5,200 vacant lots in Decatur, City Council approves demo of 12 properties

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Last year, there were an estimated 5,200 vacant lots in Decatur. But these properties are more than an eyesore; they are a risk.

At Monday night's Decatur City Council meeting, they approved pushing forward with demolishing an additional 12 properties. This is just one more step in the City's efforts to revitalize neighborhoods.

Decatur City Councilman David Horn said that the city's revitalization efforts focus on three key points: demolishing unfit structures, rehabilitating properties to be inhabited and revamping abandoned lots.

"People, when they drive through Decatur, they see these types of dilapidated properties, and it just gives a negative impression of what is otherwise a fantastic city to live in," Horn said.

Horn explained that the vacant lots can pose a serious risk, not just to the physical structures on the properties, but to other surrounding structures and even the overall safety in the community.

"Dilapidated properties might be used for criminal activity. Dilapidated properties might be used by those who are housing distressed and have no place else to go, and so they're used as shelter." Horn explained.

In the 2025 Budget, Council set aside $1.5 million to demolish properties in the city—100 properties priced at $15,000 apiece. By the end of October, the City had only demolished 14 properties. For comparison, in 2024, the City had demolished 130 properties by October. Horn attributes the decline to staffing issues.

However, demolishing properties is not the only option for revitalization. The City has opened a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the construction of 28 lots in the Millikin area. Council also approved a permit waiver so people could make improvements to their homes without any permit fees.

City staff say that a more concrete plan for revitalization will be outlined in their 2026 Strategic Revitalization Plan, which is expected to be finished in January.

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