Another large housing development — with over 250 apartments and row houses — is planned for Normal on a prime piece of real estate near the Collie Ridge subdivision.
The Essex multifamily housing complex is being planned for what’s currently 17 acres of farmland at the northeast corner of Shelbourne Avenue and Beech Street in Normal. Plans submitted to the Town of Normal call for 228 new apartment units spread across 19 buildings, plus 24 additional units in six row houses.
There would be on-site detention, plus recreation areas, 457 parking spots, and 88 bike parking spots, according to the plans. Trees and hedges would help screen the area from neighbors and passers-by.
The same developer is also later planning 20 attached single-family homes, on about 2.5 acres.
The developer is Worthington LLC, which is managed by Young America, one of the largest property management companies in Bloomington-Normal.
Worthington is seeking approval for an amended preliminary subdivision plan for the Collie Ridge subdivision; a preliminary development plan for The Essex; and related rezoning. The land is currently zoned for single-family housing use (R-1B).
The plans are set for a public hearing with the Normal Planning Commission at 5 p.m. Dec. 7 at Normal City Hall.
The project is aimed at Bloomington-Normal’s housing shortage. Several developments have been announced, though few new units have come online as of yet. Just across Beech Street, another private group is currently renovating the former Illinois State University student apartments on Shelbourne Avenue, with plans to reopen the site as the 300 Spot.
