The Town of Normal is moving forward with a $29 million project in Uptown Normal.
Monday, the council voted to give bush construction $8 million in incentives from a TIF to develop a five-story mixed use building in Uptown Normal.
To make this happen the town leaders will give up 300 parking spaces, two town owned buildings on 104 and 108 E. Beaufort St. and the historic mural.
City leaders say this project in compliance with the Uptown 2.0 plan, which states, the town will offer greater retail and housing choices to attract more visitors employers and residents to normal.
But some residents say they are not in favor of the new plans because they believe plans like these haven’t worked before.
“No guarantee of local jobs,” said Joel Studebaker, Normal Resident. “No guarantee we’ll be able to actually lease the space or the space we already have vacant. The only guarantee is that one more developer is going to speculate using land we give them while we pay them for the privilege.”
Bush construction is expected to submit preliminary plans to the town staff in the next 90 days. Leaders say construction work could begin next spring.
