Read more about the article Downtown for sale: Vacant and derelict buildings wait for new owners and development plans
29 E Main St - Spring 2022

Downtown for sale: Vacant and derelict buildings wait for new owners and development plans

Abandoned and vacant buildings abound in downtown Champaign after three years of pandemic closures, business failures, downsizing and moves, a street-by-street survey by CU-CitizenAccess…

Continue ReadingDowntown for sale: Vacant and derelict buildings wait for new owners and development plans
Read more about the article How bad are the streets of Champaign and Urbana? Pavement data detail poor quality and need for extensive repairsChris Sokolowski
A screenshot of the downtown Champaign area with road segments colored by their pavement condition index grade. Green represents good quality and red represents poor quality. Compiled by Chris Sokolowski.

How bad are the streets of Champaign and Urbana? Pavement data detail poor quality and need for extensive repairs

It's not rare to find postings on social media sites in Champaign and Urbana about potholes or crumbling roads causing damage to cars —…

Continue ReadingHow bad are the streets of Champaign and Urbana? Pavement data detail poor quality and need for extensive repairs
Read more about the article Record-breaking numbers in C-U elicit $3.2 million annual gun violence reduction plan
A map of shootings in Champaign overlaid with color-coded community indicators from Jan. 1, 2016 to Nov. 15, 2021. These indicators consider area demographics such as race and household income, and are outlined in the city's community violence reduction blueprint.

Record-breaking numbers in C-U elicit $3.2 million annual gun violence reduction plan

The City of Champaign is implementing a multi-million-dollar plan to combat local gun violence focusing spending on its street outreach program intended to aid…

Continue ReadingRecord-breaking numbers in C-U elicit $3.2 million annual gun violence reduction plan
Read more about the article Of 50 victims, young minorities harmed most by flurry of Champaign gun violence
A map of shootings in Champaign from Jan. 1, 2016 to Nov. 15, 2021. It was released in the Community Violence Reduction Blueprint, which was released in February 2022.

Of 50 victims, young minorities harmed most by flurry of Champaign gun violence

There were 50 lethal shootings in the city of Champaign between 2015 and the first half of 2022. Of those 50 victims, 15 were…

Continue ReadingOf 50 victims, young minorities harmed most by flurry of Champaign gun violence
Read more about the article Urbana says “no” to license plate readers, but Champaign says “yes” in effort to reduce gun violence
A portion of the proposed automatic license plate readers in Champaign, bordered by light blue lines. Screenshot from Champaign study session document.

Urbana says “no” to license plate readers, but Champaign says “yes” in effort to reduce gun violence

Although Champaign voted in favor of implementing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) for $240,500 last month, Urbana rejected its $54,000 idea about a month…

Continue ReadingUrbana says “no” to license plate readers, but Champaign says “yes” in effort to reduce gun violence