Future Planning

Downtown Plan

Downtown Champaign has undergone tremendous change over the past 15 years.  Today Downtown is experiencing a resurgence unseen since the early part of the 20th century.  With new businesses opening and building construction continuing Downtown is poised to lead the region as a retail and entertainment based area.

To help continue this progress the City of Champaign produced the 2006 Downtown Plan.  This document was a rewrite of the 1992 Plan and sets policy and guidelines for development over the next 10 years.  This document can be found below:

• Chapter 1 – Framework
• Chapter 2 – Urban Design and Development
• Chapter 3 – Transportation
• Chapter 4 – Land Use and Market Demand
• Chapter 5 – Organization

Future Projects

The Downtown Plan outlines a number of projects designed to improve the physical environment Downtown.  These projects will be explored by the City of Champaign in conjunction with the Downtown Association for implementation.

Central City Plaza

The landmark project in the Downtown Plan is creation of a central city plaza.  This public space would be used to host Downtown and greater community projects including the annual tree lighting, concerts, ice skating, and farmers markets.  The plaza would extend the current One Main Street Plaza northward to Washington Street.  The displacement of parking would be accommodated in the newly constructed Hill Street Parking Structure and the Walnut and Washington Lot.  This space would give Downtown the landmark space and further emphasize that Downtown Champaign is the heart of the community.

South Downtown Gateway

Located at the Walnut and Neil Street Divide this green space would create a strong entryway into Downtown while reducing traffic speeds and creating a safer environment for pedestrians.  The area would also allow for the expansion of a retail space for a small carry-out business such as ice cream or coffee.  The design in the Downtown plan was further refined as part of the Downtown Intersection Design Study.  The most recent design creates a “Green Street” by developing a storm water system built into the green space which filters storm water runoff while irrigating the plant material.

Boneyard Second Street Reach

The Boneyard Second Street Reach is an expansive storm water detention project stretch from Scott Park and Springfield Avenue to University Avenue and Second Street.  This project includes lowering the area to create a channel for the boneyard stream and pond.  This park will give East Downtown and the Burnham District a remarkable public amenity to program community events and recreation while improving the area and further connecting Downtown Champaign with Campustown.  The first phase of this project (Scott Park) is under construction.  The second phase will begin in 2009 and be complete in 2010.

University Avenue “Boulevard”

This boulevard is planned for University Avenue between Market and Chestnut Streets to aid in mid block crossings from the Illinois Terminal into Downtown.  The island will create a landscaping space where pedestrians would be protected as they cross at an unsignalized intersection.  This project is budgeted for as part of the Downtown Intersection Design

Improvements planned over the next 5 years.  Work could begin on this project in summer 2009.

Infill Opportunities

Continuing the success that Downtown has experienced over the past 10 years will require more opportunities for new businesses and services to locate in Downtown.  In order to facilitate this, new buildings must continue to be constructed. Consolidating parking into structured parking decks will allow current surface lots to be built upon and futher connect areas of Downtown.  This illustration demonstrates future development between the Virginia Theatre and Downtown Champaign with the infilling of Busey Bank parking lots along Park Street.  This corridor would offer new and exciting retail and restaurant opportunities while again making the theatre a vital part of the Downtown fabric.