Champaign council unanimously approves special-use permit for 919 West Hill to restore four-unit building

The Champaign City Council voted 9-0 on June 10 to approve a special-use permit allowing a vacant four-unit multifamily building at 919 West Hill Street to be restored to residential use in the SF-2 (single- and two-family) zoning district.

Under the city's review, the building's multifamily use predated the current zoning but lost its legal nonconforming status after the property remained vacant for more than six months in 2024. Planning staff told the council the structure appears on a 1950 historic map as a multifamily building and that the city adopted zoning in 1926. City attorneys reminded council members that, under state law, their vote must be based on the official public-hearing record developed before the planning commission earlier this year.

Supporters — including nearby residents, local housing advocates and students — urged council approval on housing and preservation grounds. "With some proper management and caring tenants, it deserves to provide comfortable homes to many more characters in the future," Jared Fritz, a Champaign resident who submitted letters and organized public comment, said during the meeting. Adani Sanchez, a member of CUrbanism Club, said denying the permit would likely leave the building vacant and reduce available rental housing: "This is missing middle. You just kind of have to let it do the same thing it's been doing for over 100 years," Sanchez said.

Neighbors raised concerns about parking, past property management and the building's history. Andrea Lynn, who lives at 910 West Hill, said she opposed the resolution as written and warned that a lightly restored four-unit building on a small lot could "disrupt traffic and life on our narrow brick Street." Nancy Siverton, who lives directly across the street, said she and other neighbors preferred a locally available manager for quick problem response rather than owners who live out of town.

Elizabeth Cox, who said she is an investor with properties nearby and has been working with the new owner, urged council approval. "I just think we should get it done and move on from what happened with the previous owner," Cox told the council.

Council members discussed neighborhood character, housing affordability and enforcement. Council member Shannon said she planned to vote yes and tied the decision to the city's broader housing strategy: "If we say neighborhood character is the be-all and end-all, what that ends up meaning is that we have economic segregation in our town," Shannon said. Council member Fulmer said the building preserves the historic look of the block while adding housing within walking distance of downtown.

After a brief discussion and a roll-call vote that recorded nine yes votes, the council approved the special-use permit. The owner will proceed with the restoration plans subject to the conditions and approvals in the public-record hearings held before the planning commission.

Votes and procedural notes: City staff noted the matter had two planning-commission hearings (Feb. 19 and May 21). The council reiterated that the legal basis for tonight's vote is the evidence in those hearings, not supplemental public comment made at the chamber meeting.

The council passed the permit 9-0.