Downtown Champaign Plan

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Downtown Champaign is the heart of the city, connecting people to businesses, cultural destinations, public services, and vibrant public spaces. As the city's central hub, Downtown plays a role in shaping the identity and experience of our community. Over the past decades, it has undergone significant change, with new developments, shifts in businesses, and evolving needs of residents and visitors. The City of Champaign is updating the 2006 Downtown Plan which had recommendations for Downtown urban design and development, transportation, market demand and land use, and programming.

Our Downtown Plan aims to provide a collective vision for an inclusive and economically prosperous Downtown for next-generation residents, patrons, and small businesses. This website is an opportunity for residents, business owners, and visitors to share their thoughts on their ideal Downtown Champaign.



Image of Downtown Champaign Plan BoundaryImage of Downtown Champaign Plan Boundary

Downtown Champaign is the heart of the city, connecting people to businesses, cultural destinations, public services, and vibrant public spaces. As the city's central hub, Downtown plays a role in shaping the identity and experience of our community. Over the past decades, it has undergone significant change, with new developments, shifts in businesses, and evolving needs of residents and visitors. The City of Champaign is updating the 2006 Downtown Plan which had recommendations for Downtown urban design and development, transportation, market demand and land use, and programming.

Our Downtown Plan aims to provide a collective vision for an inclusive and economically prosperous Downtown for next-generation residents, patrons, and small businesses. This website is an opportunity for residents, business owners, and visitors to share their thoughts on their ideal Downtown Champaign.



Image of Downtown Champaign Plan BoundaryImage of Downtown Champaign Plan Boundary

  • Summer Engagement is here!

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    Want to see the product of all your engagement? Want to comment on draft goals from the engagement you provided last summer and over the winter? Come out and enjoy the weather with us!

    We will be out this summer at four dates to showcase what your feedback has culminated in. We will be asking for feedback, answering questions, and writing your thoughts!

    Four dates, 10 hours, countless good conversations:

    June 14 - Juneteenth Celebration at Douglass Park, 12 to 3 PM

    June 21 - Toast to Taylor Street Downtown Champaign, 6 to 8 PM

    July 18 - Friday Night Live in Downtown Champaign, 6 to 8 PM

    August 8 - CU Days at Douglass Park, 5 to 8 PM

    Ready to talk the future of Downtown Champaign? See you there!

  • Study Session Presentation Update to Council

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    The Downtown Plan Team presented our findings of the Engagement Analysis Report and Market Study Analysis to Council on April 22nd. We received direction to begin drafting a Downtown Plan vision, guiding principles, and strategies, preparing targeted opportunity site assessments, and to share these draft materials for public comment when completed. The presentation can be found here.

    The Community Insights Survey will close May 2nd (found here), however there will be more future engagement opportunities.

  • Upcoming Study Session! Downtown Plan Update

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    This Tuesday, April 22nd, the Downtown Plan Team will provide an exciting project update during a City Council Study Session! Study Sessions are an opportunity to provide public comment directly to the Downtown Plan Team and City Council. This Tuesday's meeting will feature an update on the planning process. It is not the adoption of a final plan. After months of public engagement and market analysis, staff will discuss findings and insights for our Engagement Analysis Report and Market Assessment.

    The project team will seek direction from City Council to work with consultant SB Friedman on developing site-specific market assessments for ten vacant and underutilized properties in the Downtown Study Area. The team will also seek direction to prepare the draft vision, guiding principles, strategies and success metrics for the Plan, based off public input collected to date, and City Council feedback. These materials will then be posted for further public input.

    The Community Insights Survey will remain open until May 2nd. For more information, please see Report to Council SS 2025-013 (linked here).

    Cover of Downtown Champaign Plan Engagement AnalysisDowntown Engagement Analysis Report


    Downtown Market Assessment