Uptown Normal

The Town of Normal's Historic Preservation Commission approved two requests to demolish abandoned buildings in Uptown, but rejected a third. The three buildings are marked for demolition to make way for the Trail East and West developments.

The Uptown Design Review Commission has delayed votes on proposed designs for the long-planned Trail East and West developments, asking the designers for more mock-ups and some changes.

A Joliet-based contractor is proposing two six-story buildings with restaurants and residential space to become the long-planned Trail East and Trail West developments near Uptown Circle.

The Town of Normal's Historic Preservation Commission will decide whether or not to approve demolition of three Uptown Normal buildings at its next meeting.

Normal City Manager Pam Reece said the Federal Railroad Administration has assured the town it's OK with the delay.

The Normal Town Council on Monday approved three resolutions to proceed with work on the long-delayed Uptown underpass.

The underpass project is up for a second vote because the first contractor pulled out of the project. Since then, the cost has risen from $32 million to $34 million, but the town's cost remains the same. That's close to $15 million.

The new version of the proposed Trail East and West development project in Uptown Normal would be primarily residential housing on the north side of the traffic circle straddling Constitution Trail. And a controversial mural on a building in the project footprint would likely be torn down.

The Normal Town Council has a new code of ethics, and though it’s mostly symbolic, the resident who proposed the idea says it is needed in today’s political climate.

The exhibit area closed for renovations in January. It will officially reopen on Thursday, April 9, featuring pretend play and education on agriculture, farming and the sources of food in Central Illinois.