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Staying on target: Normal's uptown renovation hitting goals
By Mary Ann Ford
mford@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- When Normal officials revealed a proposed downtown renovation plan about eight years ago, they envisioned bringing in the Children’s Discovery Museum and adding new retail businesses to attract the community and college students. | REACTION: Enthusiasm vs. concern | COSTS: Vision unchanged, but budget on the rise | INTERACTIVE MAP: Uptown's past, present and future | VIDEO: Inside the Marriott

The plan suggested a roundabout in the center of downtown, a parking deck to accommodate shoppers, and a transportation center to serve Amtrak, buses and taxis.

New multi-story buildings would dot the landscape and offer a variety of uses — retail, offices and housing for residents who wanted to live in a more urban setting. A hotel would cater to out-of-town visitors and Illinois State University conferences.

“In light of what was planned in 2000, virtually every component is moving forward,” said Normal Mayor Chris Koos. “I feel proud.”

• The Children’s Discovery Museum opened its new building in November 2004. The Garlic Press expanded and opened the Market Café in 2005.

• Businessman Harry Fuller renovated the Odd Fellows building and brought in Maggie Miley’s restaurant. He also redeveloped the former college hangout, Shanigan’s, razed the former Galery nightclub and replaced it with a new building, and

introduced NV Ultra Lounge and Emack & Bolio’s ice cream shop.

• A 230-room Mariott hotel/conference center is under construction and is expected to be completed by next summer.

• Construction of the roundabout at North and Beaufort streets is going full steam.

• The Bank of Illinois and Busey Bank have new buildings and a new multi-story, mixed-use building was built at Beau fort and Linden streets.

• One parking deck is completed and another will open with the hotel.

In March 2007, the City Council even changed the name from downtown to uptown saying it better reflected the new, revitalized central business district.

More projects are on the horizon. One Main Development of Champaign is constructing the first of three buildings that will combine retailers, offices and high-end condominiums on land around the roundabout.

JSM Development of Champaign is planning to break ground this spring for a building with retail and apartment space.

It will replace University Christian Church at Fell Avenue and North Street.

“I’m really pleased with the way things are coming together in uptown,” said Kent Karraker, who was mayor when the City Council adopted the redevelopment plan.

“I think it re-emphasizes the adage that Normal used a lot — plan your work and work your plan.”

Meeting some opposition

But it wasn’t embraced by everyone.

In 2002, Karraker announced the town and ISU would jointly own the planned hotel/conference center. The town, then debt-free, wanted to issue $33 million in bonds for the 150-room hotel and 13,000-square-foot conference center. Only $9 million of the bonds would be guaranteed by the town. ISU planned to contribute $5 million for an adjoining 500-space parking deck.

In November of that year, the town announced it would own the Children’s Discovery Museum and finance the $3.75 million building.

While some had concerns about the museum ownership, the idea of the town owning the hotel/conference center was lambasted by many — to the point that in January 2003, an effort led by several former council members successfully collected more than 3,700 signatures on petitions seeking an advisory referendum on the issue.

The question, “Shall the town of Normal build, finance and own the hotel and conference center as proposed in the downtown renewal area?” made the April 2003 ballot; 69 percent of voters said “no.”

The council responded by abandoning the idea just days after the election. Koos was mayor at the time, having been appointed after Karraker resigned in February because of health concerns.

But the hotel issue was far from dead.

The council pursued and got several private developers to express interest. Ultimately, hotel developer John Q. Hammons of Springfield, Mo., was selected.

In June 2004, Hammons said he would personally finance a $30 million hotel with the town responsible for providing the land, parking and money for an accompanying conference center — a total of about $17 million.

Assembling the land

But assembling the land presented a problem. Much of the proposed site was owned by Orval and Bill Yarger and Alec Wade. The town and owners could not reach an agreement on the selling price and the town pursued eminent domain, the legal right by a government to acquire private property for a public purpose as long as the owner is compensated.

The case ended up in court. While the town ultimately won the case, it wasn’t until the summer of 2005 — when Hammons originally had hoped to start construction.

During the delay, construction costs increased significantly and when Hammons sought bids, they came in way over estimates — twice. In February 2006, Hammons said the hotel cost was up to $38 million and the conference center had increased from $8 million to $12 million.

By December of that year, the council learned costs were even higher: the hotel was up to $50 million and the conference center was at $14 million.

The town agreed to contribute $2.5 million toward the hotel, using $1.2 million in savings from the cost of an accompanying parking deck, $400,000 in Community Development Block Grant money, and $900,000 in town money. Hammons picked up the remaining increased costs.

“We’ve stumbled but things have come together,” Koos said.

“It’s been a learning experience. We did some things wrong but we’ve learned from our mistakes.”

Meanwhile, the recent turmoil in the country’s financial markets has forced One Main Development to temporarily stop construction on its first building.

Banks are now requiring One Main to pre-sell all of the 34 condos planned in the six-story building before it will finance the rest of the project.

