ABOVE: Ground is broken northwest of Seminary and Franklin in Danville for four planned new homes; to be built on land acquired by the city and donated for building to Urbana’s Taylor Construction & Design. FRONT ROW WITH SHOVELS: Realtor Hayley Siefert, Alderwoman Carolyn Wands, Taylor Construction & Design owner Wes Taylor, Taylor Construction & Design project manager Mitchell Lucus, Mayor Rickey Williams Jr, and Alderman Rick Strebing.
At a Thursday (July 10th) noon groundbreaking northwest of Seminary and Franklin, Danville’s official plan to start bringing new homes to the city was put into place. As Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr explained beforehand, this is a follow-up to all the old, blighted homes that have been torn down. Now it’s time to build new homes and give Danville a chance for some growth. And he looks for more groundbreakings, just like this one.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: At the beginning of May, we dropped the last bad house in this area; made it a desirable place for builders to come. And so when Hayley connected us to Taylor Homes, that just made all the pieces come together. This certainly won’t be the last.
Realtor Hayley Siefert from KellerWilliams TREC told us she was at a conference in Texas last fall, and met someone from Iowa; describing a situation where a city purchases some property, and donates it to a willing developer for the building of new homes.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: So when I got home from Texas my first call was to Logan Cronk, and to Mike Marron. And like, okay, can we have a meeting; and can we see how we can do this in Danville; make it quality housing, but make it affordable.
(1st Picture) Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr joins Aldermen Rick Strebing and Carolyn Wands in expressing appreciation for everyone involved in making the project at Seminary and Franklin happen. (3rd Picture) Taylor Construction & Design co-owners Kendra and Wes Taylor talk about their commitment to the building of four new homes in Danville.
And soon after that, Siefert found out that Taylor Construction & Design in Urbana was very interested in such a project. Wes Taylor, co-owner of Taylor Construction & Design, says this is a case of a business and a city, both passionate about giving a big boost to the community, wanting to work together.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: We anticipate that we’ll have our permits in the next two to three days, or by the first part of next week. And, as soon as we get our permits, then we’ll be ready to rock and roll.
Taylor Construction & Design’s project manager for the four new homes at Seminary and Franklin will be Mitchell Lucus.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Taylor Construction & Design is happy to work with Danville; to bring some new homes, to bring some new life, to the Danville community and the residents of Danville.
Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says this was able to happen at a fast pace, because the city believed in what they had in mind.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: The city of Danville willing to invest some dollars on blight removal, and the confidence and faith that somebody would eventually build on them. It was a quick meeting that we had with the developers, and they really liked this area; and here we are today.
Hayley Siefert mentioned that although actual advertising for these future Danville homes was not scheduled to start until after the groundbreaking, simple word-of-mouth has already brought about substantial interest in these future new Danville houses. Those who purchase the new homes will receive a 50%, five year property tax abatement from the city.