[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6181270,"mediaKeyId","5113408-740555d2521d08d4c169b86ae03d0ba4","parentId",5113408,"title","Council approves Madison Park and Far East TIF neighborhood grant programs after debate over \"skin in the game\"","audioSeconds",3156,"startMs",619000,"endMs",3775000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113408-740555d2521d08d4c169b86ae03d0ba4&start=619&end=3775","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113408-740555d2521d08d4c169b86ae03d0ba4/thumbnail_619000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181270/Springfield/Sangamon-County/Illinois/Council-approves-Madison-Park-and-Far-East-TIF-neighborhood-grant-programs-after-debate-over-skin-in-the-game","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181270-ac1b33fb73691718f87553bb410ad759/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005281&Signature=Hstt7ipqPAM8qBGvL4hgm3rTl896EA-BT0yT8nCKEB~rxiV6xuOP5almpmNXalq2peZyFoAzj2nzEWhLgJZm7yJil~0Iv6OeXUPqLwGno7RQdVtmys8jDhcKpc~WHxto-xpIkPGN5dBvA57LvAIT2blCAiYhy6LGpGMZhAxctMJ6ZBTpSCHHML4mms1yXYUjOGE99yQUdyO6duOx5RV633g2Xn8w9LoVo0A8b2B83Eseh37Kdag017BFA9Z8oLiUuVSkm5eeYBonJNCZm0RqPvDRqTUxLnjX7vOhJEow3o~tCmvvtPZUUucx07RjmjfAFQxPZjBncSEkwRWwPeHboA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Springfield, IL","date","2025-07-02T01:02:06Z","article","SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Springfield City Council voted July 1 to establish neighborhood improvement grant programs for the Madison Park and Far East tax increment financing (TIF) districts, approving two ordinances intended to expand access to grant funds for home and small-business repairs in East-side neighborhoods.

The measures — ordinance 2025-264 (Madison Park TIF Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program) and ordinance 2025-265 (Far East TIF Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program) — passed on final vote 9-1 after amendments intended to clarify program details and administrative procedures. Council debate focused on whether the city should require applicants to provide a financial “match” and on the risk of constraining future TIF funds for other projects.

The ordinances’ sponsors and administration officials said the programs aim to reduce barriers for low-income homeowners and small businesses to get essential repairs by allowing the city to pay contractors directly and by lowering or clarifying previous match requirements.

\"This particular TIF, you know, it expires in 2030. So in TIF life, we're we're about at the end of it,\" said Alderman Jeff Gregory, the sponsor, describing why officials consider a targeted program now and noting that stretching the TIF life could add future increment. \"If we was to stretch out, that TIF, that would add another $4,000,000 or so in future increment,\" Gregory said.

Opponents urged caution about removing applicants’ financial stakes. \"Without any skin in the game, are we tying up too much money for some future project or development on the East Side that we don't know about?\" Alderman Brad Carlson asked during debate, saying he worried the city might be changing rules mid‑stream in a TIF with limited remaining years.

Several council members said the changes are meant to increase access for homeowners who cannot meet small-match requirements, speed repairs by paying contractors directly, and promote neighborhood stabilization.

\"I do hope that Office of Planning and Economic Development and our inspectors are working together to really help promote this — especially for the homeowner portion,\" Alderman Kelly Conley said, urging coordinated outreach and technical help so residents know how to apply.

Public commenters who signed up for the TIF agenda items described barriers the programs seek to address. Salem King, a UIS student who presented research, said redlining and long-term disinvestment had left East Side parks and lots with little tree canopy and far more unshaded pavement than wealthier neighborhoods, tying that to higher heat exposure and energy costs. \"Less shade and more pavement doesn't just mean you're hotter. It means the air around you is hotter... Cooling your home is more expensive,\" King said.

Resident speakers gave personal examples of the match barrier for basic home repairs. Brianna Eilers and another speaker described efforts to obtain funds for roof work and said they welcomed the administration’s move to pay contractors directly when applicants cannot front the match.

