Normal Town Council addressed rental vs. owning concerns

Image courtesy of Normal Town Council

NORMAL, Ill. – The Normal Town Council held its first meeting of the month on Tuesday discussing housing concerns.

Other than approving minutes, the Normal Town Council had two items on the agenda for the day, including a report to receive and file the town of Normal’s expenditures for payment and a resolution authorizing the extension of the Municipal Insurance Cooperative Agency (MICA) risk pool and approving its amended by-laws. All items on the agenda were unanimously approved.

During public comment, Normal residents Barbara and Mike Scanlon voiced concerns about their neighborhood, asking the council for guidance and support on possible solutions.

Since around 2000, the Scanlons have lived near North School Street and, over the years, have helped transform their neighborhood from a mostly “run-down” rental area into what Barbara Scanlon described as “a hidden gem of nice gardens and affordable family homes.”

The Scanlons have recently grown concerned that their neighborhood is gradually returning to the rental-heavy area it once was, driven by a rise in Airbnbs, the conversion of owner-occupied homes into rentals, and a noticeable decline in property maintenance.

“I just want to express worry on behalf of the neighborhood… What a nice neighborhood we’ve built. Really something for the town of Normal to be proud of,” said Mrs. Scanlon. “It’s at risk of turning back into a shabby apartment neighborhood again, like you see on South School Street. I just want to raise that concern and raise awareness of our worries about our property values potentially going down, our life investment.”

Council Member Kathleen Lorenz, who has served since 2015, expressed her support for the Scanlons and raised an additional concern regarding e-scooters and electric bikes in Normal.

“I am seeing a lot more e-scooters around town and maybe because college students are in town on sidewalks, on the Constitution Trail and on roads, darting in and out of traffic,” said Lorenz. “And yet, to my knowledge, we don’t have clear guidelines on whether we have opted in or out of the state laws recently. And if we have, then I’m not sure that we’ve rolled out that communication very effectively.”

Normal Town Council meets at 7 p.m. every first and third Monday of each month. The next meeting will take place September 15.