Neighborhoods – Page 8 – CU-CitizenAccess.org

Flooding on Anita Dr. in the Garden Hills neighborhood in June 2021.

United Garden Hills lighting, flooding projects underway after years of resident complaints

Post author:Diana Anghel / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:December 17, 2021
Post category:Neighborhoods Public Funds

In June, the city was awarded $25 million through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), a COVID-19 economic relief plan disbursing emergency funds. Half of the funds have already been given to the city, while the other half will be received next year. Kay Nees, finance director of the city, said the ARP was like a “key missing piece” in order to get to work on Garden Hills. The two efforts, a drainage project to target flooding, and a lighting project to make the streets safer, have their own timeline, budget and design. The first phase of the drainage project has already been completed: creating greenspace to install detention basins. The city worked with residents to demolish properties that were frequently getting flooded to make room for detention basins.

Trash lines the bus stop next to Walmart on North Prospect Ave. in Champaign on April 5, 2021. Photo by Dylan Tiger.

Champaign residents seek litter solutions after delayed city cleanup efforts, untracked complaints

Post author:Daria Makhneva / For CU-CitizenAccess and Dylan Tiger
Post published:April 9, 2021
Post category:CU-Covid19 Environment Neighborhoods

Champaign residents erupted on social media in early March about the excess litter in the Champaign area, especially North Prospect, with some claiming they have never seen the city so polluted before. In late spring this year, resident Michael Chrasta expects “a revival” of the Loving Our City cleanup initiative that was cancelled in March 2020 as COVID-19 entered the community.

Read more about the article Gunfire incidents get closer to home for Holiday Park neighborhood

Darrell Hoemann

Street scene in the Holiday Park area of Champaign, IL on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. View is looking south on Kenwood Road and Maplewood Drive. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Gunfire incidents get closer to home for Holiday Park neighborhood

Post author:Naomi Diaz / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:December 18, 2020
Post category:Neighborhoods

Residents of the Holiday Park neighborhood in west Champaign have been experiencing an increase in gun incidents, and residents say sounds of gunfire is now a ‘normality’ for this area. According to Tom Yelich, public information officer at the Champaign Police Department, there have been 174 shooting incidents as of November 23. This number is the highest the city has seen in the last five years.

The intersection of Mattis Ave. and Paula Dr. in Champaign lacks street lighting most of the way down Paula Dr. in the Garden Hills neighborhood.

Garden Hills neighborhood faces dark times, literally and figuratively

Post author:Miles Powers-Huang / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:December 11, 2020
Post category:CU-Covid19 Neighborhoods

The city’s multi-decade improvement plan for Garden Hills has increased the community residents’ trepidation as they see general deterioration and an abundance of issues piling up while the city’s improvement efforts appear to have slowed. “We’re just not a priority, let’s put it that way,” resident Amy Revilla said.

Read more about the article South Willis neighborhood creates togetherness in a time of isolation

Google Street View

The intersection of Green St. and Willis Ave. on Google Street View, last updated in October 2015.

South Willis neighborhood creates togetherness in a time of isolation

Post author:Chrisoula Motamed / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:November 11, 2020
Post category:Neighborhoods

With the South Willis area relying heavily on community-centered events and interactions, the coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult for neighbors to interact and participate in activities like they have in the past. Despite these challenges, they have found a way to come together in an even stronger way during these unprecedented times.

Read more about the article Limited funding prevents West Urbana brick sidewalks from being accessible

Sydney Wood

A brick sidewalk in need of repair located near the intersection of South Busey Ave. near West California Ave. in Urbana. Photo taken November 2, 2020.

Limited funding prevents West Urbana brick sidewalks from being accessible

Post author:Sydney Wood / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:November 6, 2020
Post category:Neighborhoods Public Funds

Despite ongoing major road construction within West Urbana, multiple stretches of brick sidewalks that do not meet the standards of the federal disability act will not be fixed. Urbana City Administrator Carol Mitten said the City doesn’t have the finances to correct every non-ADA compliant sidewalk in Urbana that is outside of MCORE’s construction zone.

Read more about the article Lierman neighborhood continues to face difficulties to receive “quality of life”

Lierman Neighborhood Community Garden - Facebook

The Lierman Neighborhood Community Garden posts photos of the community and events taking place in the garden regularly. Photo from Facebook in September 2020.

Lierman neighborhood continues to face difficulties to receive “quality of life”

Post author:Luis Velazquez / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:November 6, 2020
Post category:Neighborhoods

A community garden in one Urbana neighborhood has helped its residents overcome two prevailing issues: crime and food insecurity.

Read more about the article Clark Park neighbors work to bring back community-wide events

Clark Park's Community Facebook Page

A free pantry located on the corner of James and Daniel in the Clark Park neighborhood is part of the efforts made by community leaders. Fresh produce, food, masks and other items were available for free.

Clark Park neighbors work to bring back community-wide events

Post author:Delaney Appelhans / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:November 4, 2020
Post category:CU-Covid19 Neighborhoods

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic is significantly limiting the ability for Clark Park community leaders to plan and host their staple events. The 61821 zip code, which includes Clark Park, has had 549 confirmed cases of COVID-19 according to data from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

The former News-Gazette building in downtown Champaign on Monday, September 28, 2020. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Former News-Gazette building sold to local businesswoman

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:September 28, 2020
Post category:Community Voices Neighborhoods

The former owners of the News-Gazette have sold the building at 15 East Main Street in Champaign for nearly $1.2 million to local businesswoman Laura Kalman, according to documents filed in U.S Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

Read more about the article Displaced Bristol Place residents to return home

Google Earth

Bristol Place is located near Neil St. and Bradley Ave., with new leasing options available through Lamoine Property Management in Champaign.

Displaced Bristol Place residents to return home

Post author:Tatiana Perry / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:December 2, 2019
Post category:Neighborhoods

The site of the old Bristol Place neighborhood on Bradley Avenue and Market Street in Champaign was demolished in March of 2018. The neighborhood was riddled with crime, was a blight that could not be eradicated without rebuilding the area from scratch, the Bristol Park board stated.