Council amendments and votes

- Amendment(s) to clarify program wording and payment procedures were introduced and adopted by voice vote before final passage. Council then approved Madison Park ordinance 2025-264 on final passage, 9 yes, 1 no.
- The Far East ordinance 2025-265 passed with the same tally, 9 yes, 1 no.

Council members who spoke for passage emphasized that the programs do not create new TIF districts; they reallocate or earmark funds already captured in existing TIFs to specific, qualifying improvement uses and include administrative oversight. Alderman Hanauer noted, \"We're not starting a TIF. All we're doing is moving money into a specific...fund that can only be used for specific purposes.\"

What the ordinances change

- Clarifies eligible improvements for homeowner‑occupied properties and small businesses within the named TIF districts.
- Allows more flexibility for the city to pay vendors directly in situations where homeowners cannot front a match.
- Includes amendments to administrative language; the Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) and inspectors were urged to coordinate outreach.

Council members and residents asked for follow-up reporting and outreach to ensure the intended beneficiaries — low‑income homeowners and small businesses in qualifying TIF areas — can navigate the application process. Alderman Donlon emphasized that unobligated funds should remain available for larger projects if a future council chooses to reallocate them.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2025-264 (Madison Park TIF Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program): Motion to place on final passage passed; final council vote: 9 yes, 1 no (Alderman Carlson cast the lone no). Amendment(s) adopted by voice vote prior to final passage.
- Ordinance 2025-265 (Far East TIF Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program): Motion to place on final passage passed; final council vote: 9 yes, 1 no. Amendment(s) adopted by voice vote prior to final passage.

Next steps

The ordinances direct city departments to implement the programs, with OPED and inspections staff responsible for application, outreach and payments to contractors when needed; council members asked for periodic reports on uptake, geographic distribution of awards and program outcomes.

Funding and context

Council discussion referenced that the Madison Park TIF under discussion expires in 2030 and that extending or stretching a TIF could add future increment. Alderman Gregory argued the program aligns with the original intent of neighborhood TIF spending and would help accelerate repairs that otherwise stall when homeowners cannot cover upfront costs.

The council took the TIF votes as part of a broader meeting that also included a separate resolution on a cultural preservation initiative (see separate story).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Springfield City Council Meeting July 1 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Springfield City Council voted July 1 to establish neighborhood improvement grant programs for the Madison Park and Far East TIF districts, approving two ordinances intended to expand access to grant funds for repairs in East-side neighborhoods.","taxTitle","Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois","taxId",2651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181265,"Council backs History Across the Tracks initiative with earlier marketing deadline and wording changes, 10-0",394,3886000,4280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113408-740555d2521d08d4c169b86ae03d0ba4&start=3886&end=4280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113408-740555d2521d08d4c169b86ae03d0ba4/thumbnail_3886000.jpg","/articles/6181265/Springfield/Sangamon-County/Illinois/Council-backs-History-Across-the-Tracks-initiative-with-earlier-marketing-deadline-and-wording-changes-10-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181265-14adc0d12d70dc4be2fe4640d100a28f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005281&Signature=NiTY7eRkD8NbNm5gTANt0S6eERMlCSieHY-ZvfIXv0Klcf3NwFDC6tMfRCPBLYmAfb7nT6vYoJXjwjFdEfATr70uyGILPCDxiyvPIBk-1907Izv2rTxNSXXC1p7rwcOs~TBg0RMRv~~rCdnjLj8Fza2LhEGnD-qfwdb7aR0M6pNUiWdQC-6XBOnLwndggDsEI7PU~PSx4E5oApzlhcg-WNXnB0WMZoLPSry2SM51NmzYSrysPlsBNjQF-qZiDi~5f1y3HBId728KOZkGqzD8frUKkplD3Pfl6DgAWprt6wZmqbFq0SFtXCLb1W6Gy6v19t9WvBAGqYXz40JqCVJfTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Springfield City Council unanimously approved a resolution July 1 endorsing the History Across the Tracks initiative, a community-led effort to preserve historic sites and promote cultural tourism and economic development on the city's East Side.

