NORMAL – The Illinois Art Station may have found its home.
The group, formerly affiliated with Illinois State University, purchased properties at 101 E. Vernon Ave. and 605 607 S. Linden Streets for a new teaching center.
The normal city council is about to approve a site plan which the city hopes will provide plenty of arts education opportunities for children and family.
“I think this is a very exciting use of the property because the Illinois Art Station will be the first time they have a home port,” said Pam Reece, director of Normal City. “Their operation was mobile where they provided services and classrooms by going to people.”
“Their goal is certainly to advance the arts, but what I think makes it unique is to maintain the natural setting of the green space and integrate it into their arts education. “
IAS plans to renovate 101 E. Vernon Ave., a single-family residence, for potential art studios and support areas. It also plans to set up 13-space parking for properties located at 605 and 607 S. Linden St. with a rain garden to combat storm water runoff.
In addition to renovating the building, IAS also plans to conserve as many trees and shrubs as possible and plans to add outdoor artwork and sculptures to the property.
Council will also hear a proposed site plan for a new fitness center at The Shoppes at College Hills.
The old Hobby Lobby store at 301 S. Veterans Parkway, Normal, is seen. Crunch Fitness is considering moving into the building.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Crunch Fitness is considering relocating to the former Hobby Lobby location, 301 S. Veterans Parkway. Council will vote on a final site plan, which includes a total building remodel.
The fitness company intends to occupy approximately 45,000 square feet on the west side of the building and use the remaining 35,000 square feet on the east to lease to multiple tenants.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car would remain in its current location on the south side of the building.
The Board will also consider approving a collective agreement with Unit 22 of the Benevolence and Protection Association with annual salary adjustments until 2023.
The city and the union began negotiations in February and reached an agreement after just two sessions lasting a total of three hours.
In other matters, council is expected to authorize several resolutions, including a water service contract with Michael Masching for a property located at 4252 East Raab Road.
PHOTOS: Illinois Art Station
Photos: Developing Creativity at Illinois Art Station
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The Illinois Art Station program provides its participants with many materials to work with.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Micheri Seiller, 9, watches her collage during an Illinois Art Station program at the Boys & Girls Club in Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Illinois Art Station’s colorful minibus, the Mobile Arts Center, recently stopped at the Boys & Girls Club in Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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10-year-old Sanaa Jackson has fun during an Illinois Art Station show at the Boys & Girls Club in Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Brooke Ball of New Lenox, a graduate arts education assistant at Illinois State University, shows attendees a collage made during an Illinois Art Station program at the Boys & Girls Club in Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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The Illinois Art Station program provides materials that its participants can work with.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Sanaa Jackson, 10, left, and Derion Willis, 10, work on their collages during an Illinois Art Station program at the Boys & Girls Club in Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Annelise Leber de Tremont, an arts education and ceramics major at Illinois State University, helps pick markers with 7-year-old Kalyan Davis during an Illinois Art Station program at Boys & Girls Bloomington-Normal Club.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Luke Lowers of Normal, an arts technology graduate student at Illinois State University, makes his own collage with participants of an Illinois Art Station program at the Boys & Girls Club at Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Derion Willis, 10, exhibits his collage during an Illinois Art Station program at the Boys & Girls Club in Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Kalyan Davis, 7, shows off the first progress of her collage during an Illinois Art Station program at the Boys & Girls Club in Bloomington-Normal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Photos: Art comes to life on the Constitution Trail
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Illinois State University graduate student Mary Beth Breshears works on a mural Friday, July 13, 2018, at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail, Bloomington.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Illinois State University graduate student Margaret Christie shares comments with 12-year-old Kai Bailey-Smith of Bloomington as he works on his mural on Friday July 13, 2018 at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail, Bloomington.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Artist Jeremy Langston is working on his mural Thursday, July 12, 2018, at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail in Bloomington. The first progress was made ahead of Saturday’s public reveal.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Illinois State University art station staff and local children paint murals on Friday, July 13, 2018, at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail in Bloomington.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Isha Gollapudi, 11, of Bloomington, shows off her completed mural during a public reveal of the 2018 Youth Mural Project on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Washington Street underpass on Constitution Trail, Bloomington.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Artist Jeremy Langston mixes paint for students working on murals on Friday, July 13, 2018, ahead of Saturday’s public reveal at the Washington Street underpass on Constitution Trail in Bloomington.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Artist Jeremy Langston retouches his mural on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail in Bloomington.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Visitors view a mural during a public reveal of the 2018 Youth Mural Project on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail, Bloomington.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Duncan Borkholder, 16, poses next to his mural as his mother Maggie Borkholder takes their photo during a public reveal of the 2018 Youth Mural Project on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail, Bloomington.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Part of the 2018 Youth Mural Project is seen during a public reveal on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail in Bloomington.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Raji More, 13, of Bloomington, shows visitors his completed mural during a public reveal of the 2018 Youth Mural Project on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Washington Street underpass on Constitution Trail, Bloomington. Local youth and Illinois State University students spent three days working on the murals.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Entering the Washington Street Underpass on Constitution Trail in Bloomington will be a little happier now.
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.
