ABOVE: A recently concluded open bidding period on the city-owned southeast corner of N. Vermilion and Fairchild produced no requests for proposals, but Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says developers are expressing interest for the future.
The City of Danville continues to hold out hope for solid development on the city-owned southeast corner of North Vermilion and Fairchild. Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says that although an open bidding period just expired without any actual proposals, developers are expressing interest for the future. Cronk says, that’s a good start.
AUDIO: We’re going to hold off on releasing any more bids on the site. We feel that the interested developers that we did receive inquiries from would likely make private offers as soon as the site gets more prepared for development.
So now, this past week, the city received news about a $31,000 grant for additional soil and environmental studies on the southeast corner, such as at the specific area where the cleaning facility used to be. Once that is done, the city will qualify for additional access to the $1 million in grant funds promised by the U.S. and Illinois Environmental Protection Agencies.
(First Picture) The northwest corner of N. Vermilion and Fairchild shows progress on the new Sonic (back, left) and Jimmy John’s (front, right) restaurants. (Second Picture) The city says the empty northeast corner, where an old gas station was recently torn down, has not yet been properly graded and seeded by the contractor. Therefore, attempting an intersection shortcut by driving on this surface, which can look like concrete at night, is causing vehicles to become stuck.
Meanwhile, the northeast corner of the intersection, where the now torn down gas station used to be, came up during this past Tuesday evening’s (Dec 10th) City Council sessions. It seems that some drivers are trying to use the open area as a shortcut to avoid the traffic light, and are getting stuck. Cronk says that’s because the lot’s owner did not complete the job they were supposed to do by grading and seeding the surface after tear down. The surface is basically just sand; but at night it can look like concrete. Cronk says they are in contact with the owner for not only finishing the job, but also putting up barriers at the site in the meantime. Cronk says if barriers are not up by the end of this month, the city may have to do that themselves; and then wait for grass seeding in the spring.
AUDIO: In it’s current state, it has no black dirt to plant any seeds, nor has it been seeded. So, that is incomplete per the City of Danville. We’re hoping to be working with the owner to just get it done without actually going to a hearing to enforce the completion of the demolition.
Finally, progress is continuing on the northwest corner for the new Sonic and Jimmy John’s restaurants. Both structures are going up; and as you look at the corner, the future Sonic is the one furthest to the north.
