Urbana’s challenge: ‘Get life breathed back into’ Philo Road Business District | Business

URBANA — In February 2005, the Urbana City Council approved a strategy to revitalize the Philo Road Business District in the wake of closures such as Jewel, Jerry’s IGA and Kmart.

Twenty years later, improving the area remains a priority for city officials — including new Mayor DeShawn Williams, who spoke often of the business district at campaign events.

“We have to (have) rebirth, get the life breathed back into the area,” he said. “There was a point in time that Philo Road was one of the main focal points for the city.”

In addition to previous challenges, the corridor has been hit with a spate of big-name closures in the past year, including Burger King, Walgreens, CVS and, most recently, Family Dollar.

“When those close, it’s definitely concerning,” said Nathan Montgomery, co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit Salt and Light, which is located in the Sunnycrest Center along Philo Road. “… Clearly, they’re choosing not to invest in this part of the community, and that is really hard to build back in.”

Alderman James Quisenberry, who has lived in the area since 1989, said Philo Road was “a commerce center” when he first arrived. Its decline over the years may be due, in part, to the relocation of Illinois 130, he said.

The state highway used to run along Windsor Road and continue onto Philo Road, said Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Paul Wappel. However, the state decided to change the route and signed a jurisdictional transfer agreement with the city in 1986.

Quisenberry said the change may have contributed to the loss of major chains due to a drop in traffic counts, which can influence where brands choose to set up shop.

“It’s taken a long time, but it’s been this gradual decline of, I’ll say, business investment or recognized national business investment in that corridor,” Quisenberry said. “And the things that have followed along are not the same kind of businesses that generate traffic that help each other.”

Williams likewise said that the corridor didn’t change overnight, and rebuilding its vitality will take time.

He plans to emphasize community outreach as part of his strategy and wants to understand what types of businesses are needed — not just wanted — in this area.

Williams envisions town hall meetings, workshops and an advisory committee comprising local business owners, residents and city officials. He also expects to conduct a market analysis soon.

Montgomery said he’d like to see a focus on investing in small businesses and helping them grow.

“I think that they’re more likely to actually invest in the community,” he said, adding that it seems like corporations are often more concerned about their bottom line.

In addition to his long-term strategy, Williams said there is some “low-hanging fruit” in terms of infrastructure improvements that he plans to implement in the short term to help the corridor. This includes fixing sidewalks and adding street lighting.

He also wants to focus on highlighting the positive aspects of the area and the opportunities it presents.

“There’s a strong residential neighborhood on either side of Philo Road,” Quisenberry said.

He said other strengths include Meijer’s investment in its location at Philo and Windsor in recent years and Sola Gratia Farm to the east.

Leslie Myers, co-owner of Shear Impressions, said the salon moved from North Cunningham Avenue to the Sunnycrest Center seven years ago, as the location provided more parking and was “more of a family area” as opposed to being right off the interstate.

She added that it’s a tight-knit community with local business owners who look out for each other.

One of the reasons Dakota and Jeff Thomas-Wilhelm chose to locate Good Judy’s Espresso and Bagel Bar in The Pines, near Windsor and Philo, was the potential they saw in the area due to several new housing developments nearby.

“We’re proud to be part of the community, but it’s disheartening to see so many key buildings — especially those that once housed anchor stores — sitting empty,” they told The News-Gazette in an email. “It reminds us of the decline of traditional malls: Once the anchors leave, foot traffic and energy tend to follow.

“There are also a few apartment buildings that appear abandoned, which adds to the sense of neglect. We’d love to see those spaces brought back to life.”

Williams and Quisenberry both expressed concern about landlords in this area who have failed to maintain their properties.

“It’s a long-term understanding that if there isn’t investment in (maintenance) and keeping those properties up, you end up with other issues that come along with that, like increased crime,” Quisenberry said. “And we’ve seen that.”

According to Urbana police, the Philo Road corridor saw 50 instances of violent crime and 108 property crimes in 2024.

In 2023, there were 57 violent crimes and 96 property crimes.

As of June 1, there had been 21 violent crimes and 13 property crimes this year. That includes one homicide and 20 cases involving battery or assault and intimidation.

Chief Larry D. Boone said he remains “cautiously optimistic” about the future of the community-engagement program that he has proposed as a three-year pilot, with offices located in a substation in the South Philo Road area.

He said Philo Road was identified as a possible launch site based on the level of crime in the area, which presents “key opportunities for community building, increased police visibility and deeper collaboration with local stakeholders.”

“I think that there’s a misconception sometimes when community engagement police are put into certain neighborhoods,” Williams said. “But as long as we ensure that we are focusing on outreach and really ensuring that we are providing a resource to folks in the community, I think that it can be a benefit.”

Whether or not Boone’s department will receive the necessary funding to start the pilot remains to be seen, with the city council set to vote Monday on the fiscal 2026 budget.

While Williams’ proposed budget includes funding to support the program, not all aldermen are in favor of it.

Quisenberry is supportive of the community-engagement program, though he feels that locating it along Philo Road is not “essential,” as engagement activities occur throughout the community.

Myers thinks adding a community-engagement office on Philo Road is a “wonderful idea.”

“A, they would be closer if something were to happen,” she said. “B, it can show people that officers aren’t bad people. They’re just given a bad rap. They have to do their job. It’s not their fault that people do bad things.”

She’s also appreciative of the department’s current efforts to check in on the salon and visit with customers.

The owners of Good Judy’s said they agree that community engagement is important but added that it needs to be “part of a broader strategy” that includes small-business incentives, a library annex, community spaces and other components that “bring people together and foster a sense of pride.”

“The biggest challenge is the lack of things to do,” the Thomas-Wilhelms wrote in an emailed response.

“Beyond Meijer, Salt & Light and a few restaurants, there’s not much to draw people in. The area feels like it’s missing a sense of charm or identity — something that makes it feel like a destination rather than just a pass-through.”

Williams similarly said this area of Urbana could use some entertainment and cultural events, as well as a youth outreach center.

“We have to just bring some excitement back to the area,” he said. “I think that once we do that and put some attention into that area, get eyes back on that space in a positive light, I think that’s going to help turn things around.”