Story by Kevin Woodard
The Normal Town Council passed a resolution Monday night authorizing Farr & Associates to begin work on a Master Plan for Town South.
The area was included in the Uptown Normal 2.0 Master Plan but given that plan is seven years old and a number of things have changed since then the town decided it was necessary to develop an updated plan. Changes since that time include the success of Rivian and impacts resulting from the COVID pandemic. The vote was 5 – 2 with council members Stan Nord and Scott Preston voting against the resolution.
Uptown South is bounded by Union Pacific Railroad on the north, S, Linden Street on the east, E. Irving Street on the south and Broadway on the west. The Uptown South area includes an eight acre parcel that is currently home to the Normal Police Station and includes the old Normal City Hall building now referred to as the annex.
Photo courtesy to Council Member Karyn Smith’s Facebook page
In an interview after the meeting Preston explained why he why he voted against against the resolution saying, “So we have as a council in the past approved master planning for the south side of the tracks both before and and since the underpass conversation has really come to fruition. For me looking at past decisions as well as what was presented to us tonight the action tonight was doing a lot of the same things that we previously had just doing them now six years later in a different market but the same general field of work.”
Normal Mayor Chris Koos objected to similar remarks made by Preston during the meeting. “I can guarantee you it’s not the same work,” Koos told Preston.
Later in the meeting Koos explained why he supported the project saying, “One of the functions of local government is land use. We do this all the time. … It’s a primary function of to do this. … Another thing is we own the land. … It’s our job to provide that quality of life, that sense of place where people want to be. … That’s our basic function by law. … That’s why I feel this is the best thing to do.”
Also supporting the project was Council member Kathleen Lorenz. Lorenz explained the conclusion she came to after a citizen asked her “Is this something you need to do to sustain life?” Lorenz admitted she had to seriously think about the question but concluded that, “These eight acres represent redevelopment, infill development, in the business district and one can argue that economic development is necessary.”
The Uptown 2.0 plan envisioned Uptown South would include traditional streets and blocks, a public park, retail space, office space, a library, housing and parking. The public park was to include “opportunities for open space programs such as concerts” and festivals. The park was described as providing “a gentle sloping transition connecting Constitution trail to the planned railroad underpass.”
During the meeting City Manager Pam Reece mentioned a one acre amphitheater connected to the underpass so it sounds like that feature definitely remains in play.
Only time will tell what features wind up in the new Uptown South Master Plan.
Normal citizens and area residents are encouraged to participate in the extensive public process that is planned.
