Then and Now: Taking a Closer Look into the City of Champaign, Illinois and the East Side Plan of 1994
In the City of Champaign, lies a lethargic commercialized area lying dormant in the shadow of its downtown sister. Known as the East Side, it is comprised of one of the oldest commercial areas in the city. In 1994 the City of Champaign, Illinois Planning Department devised the East Side Plan as a solution. It comprises a strategic setting for the improvement of the area that is to span a life of fifteen years. It is now nearly over a decade since its inception and the area appears to lie dormant in the wake of progress. This project will attempt to examine what has occurred within the area since its onset and what recommendations, if any, should be made for improvements. Compiled research will address what important issues still remain in the wake of the plan (i.e., public infrastructure, ownership discrepancies and changing demographics) via creating an East Side Plan database and a spreadsheet of participating Tax Increment Financing (TIF 2) properties. It will also be necessary to review existing study corridor information (past and present), surveys and current population demographics. It is intended to gather relevant research materials through the City of Champaign Planning Department. Reviewed resources will include but shall not be limited to existing conditions reports, East Side Plan, East University Tax Increment District Redevelopment Plan, Redevelopment Incentive Program reports, zoning maps and Census Bureau block maps.
School:
Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge
Department:
Architecture
Research Advisor:
Christopher Silver
Department of Research Advisor:
Regional and Urban Planning
Year of Publication:
2003