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Normal Council To Consider Civil War-era Orphanage Development

John Alltop
/
Wikimedia Commons

Normal Town Council members will be asked to consider a redevelopment agreement for two buildings at a military orphanage that opened in 1869 and closed in 1979. 

Nicolas Africano, who owns 11 buildings at the former Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School, wants to fix up the Infirmary and demolish the General Administration building. The town may chip in to help that happen.

If approved, Normal would reimburse Africano an estimated $500 thousand for the demolition, allowing him to devote funds to renovating the Infirmary. The town would then take ownership of the empty lot and land north and south of it in an attempt to attract developers.

The council will also be asked to approve a series of measures that would help bring a 128-unit apartment complex to northwestern Normal.

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