Danville City Council Fine Tunes Arrangements for Sonic and Jimmy John’s Project on Fairchild – Vermilion NW Corner

ABOVE: Future home of a Sonic and Jimmy John’s on the northwest corner of North Vermilion and Fairchild.

Tuesday evening’s (May 21st) Danville City Council meeting included passing some finalizations on the northwest corner of North Vermilion and Fairchild, where plans continue for a relocated Jimmy John’s and a brand new Sonic restaurant.  As Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk explained afterwards, one major concern is certainly traffic flow, especially where cars will exit.

AUDIO: The exit to the site, which is the main concern, on to Vermilion; is going to be right turn only, so you’re not making a dangerous exit and crossing traffic.  And we’re hoping that most users of either restaurant exit out the back side, which is currently to the north of the Hardees, on to Walnut, and get on to Fairchild.

Patrick Wampler, who will be the owner of both restaurants once they open, says the aim is now to start construction this year, and open everything sometime next year.

AUDIO: I think so.  I think we’re beginning of 2025.  I mean it could be sooner.  But, I’ve just done this long enough now that we know that construction tends to hold up a little longer than we’d like.

(1st Picture) Owner of planned Sonic and Jimmy John’s restaurants Patrick Wampler listens during Danville City Council meeting.  (3rd Picture) Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk (middle) explains plans during meeting.

Chad Osterbur, consulting engineer for Patrick Wampler, says things are definitely getting close; but there’s been a lot to worry about.

AUDIO: Toughest thing to figure out on this project?  Probably the drainage.  But; the entrances, the exits, working with IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation).  That’s all been probably the most complicated.

In other action during the Danville City Council meeting, a couple of notable things that passed at last week’s Public Works meeting were made official.  One was the amendment to DACC’s lease of the Winter Park Ball Fields, with their plans for future improvements.  Another was the approval of including planned window replacements on the top floor of 11 E. North Street above Requite Tattoo as part of a downtown TIF district, for the first step of owner Kendred Tillotson’s plans to make the second floor usable for developing apartments.

And as far as the recent online auction of the Village Mall goes, Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr stated he will have some additional updated information soon about what happens next.  Last week, the southwest parking lot and much of the empty part of the mall structure sold during the online auction; but the main part anchored by County Market and Dunham’s Sports, referred to as “the strip,” did not sell because of lower than anticipated bids.