CHAMPAIGN - A developer who built a successful, high-end, mixed-use building in downtown Champaign wants to do something similar in Normal.

Jon "Cody" Sokolski, chief executive officer of One Main Development, is proposing three buildings totaling more than 380,000 square feet at a total cost of $75 million. They would be built along Beaufort Street from Broadway to the west side of a planned traffic roundabout in downtown Normal, which officials now refer to as uptown.

"Many cities of the same size and type get up to the cardboard box model stage, then freeze," Sokolski told members of the City Council Monday during a tour of the Champaign project.

"You guys are way ahead and want to be first," he said. "Normal really gets it. You have a high 'get it' factor."

Mayor Chris Koos said the plan would likely involve a public-private partnership.

"We said from the beginning that we would use a public-private partnership with some of the larger projects," he said.

The downtown area is part of a tax increment financing district, which diverts property tax revenue in a fund to pay for redevelopment. It also recently was included in the expanded enterprise zone, something that gives developers a break on state sales tax on building materials.

"We're talking concepts, money," Koos said of the proposal from One Main. He would not say when it would come to the council, but said it could be soon.

"Frankly we think alike," Koos said. "We've always talked about higher quality. They believe in it and have shown that it works."

The five-story development in Champaign includes two restaurants, a diner and a jewelry store on the first floor, offices on the second and third floors and 23 condominiums on the fourth and fifth floors.

Cynthia Faullin, director of development for One Main, said the fifth floor of the building is recessed so you don't see it from the street. There is an atrium in the center.

The condos originally sold for $185,000 to $350,000.

Faullin said one of the condos is owned by the University of Illinois for special visitors. Another is owned by a Chicago resident who uses it when he attends U of I basketball and football games.

One of the big office-space users is Volition, creators of the top-selling video game, "Saints Row."

Sokolski said One Main has been talking to Normal officials for more than a year about the project. The group also has talked with Illinois State University officials.

"If the university does well, so does the community," Sokolski said. "They need each other."

The brick building with several balconies, wood flooring, vaulted ceilings and glass doors appealed to City Council members.

"I'm very impressed," said Councilman Adam Nielsen. "These kinds of development, if we do it, will make Normal 'uptown.'"

Councilwoman Sonja Reece agreed. "I can see this is uptown Normal. It seems to capture the spirit I feel is developing in the uptown area."

"It's impressive," said Councilwoman Cheryl Gaines. "It excites me, the whole concept."

Councilman Jason Chambers said: "When you see different things opening up around the community, you'll see people flock to it. Our community doesn't shy away from new things."

"It's beautiful, well done and tastefully done," said Councilman Jeff Fritzen. "It would probably be considered an aggressive move for uptown, but I can see it there."