Champaign Planning Staff Supports Effort To Save Historic Sites
The 19th century Bailey House is one of the houses for which PACA is seeking city landmark status to prevent its demolition by Unit 4. Jim Meadows/Illinois Public Media
A Champaign preservation group won round one in an effort to prevent Unit 4 schools from tearing down several historic properties.
The district plans to demolish the sites as part of the Champaign Central High school expansion.
It’s only the first step in a long process for the Preservation and Conservation Association as it works to protect the sites along West Church Street.
Champaign Planning and Development Director Bruce Knight said in a memo on Friday that planning staff supports the nomination of the properties as a historic landmark.
The city’s Historic Preservation Commission plans to take up the question at its meeting on Thursday.
If it approves, the nomination still faces votes by the planning commission and the city council.