R96-31 AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS

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The site is improved with a two (2)-story concrete, concrete biock and brick structure, with �il concrete floors and roof deck, that currently houses a Sears retail store. A smaller two (21- I story concrete and brick structure houses a Sears automobile service facility. Most of the ��,I remaining area of the site is occupied by a bituminous concrete paved parking lot, with the exception of landscaped areas around portions of the site's perimeter. , Public utilities serving the site include natural gas, electricity and telephone as well as city water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems. Heating of the main building is provided by a gas fired boiler and cooling is provided by a chilled water system. A Site Location Map is included as Appendix A to this report. A Site Plan is provided in Appendix B. HISTORICAL RECORDS REVIEW � The history of development and usage of the subject site, as well as adjacent properties to ' a more limited degree, has been investigated through the review of several standard 'i, sources of information. These sources included Sanbom Fire Insurance Maps, city ��,, directories, aerial photographs, United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps, and I interviews with individuals familiar with the subject site and/or adjoining properties. �� Based upon our review of accessed historical information, and given the site's location in or near the original central business district of the City of Decatur, it is believed tliat the first developed use of the property was for a combination of comme�cial and residential purposes. During the 1800's, following the European settlement of Illinois and the development of cities, and continuing into the early 1900's, it was common practice for business owners to maintain residential quarters adjacent to or above their place of • business. According to Sanborn maps reviewed for this assessment, residential quarters were interspersed with commercial b�ildings on portions of the Site, as well as on upper floors of multi-story buildings. Sanborn Fire Insurance maps for the years 1887, 1892, 1898, 1908 and 1915, were obtained and reviewed for this assessment. The subject site covers most of two (2) city blocks, with the east and west halves originally divided by Jackson Street,before it was vacated. What is now Martin Luther King Drive along the east side of the site, was formerly known as Broadway Street. During the period of time covered by the Sanborn TESTING SERVICE CORPORATION -4- �