NORMAL - Despite closed streets, detours and displaced parking, there seems to be more enthusiasm for Normal's uptown redevelopment plan than concern.

"I've been down here a long time and there are lots more people here now," said Babbitt's Books owner Brian Simpson.

"People are not staying away because of the construction. Since my move, I've seen an increase in business."

Garlic Press co-owner Dottie Bushnell agreed.

"This summer, a lot more people were going up and down the streets," Bushnell said.

"There are enough new things - the museum and restaurants - that are drawing people."

Bushnell admits overcoming the disruption that has accompanied the uptown redevelopment plan hasn't always been easy.

"There have been ups and downs," she said. "It definitely affected our business, but it's not killed it."

But, she said, the work is necessary.

"The town was really getting pretty doggy before it started," Bushnell said. "People say they want it 'the way it was,' but it hasn't been 'the way it was' for a long time."

Deteriorating conditions are what prompted the City Council to consider a major redevelopment plan eight years ago.

"It was a major undertaking for conservative Normal," said Kent Karraker, who was mayor when the plan was adopted.

But not everyone agreed with the price tag.

"The plan put a lot of money into downtown to make it look better," said Randy Middleton, a former councilman and among many who opposed the original idea for a town-owned hotel and conference center. "I do have a lot of questions about the financial viability and whether it was risky," he said. "Now, I'm very concerned with the (financial) markets. It's harder and harder for developers to get money."

Middleton is not surprised the project took off, but to keep it going, he said commitments from the private sector are "critical."

Former councilman Parker Lawlis also is concerned about the amount of money invested.

"The town is in debt now for $85 million," he said. "But it doesn't seem to bother anybody."

Still, Lawlis, who also spearheaded opposition to a town-owned hotel, said what has happened uptown is positive.

"The hotel is making great progress … there are new places, new enthusiasm all the time and the restaurants are doing well."

Opposition to town-owned hotel

Councilman Jeff Fritzen, who joined Lawlis, Middleton and other council members in opposing a town-owned hotel, said resolving the hotel issue alleviated his biggest concern about the plan.

The council ultimately abandoned that idea and approved a plan for a privately-owned hotel by John Q. Hammons.

"It took a totally new direction for the better," said Fritzen, adding the concern he had about the town buying property for private development was alleviated when he was elected to the council after a four-year hiatus.

"I understood it needed to be done," he said.

"It's still not the most comfortable thing to do - it's a strong role for a government body to play in a private sector project. But a more intimate understanding has helped me understand."

Fritzen said uptown isn't like more wide-open land along Veterans Parkway.

Existing building had to be razed and several properties assembled to make a project work.

"That would be difficult for the private sector," he said, adding community reaction also helped allay his initial concerns.

"There are a lot of positive comments," he said.

"There's excitement about it; there's pride in the community making something old new again."

Fritzen also thinks the project is good for Illinois State University.

"The university is obviously a huge employer and financial driver in the community," he said. "Anything we can do to enhance each other's operation is important."

Simpson thinks what has happened so far is only the beginning.

"Once plans are in place, we'll see even better times," said Simpson, who also serves as president of the Uptown Normal Business Association. "Once construction is done, the more timid will come down."