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“It’s very important to have affordable housing that is high quality and that allows people to live a life of dignity. Housing is the single-most important component of a person’s life," Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin said. "When you have good and secure housing, you can focus on education, your family, your job, and all that is important. You can focus on your life!”
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Think Urbana lowers the cost of new residential construction. Participants in the program can save 55% off property taxes on their new house in Urbana during the first five years and pay no sales tax on construction materials.
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Testimonial: The Barker Family
"Think Urbana allowed us to add amenities to our house that we otherwise would not have, like a finished basement. The program helped make our decision to build new.”
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Falling for Urbana
Post your Fall Season pictures and get a chance to be in the November e-Newsletter. Simply share them on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and use the hashtag: #FallingForUrbana. You may also send them to marketing@urbanaillinois.us. Pictures must be received midnight, October 29, 2021. Others shared after that date will be shared on social media pages, but are not eligible for the e-Newsletter. Go here for more.
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THE CITY OF URBANA OFFERS A STORMWATER UTILITY FEE CREDIT AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM that encourages on-site stormwater management on private property utilizing green infrastructure and best management practices can reduce peak stormwater flow rates, total stormwater runoff, and stormwater pollution. Sound interesting? Read on or go here for more.
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Building Safety Tips
The Building Safety Division ensures that new construction and remodeling is constructed in accordance with current building standards and enforces property maintenance code regulations in relation to health and life safety issues.
Here are some tips for getting your home ready for fall and winter weather:
• Have your furnace cleaned and inspected by a qualified technician.
• Clean your gutters after the leaves fall.
• Ensure downspouts are clearing the water away from the foundation.
• Have your chimney cleared and inspected by a professional.
• Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.
• Prune your trees.
• Ensure all windows/doors seal properly, recaulk as necessary.
• Disconnect your outdoor hoses.
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A Place to Call Home - 200 Vine
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Big Changes in Downtown Urbana's Landscape
Urbana celebrated with a ribbon-cutting for "200 Vine Street" earlier this year. City staff was able to tour a couple of the units.
Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin said, "This is the first downtown residential construction in over 15 years. There are some units with garages, some are handicapped-adaptable, some have balconies that extend the living space and all are bright and airy. All have spacious rooms, high ceilings, and great amenities. We thank Sub4 and Chris Saunders for investing in Urbana. We thank City Council members who voted to support this project and City staff who worked tirelessly to make the vision for this challenging site a reality. And, we welcome all our next door neighbors here at the City building!"
Sub4 Development and Green Street Realty, thank you!
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At the Corner of Higher Education and Higher Living
Rael Development Corporation and the City of Urbana are pleased to announce the opening of the new mixed-use development at the intersection of University and Lincoln Avenues in the City of Urbana called “Gather.”
Gather contains 229 rental units and 28 extended-stay units, along with nearly 15,000 square feet of lobby, retail and outdoor public areas. See the video below for more information.
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“This is a mixed use project, with extended stay hotel rooms plus rental housing and small retail. This project, combined with the extensive work on University Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Green Street, will transform the campus gateway to our community. Special thanks to Economic and Business Development, Building Safety, and City staff," Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin said.
Enjoy this virtual tour of Gather, located at the intersection of “higher education and higher living.” –Gather Illinois
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Ten Minutes to Fun
Discover the community outside of campus! The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a mere ten minute walk to Downtown Urbana. Beautiful tree-lined Green Street connects YOU to live music, delicious food, wonderful shopping, jobs, volunteer opportunities, and FUN! Imagine yourself in Urbana! #SmallCityBigLife
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City of Urbana Grants Management
A Division of Community Development Service
The Grants Management Division administers Federal funding from the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing, community development, and social service programs intended to improve the quality of life and increase the number of affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Urbana residents. The City also receives and administers funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and Illinois Department of Human Services (IL DHS).
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A Special Home
Pinewood Place is a new construction project located at 1606 East Colorado in Urbana. The project is being developed in partnershipbetween the City of Urbana and the Housing Authority of Champaign County. Pinewood Place provides twenty-four, one-bedroom units in four separate buildings for individuals with special needs. Preference is provided to mentally, developmentally and physically disabled individuals with no income who are pending approval of Social Security benefits.
The City of Urbana helps to make many projects like this possible through our Grants Management Division. GMD focuses on affordable housing, local housing solutions, development, policy, tenant rights, and discrimination.
The above photograph was taken at the ribbon cutting for Pinewood Place, located in Urbana.
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Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County
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Urbana Home for Young Family
The City of Urbana was a build-site volunteer for the Habitat Home build for LaTonda Creighton and her family. Colleagues from many of the City's departments came together and helped with the build.
Go here to see more from Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County.
Above Photo: Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin, left, is seen here at a Habitat for Humanity build with the Habitat Homeowner LaTonda Creighton. The photos below are of City of Urbana staff hard at work at the Creighton home.
