Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk announced a pair of positive news items during Tuesday (May 20th) evening’s Danville City Council meeting. The first was information from the Illinois Housing and Development Authority that an additional $475,000 will be coming Danville’s way to tear down blighted housing.
Cronk said that with other communities not using what they had originally received from the program, Danville was rewarded with some extra for using theirs. And when you combine this with the $850,000 coming from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to tear down blighted structures in the area surrounded Madison, Williams, Logan, and Gilbert; even more eyesores will now be coming down. Cronk says two major categories will continue to be emphasized: court ordered demolitions and city owned property. There are over 200 of those that qualify, with main corridors and thoroughfares likely to be the focus.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Over the past five, six years that we’ve been working with the Illinois Housing and Development Authority; we’ve really built a good relationship. We understand the rules and regulations they provide.
Cronk says the additional blight tear downs will happen this year, and start very soon. The other piece of recent good news came from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Danville, working with the Illinois EPA, will be sharing $1.86 million with Jacksonville and St. Clair County, Illinois for brownfields cleanup. Cronk says you can look at, as an example, what’s already been done southeast of Vermilion and Fairchild. And now you’ll soon have more areas in Danville getting a major chemical clean up; especially city owned, or a developer wanting to come and build on vacant land. He’s hoping to have some new areas worked on starting in 2026.
(1st Picture) Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk (second from left) talks about good news concerning funding for blight tear downs and brownfields clean ups. (2nd Picture) A model of new playground equipment being purchased for Elmwood Park.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Potentially, or known contaminated properties. From dry cleaners to gas stations, right? So, as long as we have some properties ready to go for the state to assist us in; we should take, not the majority, but some of this $1.86 million.
In other news, Danville Director of Public Works Dave Ruwe says YES, weather has slowed the progress of the Bresee Tower tear down lately. And it has also been slowed down by Homrich, the contractor, needing a new extension piece; which will hopefully arrive from overseas next week.
And towards the end of Tuesday night’s meeting; the purchase of new playground equipment for Elmwood Park, approved last week by the Public Works Committee, was approved by the full City Council. Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr is hoping to see the Elmwood Park improvements taken care of this year.
