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Development


Downtown Champaign stands as a testament to our communities hard working attitude.  Left for dead only twenty years ago, Downtown has dusted itself off and blossomed into a fantastic cultural, entertainment, and shopping region the whole community can be proud of.  Solid planning and aggressive development have brought downtown back from the brink.

However, this progress cannot stop here.  Downtown is a constantly evolving place and with continued investment by the development and business community downtown will continue to grow.  Below are some important stats to know when making your decision to be a part of this dynamic evolution:

Downtown Business

  • Downtown is currently home to twenty four (24) restaurants and fourteen (14) bars
  • Five historic theaters still remain in Downtown (three are currently active)
  • In 2007, Downtown restaurants and bars did over $19 million in sales (an increase of nearly $11 million since 2003)
  • There are currently 767 outdoor seats on the public right of way as part of the City’s Outdoor Cafe Program.
  • In a 2007 survey conducted by the Champaign Planning Department, 2,138 employees were identified in the Downtown core.
  • Total bar and restaurant seating capacity in Downtown (including outdoor seats) is 4,233 (2007)

Downtown Transportation

  • There are currently over 3,200 parking spaces within the 15 block downtown core.
  • The Hill Street Parking deck opened in 2009 adding 600 new parking spaces to Downtown and providing the first electric car charging station in Champaign.
  • Amtrak ridership in Champaign is on pace for an all-time record of 150,000 boarding from the Illinois Terminal in Downtown.  The Champaign station ranks fourth in Illinois and now exceeds enplainments at Willard Airport.
  • Downtown is served by six daily trains (3 northbound to Chicago and 3 southbound to Carbondale/New Orleans)
  • The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District which is based at Illinois Terminal in Downtown Champaign recorded over 10 million rider trips made in 2008.

Development and Housing

  • The University of Illinois now boast a student population over 40,000 and a faculty and support staff of over 20,000.  The heart of Campustown (student commercial area) is less than one mile from Downtown.
  • When completed in 2010, the Boneyard Second Street Reach will create an urban parkway connecting Downtown with Campustown by way of bike and walking paths.  The urban park will also serve as a venue for community events.
  • In 2009, University Avenue streetscape was extended between Second Street and Wright Street connecting Downtown with the Provena Medical Campus.
  • Downtown currently has over 60 upper floor apartments and 70 condominiums.