In Champaign’s Bristol Place, The Last Building Has Been Torn Down
Debris remains at the site of a recently demolished home in Champaign's Bristol Place neighborhood, which has been cleared for the construction of new affordable housing. Jim Meadows/Illinois Public Media
Six months after the last family moved out of Champaign’s Bristol Place neighborhood, the last structure on the site has been torn down, to make room for construction of a new housing development in the coming months.
Champaign Neighborhood Services Director Kerri Wiman says demolition of the last building in the north side neighborhood was completed last week, sparking a fair amount of excitement in her department.
“The demolition’s been occurring for the last couple of years, but it’s quite a site to see”, said Wiman of the clearing of the site.
Actually, Wiman says the Champaign City Council will be asked to approve one more contract to complete the demolition process.
“That’s for the remaining trees that are on the site with some additional debris that needs to be removed”, said Wiman.
City officials concluded a few years ago that Bristol Place’s problems were so bad that the best solution was to replace the neighborhood (on the northeast corner of the intersection of Bradley Avenue and North Market Street) with a new development. The Housing Authority of Champaign County will oversee a private developer’s work on the new housing, with construction starting in May or June, and completion expected in fall of 2019. The project will include about 90 units, including 60 single-family homes and 15 duplexes.
Construction of a second phase of housing at Bristol Place is planned for a later date.