Residential construction in Washington is the hottest it's been in nearly a decade.
Jon Oliphant, the city's planning and development director, said Monday in his regular report to the Washington City Council that 31 permits for new residential construction in the city were issued through early June.
That's more than any full year since 2016, when 33 new residential construction permits were issued.
Here are the new residential construction permits issued in Washington since 2016 (each unit in a duplex or apartment complex equates to one permit):
- 2016: 33
- 2017: 18
- 2018: 17
- 2019: 29
- 2020: 17
- 2021: 12
- 2022: 13
- 2023: 17
- 2024: 22
Oliphant said he isn't sure why new residential construction permits have surged in Washington this year.
"I'm curious if it's happening elsewhere in the region," he said. "There's been such demand in the region for existing homes for so long that I suspect it's beginning to increase the demand for new construction.
"Also, there's a general housing shortage in the country. This may be a micro example of trying to address that shortage."
Here are other highlights of Oliphant's council report:
- Matt Moehle, vice president and co-manager of Washington Community Bank and president of the Washington Community Foundation, has purchased the vacant lot in the southwest corner of the downtown square. Moehle's plans for the lot are for a pergola market area in the front, a performance/play area in the middle, and a food truck area with picnic tables in the back with planters along the sidewalk edge. Special events such as Rove & Ramble could be held in the lot, perhaps as early as next month.
- Initial infrastructure work at the Protea Place development at U.S. Business Route 24 and South Cummings Lane is tentatively scheduled to begin around July 1. Construction of the first two buildings is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 1 and Oct. 1. Fifty-six multi-family residential units are planned, with commercial lots available along Business Route 24.
- Construction of a five-unit office building at the northeast corner of North Cummings Lane and Kingsbury Road is tentatively planned to begin in 2026.
Here are highlights of some of the other council reports:
DENNIS CARR
INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
- A job description for the new communications specialist position has been posted on the city's website. Resumes must be submitted by Aug. 1.
- A request for qualifications for companies that wish to do a citywide space study also is on the city's website. The deadline to submit applications is 1 p.m. July 11.
DENNIS CARR
CITY ENGINEER
- The second phase of the Catherine Street reconstruction project has begun. All of the brick pavers have been removed.
- The railroad bridge painting project on U.S. Business Route 24 has been delayed because of timing issues with the Illinois Department of Transportation related to the closure of Business Route 24.
- The Gilman Avenue speed bumps have been ordered. It isn't known when they'll be delivered.
There was no report from Police Chief Jeff Stevens because he was on vacation last week.
The Washington Fire Department will now provide regular council reports.
The initial report includes minutes from the May 13 fire department board meeting, the board's 2025-26 calendar, which has bullet-point items for each month's meeting, and the May call report.
The department responded to a total of 209 calls this year through the end of May, two fewer than the same time period in 2024. Of the 209 total calls, 157, or 76.2%, were in the city of Washington.
Let's Talk Washington in Sunnyland
Mayor Lilija Stevens announced Monday the second monthly Let's Talk Washington question-and-answer and discussion session will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Sunnyland branch of the Washington District Library.
Stevens will be joined in Sunnyland by Police Chief Jeff Stevens and Alderperson Mike Ernst.
The first Let's Talk Washington session was held last month on a Saturday morning at the Washington District Library at Five Points Washington. Mayor Stevens and Police Chief Stevens were in attendance.
"We're going to have these sessions at different times so we can accommodate everyone's schedule," Mayor Stevens said.
Mayor Stevens also announced that City Hall will be closed Thursday in observance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday.
Grandyle Drive will get flooding relief with new sewer
Also at Monday's council meeting:
- Council unanimously approved a $598,041 contract for low bidder Stark Excavating of Bloomington to install a relief sewer on Grandyle Drive to address flooding problems in the area. The project includes the sewer, plus the installation of manholes and a sidewalk along the west side of Grandyle from Mackenzie Street to Elgin Street. "It's exciting to see the issues along Grandyle being addressed," said Alderperson Mike McIntyre.
- Council unanimously approved a $110,277 contract for low bidder PlymoVent of Cranbury, N.J., to replace the vehicle exhaust system at the Washington Fire Station. The current system no longer works and is out of production.
- Council unanimously approved the city's annual $10,000 contribution to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council. Among other roles, the GPEDC is the first line of communication in the area on non-retail site selection, provides assistance on applications for grants that can help fund infrastructure or workforce enhancements, and advocates for economic initiatives that can spur economic growth.
The unanimous votes were 6-0. Alderpersons Paula Johnson and Bobby Martin III did not attend the 16-minute meeting.
