2001-32 VACATING 1200 BLOCK OF WEST MACON STREET AND TWO ALLEYS EAST OF FAIRVIEW AVENUE BETWEEN WEST WOOD AND MACON STREETS AND BETWEEN WEST MACON AND DECATUR STREETS

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Excerpts from Minutes of Apri15, 2001 City Plan Commission Meeting Cal. No. 01-17 Petition of MII.,LIKIN LJNIVERSITY to vacate the 1200 Block of West Macon Street, the Alley east of Fairview Avenue between West Wood and West Macon Streets, the Alley east of Fairview Avenue between West Macon and West Decatur Streets. Ms. Miller presented the recommendation of staff: Millikin University is acquiring properties south of Main Street to develop playing fields and green space. Most of the properties are vacant land. The Decatur Indoor Sports Center is located at the northwest corner of the site. The west portion of the alley between West Wood Street and West Macon Street was vacated in May, 1999. The 1100 and 1200 blocks of West Decatur Street were vacated in 7uly, 1999. The petitioner wishes to vacate the remaining portion of the alley just east of Fairview Avenue between West Wood and Macon Streets, the 1200 block of West Macon Street and the alley east of Fairview Avenue between Macon and Decatur Streets to begin the construction of the playing fields. An appraisal for the proposed street and alley vacations was submitted by the petitioner with an estimated market value of$13,300. A second appraisal was obtained by the City with an estimated market value of$13,800. The petitioner will pay the City $13,800 for the vacations. Millikin owns the property on both sides of Macon Street and on both sides of both alleys except for the small portion owned by CM and Sons, Family LTD Partnership and managed by Swartz Properties. A consent letter was received from CM and Sons, Family LTD Partnership and Swartz Properties that agrees to the vacation and purchase by Millikin University. Utility letters have been received from the Sanitary District of Decatur, Ameritech and Insight Communications stating no objection to the vacations. Both the City of Decatur and Illinois Power have requested that ingress and egress easements be reserved for utility maintenance. A Millikin University Master Plan has been submitted and reviewed showing proposed locations of the playing fields, walkways and landscaping. Also submitted is a preliminary parking lot plan east of the Indoor Sports Center. The parking lot plan will be more thoroughly reviewed when submitted for the site plan review process. A major issue at the time of the Decatur Street vacation was construction of a public walkway through the Woods Apartments area and under the tracks through the new playing fields to Fairview Avenue. A sidewalk was constructed to the east side of the viaduct when The Woods was built. The attached Master Plan shows the walkway continuing from the viaduct to Fairview Avenue. The final location will be determined at the time of the playing field construction. The additional Wood Street Paxking is anticipated for completion in August 2001. Soccer Field #1's target completion date is August 2002; Soccer Field#2's target completion date is August 2003; the Softball Field's target completion date is August 2005 (a11 depending on fund