The next Danville City Council meeting will consider a $1.8 million dollar proposal from a developer to give the Turk Furniture building a new life. $600,000 would come from the city; 400 of that from general funds,the other 200 from the Downtown TIF district. Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says the proposal actually calls for up to three businesses, all restaurants, on the bottom floor. The second floor, Cronk says, could possibly end up being residential. But figuring that part out is down the road.
AUDIO: Our current planning staff is pushing for residential units upstairs. Typically, what we’re seeing, especially right now; businesses are starting to thrive on the first floors. But little to no dollars are being spent on the second or even third stories of things buildings. And, take a look at our neighbors in Champaign; first floor is businesses, second floor is typically residential.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr says, making the second floor of the Turk building residential could indeed start something new, and start something good.
AUDIO: We have a couple of great places above businesses downtown. We have some folks that live above the old Downtown Danville Catering. So I think there are lots of great opportunities for us to improve and increase the amount of residential downtown.
The next full Danville City Council meeting is next Tuesday, September 20th.
