A Champaign developer expects to see more interest in some land along Illinois route one at Tilton now that some new traffic signals are being installed. Crews were busy Wednesday installing the lights where a new road gives access to a 40 acre site.
Developer George Shapland of Shapland Management says it’s a good location. He thinks future development along the east side of route one in that area will help both Tilton and Vermilion County with new sales tax revenues.
Construction of a new Mach I Travel Plaza is scheduled to begin in that area early next year. Commercial Broker Larry Kuchefski says it will serve both autos and semi tractor trailers. The Mach I will include a car wash, Little Ceasars Pizza, package liquor and gaming parlor.
Kuchefski adds that although no other new developments have signed yet to move into the area, several have expressed an interest.
He says some agents from Chicago, representing big box stores, are among them. Three or four restaurants have also expressed an interest in the area according to Kuchefski, but he says the problem is convincing them that Tilton and Danville pull customers from an area with a population of 100,000 to 120,000 people.
Kuchefski added final plats and physical layout of the area is now completed, so that should help with marketing efforts. Eighteen acres located at the rear of the site have been set aside for possible development by a big box store. But no large stores have committed to the area yet.
