Housing
Read more about the article Loophole saves Champaign County landlords $1.8 million a year in property taxesPiotr Fedczuk
University Park Apartments on North Broadway Avenue in Urbana, Ill. in April 2026. Photo by Piotr Fedczuk.

Loophole saves Champaign County landlords $1.8 million a year in property taxes

Each year, Champaign County property owners each get a tax exemption of up to $6,000 for living in their one home. But about 1,400…

Continue ReadingLoophole saves Champaign County landlords $1.8 million a year in property taxes
Read more about the article Champaign police met with Shadow Wood residents to calm growing fear over immigration enforcement, ICEKennedy Williams
The exterior of a home in Shadow Wood. Photo by Kennedy Williams.

Champaign police met with Shadow Wood residents to calm growing fear over immigration enforcement, ICE

Residents at Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park, a community with many Spanish-speaking residents, have been meeting with Champaign police over concerns about immigration enforcement.…

Continue ReadingChampaign police met with Shadow Wood residents to calm growing fear over immigration enforcement, ICE
Read more about the article Upgrades planned for Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park, but little city involvementJose Diaz / For CU-CitizenAccess
The Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park has seen many changes during the past two decades, most notably a dramatic increase in its Hispanic population and a reduction in crime.

Upgrades planned for Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park, but little city involvement

The manager at Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park said they are continuing to focus on maintenance and upgrades to streets throughout the neighborhood, which…

Continue ReadingUpgrades planned for Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park, but little city involvement
Read more about the article Plan for storm shelter in Shadow Wood mobile home park no longer under discussionRoger Morales/Hoy
The entrance to Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park. File photo.

Plan for storm shelter in Shadow Wood mobile home park no longer under discussion

City plans made over a decade ago to incorporate a storm shelter for vulnerable mobile home park residents at Shadow Wood in Champaign have…

Continue ReadingPlan for storm shelter in Shadow Wood mobile home park no longer under discussion
Read more about the article Despite neighborhood opposition, Champaign moves forward with Hill Street multifamily permitCity of Champaign
Aerial view of 919 W Hill St and notified properties within 250+ ft, provided by the City of Champaign, Jan. 28, 2025.

Despite neighborhood opposition, Champaign moves forward with Hill Street multifamily permit

The City of Champaign approved a special use permit to allow a four-unit apartment building at 919 W. Hill St. despite ongoing concerns from…

Continue ReadingDespite neighborhood opposition, Champaign moves forward with Hill Street multifamily permit
Read more about the article Proposed Ameren gas hike cut nearly in half by Illinois Commerce CommissionOates Associates
The Ameren Illinois headquarters in Collinsville. Photo from Oates Associates' website.

Proposed Ameren gas hike cut nearly in half by Illinois Commerce Commission

Ameren Illinois customers will see about a $3.65 increase a month to their gas bill instead of between $8 to $10 effective this December…

Continue ReadingProposed Ameren gas hike cut nearly in half by Illinois Commerce Commission
Read more about the article Residents hit with higher summer electricity bills that exceeded estimated increases
The Ameren Illinois service zone and the grid operator's zone covers much of the same territory. Source: Ambit Energy Pros (Left), MISO Planning Resource Auction for Planning Year 2025/26 Results (Right) 

Residents hit with higher summer electricity bills that exceeded estimated increases

This past June, Ameren Illinois increased its summer electricity supply rates from 8 cents per kilowatt-hour to 12, projecting bills to increase from 10%…

Continue ReadingResidents hit with higher summer electricity bills that exceeded estimated increases
Read more about the article Republic Services raises its prices in C-U with little customer noticeDarrell Hoemann
Republic Services exterior at 2801 N Willow Rd, Urbana, IL 61802) on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Republic Services raises its prices in C-U with little customer notice

To the surprise of its customers, Republic Services — a North American solid waste collection company with services in Champaign-Urbana — silently increased its…

Continue ReadingRepublic Services raises its prices in C-U with little customer notice
Read more about the article Legal battle over condemned Champaign Park Apartments proceeds into 2026 Dylan Tiger
The frame of the sign for Champaign Park Apartments along Country Fair Drive sits empty on Nov. 15, 2025, with boarded up windows on the condemned apartment buildings in the background. Photo by Dylan Tiger.

Legal battle over condemned Champaign Park Apartments proceeds into 2026 

A lawsuit filed by the City of Champaign against the out-of-town owner of run-down apartment buildings remains unresolved heading into 2026.  Champaign has been…

Continue ReadingLegal battle over condemned Champaign Park Apartments proceeds into 2026 
Read more about the article Soil, site cleanup required for new apartment complex at site of demolished C.S. Johnson factoryPatrick Mahoney
The former CS Johnson factory site was recently demolished to make way for eight apartment buildings. Photo by Patrick Mahoney.

Soil, site cleanup required for new apartment complex at site of demolished C.S. Johnson factory

Site cleanup and soil work are part of the environmental work required to develop a new eight-building apartment complex on the site of the…

Continue ReadingSoil, site cleanup required for new apartment complex at site of demolished C.S. Johnson factory