Normal Charging Stations: More at the Store?

Walgreens is putting in charging stations for electric cars, and other stores may be adding them soon. If more stores in Normal add the stations, we might actually get used to seeing (and using) them all around town! I wonder how long it took for people to get used to seeing gas stations around town.

Normal: Walking Neighborhoods Are the Future

This article about the value of having residential neighborhoods with schools, restaurants, convenience stores, and other desired businesses within walking distance is very timely. It's not just rising gas prices that will motivate people to want to be able to walk places, it's also the increase in people working from home, the preference many people now seem to have for making quick trips to purchase nessecities instead of one, extended trip to the store for a week's supply, and the (grudgingly acknowledged) need for exercise.


It would be interesting to take a map of Normal and circle businesses within walking distance (however that's measured) of residential neighborhoods.  I think many residents would like to be able to walk to "neighborhood stores" but they also do not want those stores in their "backyards" (too much traffic, too much light at night, too much loitering). What is the solution to establishing these businesses without upsetting residents? There are vacant buildings that could be transformed into businesses based on what nearby residents want/need. That would be one solution. There is also "undeveloped" land (interpretation: farmland) on the outskirts of some neighborhoods that could be acquired for this purpose.


Maybe in the not too distant future, new subdivision plans will have to include "gray space" (for small businesses) as well as green space.

Normal 2011: What a year!

Shepard Park is on the map!
Masonic Temple leaves a gap.


St. Pat’s Parade big hit Uptown!
“Fool’s Fest” does not get off the ground.


Uptown Station’s looking great!
High speed rail tracks await.

New garbage carts for every home!
Alas, no urban chickens roam.


The Circle occupies first place:
Smart Growth Award, Best Public Space!


Humble town of Normal stars
In ad for little electric cars.

Crutcher and Hill retired -- a pity!
And Fruin left for Iowa City. (Really, Geoff? Iowa??)


2012: Redeveloped Holiday Inn?
And that Uptown One hole may get filled in?

Happy New Year, Normal!

Normal Christmas Wish

Wouldn't life be worth the living

Wouldn't dreams be coming true

If we kept the Christmas spirit

All the whole year through?

           ~Author Unknown

Have a Merry Normal Christmas!

Normal Parking Garage Could Be Greener!

Vancouver is building a greenhouse on top of a "parkade" (which is the Canadian version of a parking garage). The greenhouse will produce "tonnes" of vegetables (Canadians spell funny!).  Ok, Normal, we can top that (pun intended)!  We could have a greenhouse on top of the College Ave. parking garage or on top of the new parking structure connected to the Uptown Station.  Get growing!!

Normal Circle Wins EPA Award!

The Uptown Normal Circle has won the EPA National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in the category "Civic Places."  The Circle is recognized for not just its innovative environmentally-friendly design and traffic-friendly transformation of an intersection, but also for its function as a gathering place for people. As the article points out, there wasn't a city center until the Circle was created. Lately, it's even been used for protesting!  You know it's a real gathering spot when that happens!

Driving around it, enjoying the green space, or gathering for civic/social events -- embrace the Circle!

Normal Uptown Thanksgiving

Hhhmmm, maybe a song says it best...


Said the Pantagraph to the local folk,
Do you see what I see?
In the town of Normal, local folk,
Do you see what I see?
Uptown, Uptown, not to be outdone,
With a Circle that’s ranked Number 1.
With a Circle that’s ranked Number 1.


Said the local folk to the nearby towns,
Do you hear what I hear?
Every day, listen nearby towns,
Do you hear what I hear?
A boom, some clangs, coming down like rain
With a noise as loud as a train.
With a noise as loud as a train.


Said the nearby towns to the Governor,
Do you know what I know?
In your Springfield home, Governor,
Do you know what I know?
Uptown, Uptown, rising like the sun
Come and visit, join in the fun!
Come and visit, join in the fun!


Said the Governor in a press release,
“Listen to what I say!
Come to Normal, people, if you please.
Listen to what I say!
Uptown, Uptown, it’s becoming great
It will bring new life to this state!
It will bring new life to this state!”

Let us give thanks for our community.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Normal: Repurposing Old Buildings

Here's a nice idea for repurposing old buildings: turning old elementary schools into apartments. What a nice alternative to tearing them down or closing and abandoning them! How many local unused buildings are there? Maybe developers need to be more creative in coming up with ideas for using for old buildings in new ways.

Normal Masonic Lodge

As the Normal Masonic Lodge is torn down, it would be interesting to know more about its history. One site describes a box (time capsule) located under the cornerstone. It was placed there when the building was built in 1925 but was opened in 1971, added to, and then replaced. Lodge members hope to find a new home for the box. Seeing old buildings demolished and replaced by new buildings makes me feel like an old-timer, even though I didn't grow up in Normal. Some day, I'll tell people about how I used to park in front of that Lodge when I needed to stop at the Post Office, which used to have a very nice old church next to it. Speaking of old churches, there used to be another one in that area . . .

Normal Circle Wins Top Public Space!

Planetizen has announced the "winners" of their "Top 100 Public Spaces in the U.S. and Canada" campaign.  Normal's Uptown Circle won the top place!  It's interesting that the authors of the article make a point of stating that the findings are not "objective."  If Central Park had won the top spot, would they have made that same point?  Isn't it true that all online surveys/campaigns are not objective? They certainly don't use random sampling.

It's good to have some recognition and appreciation, even if winning the top spot was the result of local "passion" for the Circle. It's our Circle and we like it.