Marion, IL

Marion, Illinois: A Focus on Housing and the Downtown

Category: Marion, Main Street, Build Homes

Once bustling with vibrant downtown businesses, Marion, Illinois, like many small towns, faced a decline in their downtown when a nearby mall was built in the 1980s on the outskirts of town near the interstate. This shift led to the decay of the historic downtown area. Recognizing this challenge,...

Marion, Illinois: Brought Retail Back to Downtown and Created Outdoor Activity/Entertainment Spaces

Category: Social Space, Marion, Placemaking

The downtown revitalization of Marion, IL, has transformed the city’s historic core into a vibrant hub of activity. With Mayor Mike Absher and enthusiastic community involvement, the project has breathed new life into the area. "Once the funding was put in place for the old part of town and the...