The Champaign City Building (City hall) is located at 102 N. Neil Street Champaign, Il.  Cornerstone was laid in 1935.  Construction was completed in 1937. It was built as a New Deal Project.  It was partially funded with a federal Grant from the Public Works Administration.  Construction costs were $210,000.  The architect was George Ramey.  Building style was Art Deco.

     Main tower spans 6 floors.  Open opening, the city Council chambers were on the 5th floor.  They are now on the first floor.

     The exterior walls are clad in  light toned blond brick.  This was chosen to make the building stand out from the red brick buildings throughout downtown Champaign.

     Bedford limestone is used extensively for structural trim  and detailing.

     The pyramidal shaped roof capping  the six story tower is clad in copper.  This was deep brown color when it was installed.  Over the years this converted to a light green color

     Reinforced concrete was used

     Basement and footings.  The heavy weight of the building’s stone and brick facade rests entirely on massive, poured in place reinforced concrete footings.

     Retaining walls

    The underground basement level, which houses.mechanical equipment and city archives, utilizes reinforced concrete walls to hold back the surrounding soil and resists ground water pressure

Internal.skeleton

   Floor slabs: the floors separating the basement, main level, and upper chambers are constructed of reinforced concrete slabs.  This provides fire proofing between floors and prevents the building from vibrating.     

    Support columns: hidden behind the decorative interior plaster, a skeleton of reinforced concrete or concrete encased steel  columns transfers the weight of the upper floors and copper roof  structure down to the earth

     

     

     This six story landmark building is located at 17 E. University Avenue, Champaign, Il.

     This hotel.opened its doors on March.11,1915. Itmwas.advertosed as a premier fireproof luxury hotel in downtown Champaign.

     The building was commissioned by George Inman.  The builders were  the English Brothers. The architects Nelson Spencer and Harry Temple.  Originally, the building had 5 floors in a c shape to optimize sunlight and air flow.  There were 120 guest rooms.   A six floor was added in 1916.

     The 1915 construction costs were over $200,000. Renovation in 2022 was approximately $24,000 per room.

     List of uses due the years

     1915–1974:  Luxury Commercial Hotel

      Premier 120 room regional lodging

     1915 to mid 1900’s: Commercial Hub

     Billiard hall, Turkish bath,barbershop, drug store

      1965–1978 Television Studio (WICD TV

      Broadcast headquarters on the 2nd floor.

      1975-1987 Residential Arts School

       National Academy of the Arts student housing

       1989-2021 Senior living community

       (Inman Place 55+ independent senior apartments)

    This was the Venice Housing Authority’s first public housing complex.  It was built in the late 1960’s on North Grove Street. It served as a key affordable housing hub for families in Venice’s historically Black neighborhood.  The 50 unit complex was demolished in 2009. It was replaced by the modern Venitian Walk subsidized housing community.

Origins

     Location :  Grove Terrace was built on a nearly 6 acre site near the Intracoastal Waterway.

    Historical Context: The site was located in what was formerly known as the  “Negro or Blackburn Quarters “, one of the earliest historically  Black neighborhoods in the city of Venice

     Development: The complex was officially opened in 1970 and was designed by Jack West. It was established as the Venice Housing Authority’s major public housing project.to provide n low-income housing

Redevelopment in the 2000’s

     By the mid 2000’s, Grove Terrace had aged significantly . In 2006,the Venice Housing Authority secured the necessary funding and tax credits to redevelop the site

     All 50 units of the Old Grove Terrace were torn down in 2009.

     Phase 1 Venetian Walk Senior (2014)

     A 61 unit , three story apartment complex reserved for low income seniors aged 62 and older was built just south of the old footprint at 201 Grove Street N.

     Phase II Venetia n Walk II (2020)

       Built directly on the original footprint of the old Grove Terrace Complex, this $12.2 million dollar project opened as an all ages ,mixed finance family community.  It features 2 and 3 story garden style buildings offering 52 modern units

    The property at 106 Pocono Trail East Nokomis is a multiple unit complex containing three restored historic buildings dating from 1923–1926.  This complex was built and developed by Doctor Fred Albee. .   These buildings are home to Rum Runner Antiques an antique mall with over 15 dealer;RUM Runner Auctions: Nokomis Art Market a  seasonal market held from  November to April;:The Cottage Art Gallery is an art gallery and teaching studio.

     The first owner of.the current Rum Runner Building was Doctor.Fred Albee.

     The Cottage Art Gallery  is an eclectic, artist run cooperative tucked away at 106 Pocono Trail East in Nokomis.  It features affordable original paintings, jewelry, pottery,and metal crafts.

Key Highlights

     Local Talent The space is run by a collective of regional artists, the inventory is always rotating and features uniquely bespoke items. 

    The cooperative is currently managed by local artists Brandy Boyd, Judith Light, and Nancy Taylor.

      Teaching Studio Beyond shopping the venue operates as an instructional space where you can sign up for specialized classes like watercolor and alcohol ink.

     Visiting  The gallery is open during classes and by appointment.

     It was a  1920’s boom era residence transforming into a modern, local historic landmark.

     Dr. Fred Albee constructed the building as a private home and rental investment within his newly planted Albert Nash subdivision.  The style of the building was Mediterranean Revival.

     Olga Grosjean was a long time owner of the building.  Under her ownership the home was designated as a part of the local historic architectural push