Council approves reuse of 210 W. Mulberry as campus ministry with counseling center

The Normal Town Council on Aug. 18 approved an ordinance rezoning 210 West Mulberry and a related site plan that will allow Encounter Campus Ministry to redevelop the former campus religious center into a student-focused hub with counseling services. The approvals passed by roll-call vote during the council’s regular meeting.

The project team, represented in public comment by Robbie Osinga, vice president of business development for Catalyst Construction, said the plan preserves the existing structure, adds a prominent south-facing entrance on Mulberry, and creates a reimagined courtyard and improved green frontage. “The vision for this project is to create a long term presence, on campus that not only preserves this historic property, but also meaningfully serves students and the community,” Osinga told the council. He said the design team includes BLDD and Aldea Engineering and that the project was developed in coordination with town staff.

Osinga said the proposal included variances related to green space and parking; the building addition was placed at the front to preserve existing parking to the north while creating a new campus-facing entrance. He also said the facility will include a counseling center to serve college students’ mental and emotional needs and that, from the team’s perspective, the design “dramatically enhances” outdoor space rather than diminishing it.

Council members voted in favor of the rezoning ordinance and the site-plan resolution during the meeting. No construction timeline or building permit schedule was presented at the council meeting. The resolution and ordinance now clear the town-level land-use approvals required for the project; further permits and contractor scheduling will follow normal staff review and permitting processes.

The public comment supporting the project occurred during the meeting’s public-comment period before the omnibus agenda. The project team framed the proposal as a private investment that preserves and reuses an existing building rather than demolishing it.

Details noted in public comment and the staff packet include the design team (BLDD; Aldea Engineering), the project proponent (Encounter Campus Ministry), and Catalyst Construction as the developer representative. Council approvals on Aug. 18 were recorded by roll call as “aye.”