Housing
Read more about the article Champaign’s lawsuits against Champaign Park Apartments seek new remediesapartments.com
Champaign Park Apartments received the most complaints in Champaign from January 1, 2021 to mid February 2023. During this time, 393 units were condemned by the city.

Champaign’s lawsuits against Champaign Park Apartments seek new remedies

In the ongoing legal battle between the City of Champaign and the troubled Champaign Park Apartments, the court recently ordered inspection of heating systems…

Continue ReadingChampaign’s lawsuits against Champaign Park Apartments seek new remedies
Read more about the article Shadow Wood and mobile home parks still lack emergency weather alerts in SpanishRoger Morales/Hoy
The entrance to Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park. File photo.

Shadow Wood and mobile home parks still lack emergency weather alerts in Spanish

Spanish-speaking Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park residents cannot receive weather alerts about tornados or severe storms because there are no Spanish-language services in Champaign.…

Continue ReadingShadow Wood and mobile home parks still lack emergency weather alerts in Spanish
Read more about the article Top property owners in Champaign County include University of Illinois, Mormon church and web of landlordsDarrell Hoemann
Brookens Admin Center in Urbana, IL 61801 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Top property owners in Champaign County include University of Illinois, Mormon church and web of landlords

In 2023, 13 property owners in Champaign County owned over 100 properties each. The largest property owner, by far, is the University of Illinois…

Continue ReadingTop property owners in Champaign County include University of Illinois, Mormon church and web of landlords
Read more about the article Causes of many fires in Champaign and Urbana go undetermined; Campustown is a hot spot
Photo depicting the aftermath of a fire at 206 S. First St. Photo by Claire Podlesak.

Causes of many fires in Champaign and Urbana go undetermined; Campustown is a hot spot

A cigarette butt flicked out of an open window.  A late-night pizza sitting in the oven for too long.  A hair curler left on…

Continue ReadingCauses of many fires in Champaign and Urbana go undetermined; Campustown is a hot spot
Read more about the article Champaign’s vacant properties can languish for years without correction; Fines increased in past two yearsDarrell Hoemann
The former C.S. Johnson factory in Champaign on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Champaign’s vacant properties can languish for years without correction; Fines increased in past two years

Building paint is peeling, junk litters the property and “no trespassing” signs sporadically adorn fences surrounding the approximately 330,000 square feet of property of…

Continue ReadingChampaign’s vacant properties can languish for years without correction; Fines increased in past two years
Read more about the article Over one year later, no detached housing built following Champaign ordinance
Image from illinoisrealtors.org article about accessory dwelling units.

Over one year later, no detached housing built following Champaign ordinance

Some residents expressed concern about a negative impact on neighborhoods when the city of Champaign passed a June 2022 ordinance to build additional, detached…

Continue ReadingOver one year later, no detached housing built following Champaign ordinance

Complaints about yard waste and housing in disrepair continue to rise in Urbana; Property inspections behind schedule goal

Rental property and nuisance complaints have soared in Urbana over the past few years, records show.  The records, obtained via Freedom of Information Act…

Continue ReadingComplaints about yard waste and housing in disrepair continue to rise in Urbana; Property inspections behind schedule goal
Read more about the article University of Illinois seeks to have ‘less adversarial’ relationship with landlords to provide more resources for student tenants
Screenshots of the Housing Explorer retrieved using the Internet Archive.

University of Illinois seeks to have ‘less adversarial’ relationship with landlords to provide more resources for student tenants

Following the takedown of the University of Illinois’s Housing Explorer database, a resource for students seeking housing in Urbana and Champaign, the Off-Campus Community…

Continue ReadingUniversity of Illinois seeks to have ‘less adversarial’ relationship with landlords to provide more resources for student tenants
Read more about the article Residents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues
A half-lit sign illuminates the Latitude East building on 608 E University Ave. Nine residents have filed maintenance complaints with the city of Champaign in the past year. Photo by Gwyn Skiles.

Residents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues

Latitude, a five-story apartment complex in Champaign, has been the target of at least nine complaints to the city within the past year. Located…

Continue ReadingResidents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues