CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) – A gardening organization plans to refurbish an old police building it bought from the city of Champaign.
The News-Gazette reports Prosperity Gardens purchased the vacant building, located at 303 N. First St., for a dollar in January. They’re planning multi-phase changes, including a partial tear-down of the building’s north side.
Executive Director Nicole Musumeci said the building had mold and water damage in the north side area. She also noticed a hole in the roof. Police used it for evidence storage years ago, but stopped and left it vacant for at least seven years.
Prosperity says it hopes to raise $120,000 to turn the rest of the building into office, meeting and gardening space. Musumeci hopes to keep the foundation and replace roofing and floors. After it’s demolished, part of the north side will be used for growing space.
Students in a University of Illinois architecture program worked with Prosperity Gardens on designs for the new space.
The nonprofit sells produce to people in need at low prices and works to educate students about gardening.
The newspaper says Prosperity has more gardening space in two lots next to the building and to the east across the street. A one-acre community garden space is planned at Beardsley Park.
