of the theater’s operations and concessions. First and foremost, Mr. Hess promises a greater emphasis on customer service, starting with having an on-site operator. New concessions features will offer treats from local Champaign businesses: baked goods from Pekara Bakery and gourmet popcorn from Popped Bliss.

The first film will be “Me and Orson Welles” an upbeat film about the famous staging of Julius Caesar by the fledgling Mercury Theatre. The film is directed by Richard Linklater (‘Slackers’, ‘School of Rock’, ‘Before Sunrise’) and featuring a breakout performance by Christian McKay as Orson Welles.

Links about the film and showtimes are available on the Art’s website: www.theCUart.com

To read an interview of  new owner Sanford Hess by Smile Politely check out this article

http://www.smilepolitely.com/arts/a_new_era_for_the_art_theatre/

ZipCar’s Now Available in Downtown Champaign

The City of Champaign is pleased to announce that ZipCar is now available as yet another transit choice for the Downtown community.  These cars are part of a six car program that the City’s of Champaign and Urbana, the University of Illinois and the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District have embarked on together.  This system allow those that need a car for hour increments to now have an option.  Whether you take the bus to work, car pool or have someone drop you off, now you have the option to run those errands over lunch.  Perhaps you are a one car family (or want to be) now you have another option.

In order to participate all you have to do is become a Zip Car member by signing up at www.zipcar.com.  The yearly membership includes all insurance, gas, and maintenance needs.  Cars are rented at variable rates but average $8.00/hour.  Think of the money you could save by sharing a car!

The cars in Downtown can be found in the Neil and Washington Street lot right next to the Neil Street Entrance (north of One Main Plaza).  The cars include a Toyota Prius and a Mazda3.