CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The Champaign City Council has unanimously approved a settlement that will lead to the demolition of the long-abandoned Champaign Park Apartments complex.

During a special meeting Tuesday, council members voted 7–0 to authorize the agreement resolving ongoing litigation involving the property and its owner, Champaign Apartments Owner, LLC.

Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said the decision follows years of work by city staff and legal teams addressing conditions at the complex.

Officials say the property contains 29 abandoned apartment buildings with a total of 504 residential units. A court ruling in July 2025 determined the complex had been abandoned by its owner, condemned the buildings and ordered the site to remain vacant because of life-threatening hazards.

Under the settlement, the property owner must submit a completed demolition permit application by Oct. 13, 2026. If approved, demolition must begin by Dec. 4, 2026.

The agreement also sets a timeline for progress: at least 10 buildings must be demolished by Feb. 12, 2027, 20 by March 12, and the entire complex must be removed by May 15, 2027. Plans include excavating and filling in the property’s pool area and reseeding the site once demolition is complete.

City leaders say the settlement will allow the community to move forward after years of concerns about safety and conditions at the abandoned complex.