City of Champaign asking for input on downtown area upgrades
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The City of Champaign is turning to the public for input in downtown area upgrades.
Downtown Champaign includes many businesses, cultural destinations, public services and other public spaces. Over the last few decades, there have been many changes, including new developments, shifts in businesses and the always evolving needs of visitors and residents.
Champaign Regional Speedskating Club hosting championships at U of I
The City is looking to update its 2006 Downtown Plan, which initially had recommendations for urban designs and developments, transportation, land use, market demand and programming. The new plan is aiming to provide a collective vision for an economically prosperous and inclusive downtown area for future generations of residents, businesses and supporters.
'This website is an opportunity for residents, business owners, and visitors to share their thoughts on their ideal Downtown Champaign,' the City of Champaign posted on their website.
The City is updating their long-range goals for Downtown, and they want the public's help through a survey.
The survey asks nine questions and demographic information. All surveys are anonymous, and participants are asked to not include any personal information in their responses. A few of the questions include:
What services most influence your decision to visit Downtown?
Looking to the future, what three descriptive words best describe your ideal Downtown Champaign?
What amenities or big ideas from other places would contribute to your ideal Downtown Champaign?
The survey is available in English and Spanish. Any additional questions are asked to be directed to planning@champaignil.gov.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
29 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Rashford eyeing a move to this champion club; Ready for tough competition
Manchester United's forward Marcus Rashford is expected to leave the club this summer. By Ravi Kumar Jha Published on June 20, 2025, 18:45 IST Manchester United's forward Marcus Rashford is expected to leave the club this summer as Ruben Amorim also doesn't see him in his plans for next season. Rashford who spent last 6 months at Villa on loan is eyeing a move to Barcelona despite the tough competition. Rashford was at first looked by Barcelona, but now the club focused have changed to Atheltic Bilbao's Nico Williams. According to Mundo Deportivo, Rashford is ready to be in competition with Williams as he feels he can be used as a striker or a Right-winger as well. Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is expected to part ways with the club this summer, with new manager Ruben Amorim reportedly not seeing him in his plans for the upcoming season. The 26-year-old spent the last six months on loan at Aston Villa but struggled to make a significant impact. Rashford is now eyeing a fresh challenge, with Spanish giants Barcelona on his radar. Despite tough competition for a place in the Catalan club's attacking line, the England international is said to be keen on making the switch to La Liga. Initially, Rashford was being monitored by Barcelona, but the club has since shifted its focus toward Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has impressed during the 2024 European Championship. However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Rashford remains undeterred and is willing to compete with Williams for a place in the squad. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Ravi kumar jha is an undergraduate student in Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia and Mass Communication. A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication and he also has a genuine interest in sports. Ravi is currently working as a journalist at
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Turkish Airlines explores Air Europa stake as bid deadline looms
By Andres Gonzalez and Joanna Plucinska LONDON (Reuters) -Turkish Airlines is exploring making a bid for a minority stake in Air Europa, the latest carrier to express interest in the Spanish airline, according to two sources with knowledge of the deal, with binding bids due in the coming weeks. Interested investors have been asked to submit binding bids by early July, one of the sources and two more said. The sources declined to be identified because the terms are confidential. Turkish Airlines' consideration of a bid is significant as there are few examples of carriers outside Europe buying shares in players in the region. The interest has been reported by Spanish online newspaper El Espanol. The deadline for binding bids has not previously been reported. Air France KLM and Lufthansa are also in talks with Globalia, the holding company of the family Hidalgo that founded the company, about buying a stake, Reuters reported previously. The airline makes just over a quarter of its revenues from Europe. It has a codeshare agreement with Air Europa. Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while its shareholder Turkey's Wealth Fund declined to comment. A representative for Globalia and the Hidalgo family said they did not want to comment on an ongoing operation because of confidentiality issues. Lufthansa declined to comment. An Air France-KLM spokesperson said the airline is interested in reinforcing its longstanding cooperation with Air Europa. NEXT PHASE OF LONG PROCESS Binding bids would mark the next phase of a prolonged sale process as Air Europa seeks to raise cash to repay a government loan granted during the pandemic. A previous plan had aimed for binding bids in May, two of the sources said. The process has faced delays due in part to disagreements between members of the Hidalgo family and concerns from interested airlines on the structure of the deal, according to the two sources and a fourth one said. The interested parties are working with advisers to structure bids in the hope that buying a minority stake of about 20% may put them in a better position to take control of the airline in the future, the two sources added. Some potential suitors have expressed concern over a lack of clarity about how they may be able to do that, according to the fourth person with knowledge of the talks. Last year, BA-owner IAG which has a 20% stake, abandoned a deal to take full ownership of the airline after regulators raised issues over competition given its ownership of Spanish carrier Iberia. It also owns Vueling and Aer Lingus. Pressure has mounted on airlines to consolidate in Europe to better compete with major global rivals from the United States and the Middle East. Many are focusing on the most popular routes in southern Europe as a target for expansion. Air Europa flies within Spain and between Madrid and large cities in Europe and Latin America. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
South Korea says defense spending ‘very high' compared to U.S. allies
SEOUL, June 20 (UPI) -- South Korea's Defense Ministry said Friday that its defense spending as a share of gross domestic product is already "very high" compared to other U.S. allies, as Washington calls for NATO members and Asian countries to increase their military budgets. "Among major U.S. allies of the United States, South Korea has a very high ratio of defense spending to GDP," the ministry said in a message to reporters. "We have continuously increased our defense budget in consideration of the serious security situation, including North Korea's nuclear and missile threats." "South Korea will continue to make efforts to secure the capabilities and posture necessary for the defense of the Korean Peninsula and peace and stability in the region," the ministry added. In 2024, South Korea spent $47.6 billion, or 2.6% of GDP, on defense, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. That share is higher than Britain's 2.3%, France's 2.1%, Germany's 1.9% and Japan's 1.4%. Seoul's statement suggested concerns over remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this week calling for a "new standard" for allies in NATO and Asia to spend 5% of GDP on defense. "We expect NATO allies to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defense or defense-related investment," Hegseth said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday. "We now have a new standard for ally defense spending that all of our allies around the world, including in Asia, should move to," Hegseth said. "It's only fair that our allies and partners do their part. We cannot want their security more than they do." Hegseth also called for Asian countries to increase their spending in remarks at a defense forum in Singapore last month. "It doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to [spend 5% of GDP] while key allies in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea," he said at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. The defense spending issue looks to be a potentially contentious topic at next week's NATO Summit in The Hague. NATO countries committed to a goal of 2% of GDP in 2014, which two-thirds have reached, but U.S. President Donald Trump has long called for an increase and has been demanding the 5% figure since his reelection. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said last week he expected the allies to agree to the 5% target. "It will be a NATO-wide commitment and a defining moment for the alliance," he said in a speech at Chatham House in London. However, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pushed back on the proposal, which must be agreed to unanimously, in a letter to Rutte this week. "For Spain, committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive," Sanchez wrote Thursday, according to El Pais. "It would move Spain away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's efforts to strengthen its security and defense ecosystem." South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae Myung has not confirmed whether he will attend the NATO Summit, which will be held on June 24-25. His office had anticipated a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of last week's Group of Seven meeting to discuss tariffs and defense cost-sharing issues, but the U.S. president departed early. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