The resolution (2025-266) passed 10-0 after two floor amendments. Council moved a requested marketing-plan deadline forward from February 2026 to November 2025 to allow budgetary alignment, and it replaced language asking the Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) to \"prioritize\" the work with a directive that OPED \"support and implement this initiative in coordination with community stakeholders.\" The change was made so staff can sequence the work within existing workloads while still assigning city responsibility for implementation.

Supporters at the meeting said the initiative aims to protect endangered historic sites and tell local stories that have been underserved in public commemoration. \"If History Across the Tracks is given the funding and the support it deserves, it will be remarkable,\" said Sarah Pollaky, a public historian and preservationist. \"The places themselves are unique and the vision of the team of people who have made this project happen should be celebrated and supported.\" Pollaky said the buildings identified by the project are as significant as many National Historic Landmarks.

Speakers at the council meeting urged investment in specific East Side landmarks and urged the city to go beyond plaques or QR codes to fund repair and interpretation. Brianna Eilers and other residents told the council that small, on-the-ground investments and site restorations would honor community history and expand tourism and educational opportunities.

Alderman Gregory, who discussed the resolution with the sponsor before the vote, supported moving the marketing schedule earlier so the initiative could be incorporated in upcoming budget discussions. The council adopted the two floor amendments — one advancing the marketing deadline to November 2025 and a second striking the word \"prioritize\" in favor of requiring OPED to support and implement the initiative — before approving the resolution unanimously.

What the resolution does

- Requests OPED and Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) to prepare a marketing plan and coordinate with community stakeholders, with a marketing deliverable moved to November 2025 for budgeting.
- Directs the city to support and implement the initiative in coordination with community stakeholders rather than ranking it above other priorities.
- Encourages preservation, interpretation and small-scale investments to conserve East Side historic resources and develop cultural tourism.

Public comment and preservation context

Speakers cited the 1908 race massacre and other underserved Black histories in Springfield, arguing that sites associated with Reconstruction-era institutions and Black civic leaders deserve restoration and interpretation. Sarah Pollaky said the project counters \"demolition by neglect,\" the phenomenon by which historic sites crumble without intervention, and recommended direct investment rather than symbolic markers alone.

Douglas Holt and others urged a broad approach to local history that covers the full arc of the community's past, not only post-1908 narratives.

Vote

- Resolution 2025-266 (History Across the Tracks): Adopted as amended, vote 10 yes, 0 no.

Next steps

The resolution asks OPED and SCVB to coordinate with community partners and report back on a marketing plan by November 2025 and to work with stakeholders on implementation. Council members asked staff to be mindful of workloads and to sequence the initiative alongside responses to emergency events, such as storm recovery, where appropriate.","The Springfield City Council unanimously approved a resolution July 1 supporting History Across the Tracks, a program to preserve and promote East Side historic sites, advancing the marketing deadline to November 2025 and directing city staff to support implementation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181260,"Residents tell council East Side needs more housing rehab, enforcement of vacant properties and youth safety steps",406,4919000,5325000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113408-740555d2521d08d4c169b86ae03d0ba4&start=4919&end=5325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113408-740555d2521d08d4c169b86ae03d0ba4/thumbnail_4919000.jpg","/articles/6181260/Springfield/Sangamon-County/Illinois/Residents-tell-council-East-Side-needs-more-housing-rehab-enforcement-of-vacant-properties-and-youth-safety-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181260-3d8ee2ba2e24bfa4de58ee725688cfd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005281&Signature=O2XUOGtKIH-DXTahPYN41-Zj5UiFZmkxG0tQKwcS8AzE-bKBXLu1JQ8KsJs9AnXCtQWsUZwsUOUJ1JgcL2mszFiSl6UwBkGH~BFO2zjZj7tcWWD5hycQmgVorDxTsnaYLwhMfisqbj42c0wuLPlbdNA6LfMURl8DKZw2XF52DDcgOSoHGukwY7KlPNHsys8wcyFptOl2uGG337uDRefPUWkT1PGybYmkJO-jpMeD92PegMwztf62f2AR0Zw4N3-REQ5Q8BE8~FDqBX0XZW8DOcF6hhYTQpeMbi9EcRyzggVDXCcKJHWDt9DDnF9hoIS38I7KZOHWGNIEm4W7MtgfmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Dozens of residents used the July 1 Springfield City Council meeting to press the city on long-standing East Side issues: vacant and neglected buildings, difficulty navigating housing-rehab programs, building code enforcement, police stop disparities and urgent youth-safety concerns.

