Danville’s dry spell of new home construction could be changing | Living

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DANVILLE — New construction homes in Danville have been few and far between in the last few years.

In fact, there was only one new home built in 2022, another in 2023 and zero in 2024. At times in the past, Habitat for Humanity of Danville’s projects were the only new builds.

That’s why city officials are excited about an opportunity to partner with home builder Taylor Construction and Design of Urbana to build new homes in the area of Oak and Seminary streets, with the possibility for more, and even a new subdivision in the city.

The Danville City Council on Tuesday will consider approving a development agreement for Taylor Construction and Design to build a minimum of two new homes — possibly four.

The council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 17 W. Main St.

The six parcels in the area northwest of downtown are near one of the city’s fire stations on Seminary Street.

The city would donate the lots at 318 and 324 Oak St.; 205, 207, and 209 Seminary St.; and 402 Franklin St. for the home development.

Most previously had blighted housing on them. Those structures were torn down and the parcels left vacant, said Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk.

“This is going to be a very exciting opportunity, that if it goes well, we’d like to keep the developer around for a bulk build, a new subdivision in the city of Danville. Which we had zero homes built last year in the city,” Cronk said. “So, we’re working very hard to make this happen.”

The new construction would be single-family homes priced at market rate.

Ward 2 Alderman and Public Services Committee Chairman Rick Strebing said, “the good thing is they approached us, which is nice.”

“We want to show them that we mean business, and we don’t want to put them off for another month,” Strebing said of the immediacy involved.

Cronk said the local housing market can only sustain so much, so Taylor Construction will build the homes to be affordable for families — somewhere well below the $300,000 range

If the developer fails to construct at least two residential houses before Dec. 31, 2026, the city would get the parcels back.

Another incentive from the city to help Taylor Construction sell the homes will be 50 percent property tax abatement for five years to the homeowner, through the enterprise zone.

Cronk said the housing development proposal came about quickly.

“The real estate market can flip very quickly. We started this less than three weeks ago,” he said.