The transfer of four new homes being built in Danville along West Seminary Street between Oak and Franklin to another builder was made official during Tuesday evening’s (Feb 17th) Danville City Council meeting, with one amendment made to the resolution. With Taylor Construction and Design of Urbana unable to finish the project, Reffett Properties of Alvin wanted to have the transfer official by the end of this week. That has happened by a 13-0 Council vote, after the amendment was also passed.
Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk explained afterwards why some Council members felt the amendment was needed.
AUDIO: The nervousness coming from City Council was from the potential liability that comes with a partially completed project, and the changing of ownership. They showed signs of concern for essentially lines for unpaid product or services. We’ve been assured that that has been rectified, and we have amended the contract to double down on being safe.
One of the new homes being built along West Seminary. (Jennifer Bailey/The News Gazette)
Meanwhile, a Fiscal Year 2026 budget adjustment was made to allow Danville to purchase 52 vacant properties, 30 of which have blighted structures that need torn down. Cronk said that many of these lots are along the East Main Street Corridor, and that any tear downs needed will come from the next Community Development Block Grant the city receives from the state’s Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Strong Communities Program.
AUDIO: We find the great success in our demolition program is because we always have a list of properties that are grant-ready to be demolished. And it makes us very competitive for current grant dollars, and future grant dollars. It’s our bread and butter, as I like to say. And this is one of the reasons why we’re successful.
Cronk says the next possible IHDA Strong Communities Program grant will likely be in early 2027.