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Making a Difference
GoMAD stands for Go Make A Difference. This program is under the auspices of FirstFollowers. FirstFollowers is a reentry program based in Champaign and targets 18-24 year olds who have had some contact with the criminal legal system or other encounters with authorities. GoMAD also partners with the City of Urbana in the Community Development Services-Grants Management Division to renovate houses for those living on a low income.
Photo courtesy of FirstFollowers/GoMAD. To see more photos, go to their gallery here.
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Before you decorate for the holidays, Urbana's own Electrical Inspector, Jamie Lance, has some good advice.
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Mission and Vision:
The Urbana Arts and Culture Program (formerly Public Arts Program) and Commission was established by the City Council in April 2008, to foster a city where all residents may engage with the arts and where artists thrive and are valued. The arts, as used in this program, includes but is not limited to music, theatre, visual arts, dance, creative writing, film/video, crafts, performing arts, spoken word, environmental arts, multimedia arts, architectural arts, landscape architecture, and emerging media. Urbana is an Illinois Arts Friendly Community, designated by the Illinois Arts Alliance and Illinois Municipal League in 2008. Through public support for the arts, the City of Urbana increases opportunities for the creation of art, thereby enhancing the quality of life, economic development, citizen participation, cultural awareness, and vibrancy of the community.
Our Programs:
The City of Urbana's Arts and Culture Program operates a number of arts programs, including:
- The Urbana Arts Grants program offering individual, group, nonprofit, and festival grants for creative projects
- Art Now! a mini-documentary series featuring local artists and artistic groups each month on UPTV6 and online
- Artist of the Corridor, dual-site exhibitions of the work of Urbana artists displayed at City Hall and the Urbana Free Library
- Art at the Market and Art in the Square, family-friendly art activities at the indoor and outdoor farmer's markets
- Murals on Glass, an eye-catching, large-scale display of artwork by Champaign County artists on windows in downtown Urbana
- The Urbana Sculpture Project, a program to install sculptures in the City of Urbana in partnership with the Public Art League
- Young Artist Studio, a workshop series for youth featuring local artists organized in partnership with the Urbana Free Library
- The Annual Urbana Art Expo, a juried fine arts exhibition and sale organized with 40 North Champaign County Arts Council
- Culture Fest!, a Boneyard Arts Festival event featuring local artists, musicians, and performance groups
- Open Scene Open Mic, a series of all-ages downtown open mic events designed to foster creativity, community, and connection
Subscribe to the Arts & Culture Program newsletter to receive e-mail updates on news, opportunities, and events.
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You Can Have Your Own Urban Canopy!
Thanks to a partnership among the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the United States Forest Service and the City of Urbana, "Under the Canopy," a guide to planting an urban forest with indigenous trees was created to help residents and stakeholders create and sustain their own urban canopy. Go here to see more about this publication.
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Where Do I Recycle It?
The City of Urbana has put together a guide that can help you in a more earth-friendly way. Don't know where to recycle, reuse or repurpose an item? We can help you! Go here to see more.
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Trees Promote Health and Wellness in Our Home Urbana
Trees affect our health and wellness. Humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, whereas trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. With a mutually beneficial relationship, one large tree can supply enough oxygen for four people. This is really wonderful, however, it takes around five trees to absorb the CO2 produced by just one person.
Additionally, trees also trap air pollution. This greatly affects our health. Trees also help to clean water by acting as a natural filter. Plus, trees decrease stress for us and improve recovery time from illnesses. These are a few of the reasons Urbana's Urban Canopy is tantamount to human life, health, and progress. Trees are always working to keep us healthy and strong – help us do the same for them! *
We’re asking you to partner with the City of Urbana — on an individual basis or through your neighborhood association, service organization, business or church — by sharing the cost of new trees through our Co-op Tree Planting Program.
The City of Urbana Arbor Division has added new trees to Urbana's Urban Canopy this past Spring, 2021. These are made possible by the generous donations through the Co-op Tree Planting Program.
*"Up With Trees"-Tulsa, Oklahoma
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The Landscape Recycling Center
LRC is a not-for-profit municipal enterprise that accepts local organic yard waste and debris. Over 100,000 cubic yards of waste are diverted from landfills annually and recycled into high quality organic mulch and compost that can be purchased in bulk or by the gallon. Whether you want to grow greener grass or start an herb garden, or you are a professional with a landscaping business, the LRC is a community resource for YOU. Your patronage allows this uniquely sustainable facility to operate. Please take a look around the site and get to know more about your local community gardening partner.
As a not-for-profit facility, the LRC requires a tipping fee for disposal costs based on the type of material and the quantity of waste. The collected fees are used to help offset the cost of operation. Click here for more information.
And don't forget to come and get firewood for those fall bonfires! Ask how you can get it for FREE!
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This is the second of two editions of "Better Homes & Gutters." The first edition was released earlier this year. To view the first edition, go here.
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