Speakers urged immediate action and clearer city processes. \"There are a lot of vacant houses,\" contractor and neighborhood volunteer Tim Sperry said, adding that owners and developers face regulatory hurdles but that a more efficient vacant-property registry and inspections process could accelerate repairs and reuse.

Multiple residents described difficulties with out-of-town landlords and with basic city services. \"I'm tired of out-of-state landlords letting their houses go down…they live in our neighborhood,\" citizen Alice Ramey said, asking for stronger enforcement and assistance identifying absentee owners. Alderman Purchase later clarified she is pursuing education sessions with realtors to help residents and officials locate and address problem properties.

Public safety, policing and youth mental health drew several emotional appeals. James Johnson, a father whose daughter died by suicide this year, told the council he wants concrete measures to prevent bullying and online harassment and asked for school‑district and police coordination to give students safe reporting options. \"We have a genocide of children going on,\" Johnson said, urging immediate action on supports for young people.

Other residents raised civil-rights and policing concerns. Roy Walton cited Illinois Department of Transportation data indicating Black drivers are disproportionately stopped by Springfield police and said he would continue to press for accountability and improved internal‑affairs procedures.

Lincoln Tower residents and other speakers described building maintenance, safety and elevator problems. Zumbi Biano asked city leaders to investigate permit and fire-protection issues at the downtown tower and said tenants had been promised repairs for years without results.

Several speakers tied housing and preservation issues to broader economic development. Robert Frazier encouraged the city to use existing federal programs such as HUBZone certification to help minority‑owned businesses access contracting opportunities and to build jobs rather than rely solely on grants.

City response and follow-up

Council members and staff acknowledged the concerns and recommended next steps. Alderman Notriano and director-level staff noted the city maintains a demolition and vacant-property list and said staff would follow up to confirm whether a public registry and enforcement timeline are being fully implemented. Staff and elected officials invited commenters to meet with department directors after the meeting — director Fuchs was pointed out to a speaker who said he would assist with inspection and permitting questions.

Mayor Misty Buscher and multiple aldermen urged residents to provide contact information so staff could follow up on individual cases. OPED and inspections staff were asked to coordinate on outreach for new neighborhood grant programs described earlier on the agenda and to circulate information on how to apply.

Public comment as civic input

Speakers represented a mix of neighbors, preservationists, community organizers and business owners. Their testimony connected three recurring themes: long-term disinvestment on the East Side, bureaucratic barriers to immediate repairs, and urgent public-safety and youth‑mental‑health needs that residents said require coordinated city and school‑district responses.

No formal council action on these public‑comment items was taken at the meeting; staff were directed to follow up with individual speakers and to report back where appropriate.","During the July 1 council meeting, numerous residents raised concerns about vacant and neglected properties, landlord accountability, housing-rehab obstacles, police traffic‑stop disparities and a spike in youth suicides and bullying. Council members and staff pledged follow-up on inspections, vacant‑property registries and outreach programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Madison Park and Far East TIF neighborhood grant programs after debate over "skin in the game"

Council backs History Across the Tracks initiative with earlier marketing deadline and wording changes, 10-0

Residents tell council East Side needs more housing rehab, enforcement of vacant properties and youth safety steps