THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: The City of Danville is seeking a developer for potential mixed uses at the southeast corner of Vermilion and Fairchild.
DANVILLE — As residents watch the construction that’s started on the Sonic Drive-in and Jimmy John’s at the northwest corner of Fairchild and Vermilion streets, Dec. 12 is the deadline at which city officials are hoping to hear from developers nationwide regarding usage proposals for the intersection’s vacant southeast corner.
According to Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk, the city is “currently marketing for developers to submit proposals for the redevelopment of the site. We are hoping to begin attracting more attention nationwide to the site as the clean-up occurs.”
The site is brownfields land the city has been cleaning up. Hot-spot cleanup is anticipated to occur in early spring 2025, followed by confirmation sampling in summer 2025, according to city officials.
The development request for proposals went out Oct. 16. Developer selection is expected on Jan. 23-24, 2025.
For the last couple years, city officials also have been meeting with Danville High School advanced placement environmental science students to talk about environmental site assessments and future plans for the site.
The city’s vision is to “transform the Fairchild and Vermilion site into a vibrant, mixed-use development that will catalyze the revitalization of the Vermilion/Midtown Corridor.”
According to the city, based on a market analysis and site vision outlined in the Place Map report, the preferred development scenario includes:
- Approximately 17,000 square feet of retail and office space.
- A 4,800-square-foot restaurant at the northwest corner of the site.
- Pedestrian-oriented commercial real estate with vehicular access points at Vermilion and Hazel streets.
- A larger pedestrian plaza with extensive sidewalks and landscaping.
- Flexible recreation space, potentially including features such as a skate park.
- Integration of public space to maximize opportunities for community engagement.
The project should contribute to the economic vitality of the Vermilion/Midtown Corridor by: attracting new businesses to the area, with a focus on identified market opportunities such as home furnishing stores, grocery and specialty food stores, clothing and shoe stores, full-service restaurants; creating a destination that draws visitors and increases foot traffic in the corridor; and catalyzing additional private investment in surrounding properties, according to the request for proposals.
The city’s website asks interested developers, “Ready to Reimagine Danville? Join us in transforming our urban core.” City officials are calling the project “a premier development opportunity in the heart of Illinois.”
The city intends to sell the property to the selected developer at a simple fee. The city is willing to negotiate a lower selling price based on the developers’ site design, building designs, and developments performed. The city could help with public infrastructure improvements.
A comprehensive development agreement would be negotiated, pending approved by the Danville City Council, with the selected developer. It would address items such as project scope and design and development timeline. The project could take a couple years.
Also, as part of the city’s planned selection timeline: deadline for questions and answers round 1 is Nov. 8 and round 2 is Nov. 22. Initial Evaluation Period: Dec. 16-30. Shortlist Notification: Jan. 2-3, 2025. Interviews with Shortlisted Teams: Jan. 13-15, 2025. Exclusive Negotiation Period: Jan. 27 — March 4, 2025. City Council Consideration: March 18, 2025.
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