Athletic center given another chance

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March 4, 2010

BY JENNIFER BAILEY The Commercial-News Thu Mar 04, 2010, 11:40 PM CST

DANVILLE — The city’s zoning commission is giving building owner Marvin Davis another chance.

The commission Thursday recommended approving a special-use permit requested by Davis to operate an athletic center at 400 Sager St. in the B1 Neighborhood Business Zoning District.

The commission’s vote was 5-3, with Pat O’Shaughnessy, Dennis Faith and Ted Vacketta voting against it.

City council members will act on the permit March 16.

Davis, however, must clean up the adjacent parking lot to provide about 24 parking spaces. The wrestling club that wants to use the facility every weekend can be there only between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The club also must provide a letter from the health department indicating its parking lot also is available on the weekend.

Davis cannot allow any other events at the facility under the permit.

However, Davis tried to present a list of possible activities he’d be allowed to host at the site to raise money to repair the almost 90-year-old building.

He later withdrew his list, which included wedding receptions, church functions and other events, after Danville Planning and Zoning Manager Chris Milliken told him banquet facilities now are not allowed under B1 zoning.

“I’m more confident with the tenant than the building owner,” O’Shaughnessy said, adding that he doesn’t think that should be the case.

The commission originally issued a special-use permit to Davis for the site in January 2006. The building is the old St. Joseph’s gymnasium and school across from the Vermilion County Health Department at Sager and College streets.

The permit was originally intended for operation of an athletic center and multi-use facility. Uses identified were: boxing events, a banquet facility, beauty salon and accounting office.

However, parking and frequent calls to police were issues, in addition to the building no longer being used for its originally intended uses. The city council revoked the permit for the property in July 2009.

Also Thursday, commissioners recommended rezoning a house at 622 S. Bowman Ave. from R2 single-family residential medium density to B2 highway business for the purpose of operating an office/retail establishment.

The request is by Martin Lipa, who said he’s talking to Realtors, insurance and other representatives about renting the planned office space.

The house is the first house on the west side of Bowman, south of the gas stations and Douglas Park. Four parking spaces are planned.

“I’m not into renting single-family houses,” Lipa said, adding that if the office space doesn’t work out, he’ll sell the house.

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