Illinois Newsroom has been covering the struggle to find affordable housing around the state. The lack of funding to build housing for people with low-incomes is one challenge. But city governments can influence where and how housing is built through their zoning rules.

Some residents of Champaign’s so-called In-Town zoning districts say proposed city zoning rules could change the character of their neighborhoods for the worse.

Champaign-Urbana has seen a bit of a building boom in the last couple of years, leading city officials to revise their zoning rules. But some residents worry that that new buildings will change the character of their neighborhoods.

Champaign officials will outine proposed zoning rule changes for the city's oldest residential area, Thursday at 6:30 PM at the Champaign Public Library. Many residents of the "In-Town" zoning districts hope the new zoning rules will help ensure that new apartment buildings in the area are compatible with existing housing.