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City of Mattoon, Illinois - Municipality
www.mattoon.illinois.gov
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🏡 1816 Grant Avenue – A Land Bank Success Story
This property was once vacant, unsecured, and a frequent source of trespassing complaints.
It was on a path toward demolition.
Instead, through the legal tools available to the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority (CILBA), we were able to take control of the property, stabilize it, and issue a competitive Request for Proposals.
The property was sold for our total acquisition and cleanup cost of $11,500 - meaning that public dollars were fully recovered. There was ZERO government subsidy involved in this process.
What happened next is what community development is all about.
The new owner made a significant private investment, transforming a blighted, abandoned structure into a fully rehabilitated home.
Today:
• The property has returned to productive use
• It has eliminated nuisance activity
• It is back on the tax rolls
• It sold for approximately $150,000
• No government subsidy was required
This is the power of strategic land banking. Our goal is not just removing problem properties, but repositioning them for private reinvestment just like this!
We plan to replicate this model on blighted properties wherever we can when possible.
Demolition remains an important tool when structures are beyond repair. But when preservation is possible and financially viable, saving a home strengthens neighborhoods and protects existing housing stock. 1816 Grant is proof that the right legal framework and disciplined process can unlock private reinvestment without long-term public subsidy.
If you have questions about the land bank, demolitions, or are interested in joining a mailing list for contractors interested in building new homes or rehabilitating existing structures, please contact Alexander Benishek | Community Development and Planning Director at: benisheka@mattoonillinois.org
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Latest News from the City of Mattoon
Remington and Swords Pavement Replacement and Pavement Patching
Notice: Pavement Replacement and Pavement Patching There will be construction to replace the pavement and curb & gutter on Remington Road and Swords Drive. Construction will begin on August 25, 2025. Remington Road will be closed east of Swords Drive during construction. Swords Drive will always have at least one lane open during construction. All work is dependent on weather conditions. We will make every effort to maintain access to your property throughout the duration of the project. If you have any questions or concerns about the project, you can contact: City of Mattoon David Clark, PE- Public Works Director [...]
Lake Mattoon Beach Closure Issued
WARNING - A harmful algal bloom, which can release neurological toxins, continues to indicate a presence at Lake Mattoon. Out of an abundance of caution, the beach at Lake Mattoon is closed until further notice, pending additional test results from sampling taken today. Residents should avoid contact with the water. The City has contracted for treatment of Lake Mattoon; however, due to the low dissolved oxygen levels currently in the water, spraying has been postponed until conditions are favorable to do so. A PDF Copy of this notice can be found here.
Swords Drive Work 07/31/25 and 08/01/25
Mattoon Public Works Public Notice On July 31st and August 1st, the City’s consultant performing an engineering study on Swords Drive will doing pavement and soil borings along Swords Drive between Broadway Ave. East and Remington Road weather permitting. They will be doing a total of nine (9) borings over the area. While the work is ongoing you can expect to experience lane reduction in the area.
Golf Cart Ordinance
NOTICE Golf Cart Ordinance Amending Title VII of the Municipal Code Regulating the Operation of Golf Carts Beginning August 1st, 2025, City of Mattoon ordinance 2025-5497 will take effect regulating the operation of golf carts on city streets within the city. The complete ordinance can be found here and should be read in its entirety by anyone wishing to register a golf cart for use. Some quick facts concerning the ordinance are as follows. All golf carts operated upon a city street must first be registered at the Mattoon Police Department located at 1710 Wabash Ave, Monday through Friday, between [...]
Safe Routes to School Meeting
July 22, 2025 Files from the July 10th Safe Routes to School informational meeting for Mattoon Middle School and Williams can be downloaded here. File from the July 17th Safe Routes to School informational meeting for the Mattoon High School can be downloaded here. Please send comments to: srtscomments@mattoonillinois.org ----------------------------------------- June 30th, 2025 The City of Mattoon will hold an informational meeting with Mattoon CUSD #2 on July 10, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria of Williams Elementary School. The meeting will provide information about the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) sidewalk grant program, which aims [...]
DO NOT DRINK ORDER IS LIFTED
FOR CITY OF MATTOON EVERYONE MAY DRINK THE TAP WATER - July 18, 2025 WHY IS THE ADVISORY LIFTED? The DO NOT DRINK Order that was issued on July 15, 2025 for the City of Mattoon has now been LIFTED. Samples collected on July 15th showed harmful algal bloom neurological toxin in the drinking water at .385 parts per billion (ppb) which is above the EPA recommended advisory levels of .30 ppb. Samples collected on July 16th showed harmful algal bloom neurological toxin in the drinking water at .215 ppb which is under the EPA recommended advisory levels of .30 [...]