***Georgian Apartment Building Spared from Demolition***
The University of Illinois has officially stated that it is no longer interested in filing an eminent domain suit to take the historic Georgian apartment building at 1005 South Sixth Street in Champaign. In an article published in The News-Gazette on Friday, November 18, 2005, University officials acknowledged that ". . .we are not purchasing the Georgian at this time." The University is reassessing the location of a proposed parking deck on the block with the Georgian, following the tragic death of University freshman Sarah Channick, 18, who was struck and killed by a MTD bus on September 29, 2005, at the intersection of Sixth and Chalmers streets, just north of the Georgian.On November 15, 2005, the Georgian apartment building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. While this is the nation's official list of properties deemed worthy of preservation, listing itself does not guarantee the building won't be subjected to potential harm in the future. Listing does, however, mandate a review of any federal projects, and in Illinois, state projects, which may effect the building. Thus any future expressed interest on behalf of the University of Illinois must fall within the procedures of the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act.
The Georgian became a Champaign local landmark on February 15, 2005. This designation carries more restrictions than does the National Register listing. Most exterior changes to the building will have to be approved by the Champaign Historic Preservation Commission. Certainly, any proposed demolition would also have to be reviewed.
The owners of the Georgian would like to thank everyone for the tremendous outcry of support in the efforts to save this significant 80 year old apartment building. We very much appreciate your helping to make this a preservation success story and we encourage your involvement in other community preservation efforts.
December 14, 2005