The Village of Savoy is anchored by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s campus and Research Park, Willard Airport, and i Health Systems’ Carle at the Fields. Originally established as an agrarian railside settlement, Savoy has experienced consistent and substantial population growth since its incorporation in 1956. Since 2000, Savoy’s population grew by over 108%, a greater rate than any other community in Champaign County over the same period.

Given its history, the Village lacks a traditional downtown or other centralized gathering space. In recent decades, Village administration has identified the development of a downtown as a crucial step toward defining and strengthening Savoy’s identity and establishing a sense of place. As Savoy continues to grow, there is a pronounced need for such a development.

To that end, the Village desires to create a new mixed-use “main street”-style downtown development that provides residents and visitors with a destination, and that serves as the Village’s architectural centerpiece. There is a particular demand for flexible, publicly-accessible space to facilitate gatherings, markets, and other civic and social events. Our vision includes a compact and sustainable mix of commercial units as well as an activated gathering space. Two- and three-story buildings containing ground-floor dining, entertainment, and retail uses with upper-floor residential or office space are especially desired.

Reponses to this RFP are due October 16, 2026, by 4:00 PM CT to andy.quarnstrom@savoy.illinois.gov. For the full RFP listing, please visit our website.