After years of economic downturn, vacant storefronts and aging infrastructure, the City of Urbana is once again setting its sights on reviving the once-thriving Philo Road corridor in southeast Urbana.
This time, led by Mayor DeShawn Williams, the city said it’s committed to long-term, sustainable transformation, not just another short-term fix. However, the crime rate in the area continues to be an obstacle for the rebuild process.
Beginning in the early 2000s, many businesses along Philo Road struggled. Vacancies in major retail, such as Walgreens and CVS, have become common. According to the 2025 Urbana Consolidated Plan, since the construction of the Market Place mall In Champaign in the 1970s, the business environment on Philo Road has been marked by empty storefronts, large underutilized parking lots and low levels of pedestrian activity.
Urbana’s zoning ordinance notes that following the closures of these businesses, Philo Road’s infrastructure had begun to age, with many areas lacking consistent street lighting, comfortable pedestrian walkways and other amenities.
Following Williams’ election, a series of plans have proposed improved streetscapes, better lighting, enhanced pedestrian access and public art, culminating in the creation of the Philo Road Ahead effort.
Yet, the corridor has continued to struggle — many point to the crime rate in the area.
Urbana Deputy Chief Zachary Mikalik previously told CU-CitizenAccess that Southeast Urbana is one of the city’s two most crime-ridden areas.
A local apartment complex, Michigan East Apartments, at 404 E Michigan Avenue, sent out a message to residents, after noticing a number of car break-ins.
A resident at Michigan East Apartments, Mohammed Ibrahil, said he is optimistic about the plan to rebuild Philo Road, and the outcome it will have on the local crime.
“It is alarming getting a message like that,” Ibrahil said. “But if this expansion plan works out, I think it could put more eyes on the area and then maybe the crime will go down.”
However, some crimes in the area are not even reported to the Urbana Police Department.
Alexa Scavone, a team member at the Urbana Meijer Supermarket, said store policy prevents employees from contacting police in some cases of retail theft.
“Our retail theft policy does not allow us to stop anyone who doesn’t steal over $500,” Scavone said. “Most of the time we don’t even realize things go missing until we check for inventory each month.”
Scavone also pointed out how they have to lock common items other stores don’t in order to avoid theft. With the store’s policy in place, there has only been one reported theft at its block location in two and a half years, according to police reports as of June.
“We lock electronics and stuff, but things like cologne or toys will just go missing and there’s nothing we can do about it,” Scavone said.
What’s different this time?
Mayor Williams points to a more comprehensive and equity-driven approach, pointed out in the 2024 Imagine Urbana Comprehensive Plan.
In a message to the community, Williams said, “We listened closely to people of all ages and backgrounds and did our best to reflect their needs, challenges, preferences, and vision for the future.”
The city also established the Southeast Urbana Overlay District to enforce better design standards. The boundaries of this district extend to Philo Road, with the intent, “to improve the quality of life within the District and in the surrounding neighborhood.”
There are nine key areas the district seeks to address, including pedestrian access, lighting, security and positive health outcomes.
In recent years, the city also secured federal funding for nearby transportation corridors like Florida Avenue, and completed major upgrades to Windsor Road, including safer pedestrian crossings, lane reductions and traffic signal improvements. Officials said they believe these adjacent investments could support the larger ecosystem around Philo Road.
Central to the city’s strategy is direct engagement with residents and stakeholders.
The Southeast Urbana Neighborhood Association, which represents 1,656 households in the area, plays a pivotal role in the planning and feedback process. Co-coordinators Theresa Michelson and Kathy Wallig lead a steering committee that meets regularly to ensure neighborhood voices are heard.
The association has been active in voicing concerns over redevelopment, preservation of green space, open areas, minimizing negative impacts of development and maintaining neighborhood identity.
The Philo Road Ahead event was a block party hosted by the city, encouraging residents to come out and support the revitalization effort.
In the Oct. 28 Urbana City Council Community Development Commission meeting, it was announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, which pushes different plans to improve the infrastructure of the city.
Three resolutions were presented: a $75,000 Community Development Block Grant, a $300,000 HOME funding agreement and a $58,000 funding agreement for the grant. No approval or funding was scheduled or approved for the Philo Road Ahead project.
No meeting date has been set for the next Community Development Commission meeting.
As a Urbana resident,I look forward to Philo Rd.becoming a safer place & re-establishing businesses to the community,at one time was a good area.People just have to care about their community & stand together