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.