One Main President Mike Royse hopes work will resume after Jan. 1 and that the project will be completed by the end of 2009. It originally was set to open next summer.
Take a look
Laborers Local 362 members Jimmie Anderson, left, along with Toby Dunn work on preparing forms around an outer wall of the water feature that will make up the center of the roundabout in uptown Normal. (The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY)
Laborers Local 362 member Jimmie Anderson, working for Stark Excavating, measures a form around an outer wall of the water feature of the roundabout in uptown Normal. (The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY)
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Reader comments on this story - 16 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

mel wrote on Oct 6, 2008 3:06 PM:

" Per Koos, “We’ve stumbled but things have come together. It’s been a learning experience. We did some things wrong but we’ve learned from our mistakes.”

Ain't it great that they get to learn and stumble and make mistakes and it's being paid for with other peoples' money, two thirds of whom didn't even want it done in the first place. The power to tax truly is one of the worst forms of tyranny. "

REALTALK wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:44 AM:

" WITH ALL THE MONEY IN THIS TOWN, AND ALL THE MONEY THEY'RE SPENDING FOR NORMAL, WHY DON'T THEY TAKE SOME OF THAT MONEY AND FIX THE ROADS IN BLM/NORMAL! ALLLL OVER TOWN, OUR ROADS ARE TERRIBLE! POTHOLES EVERYWHERE! "

Geez! wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:04 PM:

" "Real Fan" - excellent job in pointing out the hypocracy that prevails in the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal.

Vote all incumbents out of office or experience more of the same. "

The Real Illini Fan wrote on Oct 5, 2008 7:33 PM:

" Can someone please explain something to me. For the the last 4-5 years... BOTH Bloomington and Normal city councils have been harping on how great their respective downtown/uptowns were. Great entertainment and great dining locations. Then recently when BOTH councils went out for dinner to supposedly "get to know each other".... they go not to Uptown Normal or downtown Bloomington. Instead they go to Biaggi's on Veterans Parkway. I guess they expect everyone else to use the downtown's but not them...mmmm. Guess it's do as I say.. not as I do. "

Geez! wrote on Oct 5, 2008 4:42 PM:

" "Crybabies" - you are right.

It used to be that a town's main concern was to protect their citizens. These snooty, uppity, wannabe-elitists who voted for this distaster also changed the town's main concern - from protecting the citizens to building monuments to their own stupidity (after stealing the property from the rightful owners in the name of "eminent domain").

Therefore, since it is change (from common sense), it must be good and righteous. "

Crybabies wrote on Oct 5, 2008 4:25 PM:

" I agree with 'Charlemagne': If it's change, it follows that it must be progress. If it feels good, it follows that it must be done. If it glitters, it follows that it must be bought. And if all of the above can be accomplished by 'putting it on the tab', Woweee, 'just do it'. And, best of all, if it's all done by those who can do the deed and eventually ride off into the sunset, surely it must be done. One great big 'Gee Whiz' for the Wizards in Uptown Normal. "

Alli wrote on Oct 5, 2008 1:41 PM:

" Didn't the Pantagraph report weeks ago the town is running over budget with the water feature and that would be a delay? As usual in Blm/Nrm poor service and quality control will keep me from Maggie’s and NV. The darkly lit, bad design and not pedestrian friendly parking deck will keep me from there. Uptown? More like Upchuck! "

Bizzyboddy wrote on Oct 5, 2008 10:28 AM:

" The whole mess was originally supposed to be completed by late 2007. Thats not on target. "

Geez! wrote on Oct 5, 2008 10:04 AM:

" "charle" - there you go again! Being an apologist for these snooty wannabe-elitists who have no concept of being fiscally responsible ought to be beneath even you.

Oh, I forget - you're one of them. "

normalguy wrote on Oct 5, 2008 8:50 AM:

" wow im sure the yagers who owned the land are so excited about the gov. stealing it from them for their own profits. what a joke, do you think they received any where near fair value. they owned half of uptown and the city just took it. no real reason other than to build a hotel. this is america? "

Charlemagne wrote on Oct 5, 2008 1:06 AM:

" I am excited by the progress in Uptown. Keep it up. Other communities are using Uptown Normal as an example of they progress they want. We should be proud that our town has invested in the center of the city. Way to go. "

dalmanites wrote on Oct 4, 2008 5:11 PM:

" I fear that the condo building will create a canyon effect on Normal's main street. I walk by the church every day and feel some amount of peace and tranquility in the midst of concrete with the grassy lawn and some trees. This will be replaced with a 4 story building, out of proportion to the downtown, with hot concrete and student oriented shopping. The grass is essential to the feel of Normal, unlike Bloomington which has a grungy, concrete laden downtown. "

OGS wrote on Oct 4, 2008 4:20 PM:

" If the Normal project defeats all wisdom of a downed economy then I will be impressed. Until then, it is only a dream that could turn into a nightmare. "

Geez! wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:50 PM:

" Still enough time to vote out the fools who gave the Town of Normal the galaxy-level embarassment by renaming downtown to "Uptown". Unless of course, you prefer the snooty, arrogant, elitist-wannabe, fiscally irresponsible, and plastic baffoons stay in office to embarass the Town of Normal even further. "

Rivers wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:36 PM:

" I would like to know why it takes almost 3-4 years to build a hotel? They built the Mirage and Atlantis in less time. "

Herr Hundhausen wrote on Oct 4, 2008 1:46 PM:

" envisioned?/To picture in the mind; imagine? Twilight Zone! "
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