Members of a residents’ group in Champaign’s Clark Park neighborhood say they are not against new home construction. But the group wants the city to create a conservation district in their neighborhood to keep bigger houses from being built there. The Clark Park Steering Committee submitted a conservation district application to the city in early August.

Two weeks after the Champaign Historic Preservation Commission nominated three buildings for historic landmark status, the Champaign Plan Commission has recommended denying that status, to allow for the expansion of Champaign Central High School.

Three buildings that the Champaign School Board wants to tear down for the expansion of Central High School have been nominated for local landmark status. The action approved Thursday by the Champaign Historic Preservation Commission occurred the same day that the school board filed formal protests with the city.