MY VISION OF DANVILLE

MY VISION OF DANVILLE IS OF A COMMUNITY THAT TAKES PRIDE IN ITSELF, PROMOTES ITS DIVERSE CULTURES, ITS HISTORY, ITS LOCATION AND ITS ATTRIBUTES. A COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE IT'S GREAT POTENTIAL, THROUGH EDUCATION, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS SHARE A COMMON VISION, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE TO GUARANTEE OUR CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND PROMOTE PRIDE IN OUR CITY,

I SEE A COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING IT'S DIVERSE CULTURES THROUGH OPEN DIALOGUE SESSIONS, STUDY CIRCLES AND ETHNIC FOOD FAIRS.

I SEE A COMMUNITY EMBRACING OUR YOUTH AND PROVIDING RESOURCES WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO GROW, SOCIALLY, CULTURALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REBUILT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE SCHOOLS ARE THE HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A CENTER OF ACTIVITY, THE POSITIVE FORCE THAT KEEPS OUT BLIGHT, STABILIZES PROPERTY VALUES AND CREATES A SENSE OF FAMILY.

I SEE A COMMUNITY BUSTLING WITH RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE ANYONE WILLING TO WORK CAN AND AT A FAIR WAGE.

I SEE A COMMUNITY WHERE OUR LEADERS ARE PROACTIVE, FUTURISTIC AND RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE.

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WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR DANVILLE

THE SAME ISSUES ARE PROBABLY AS PREVALENT TODAY AS THEY WERE 10 YEARS AGO: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND COMMUNITY IMAGE, ALL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

CONTINUE TO SUPPORT VERMILION ADVANTAGE

CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO NEW AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT.

OFFER INCENTIVE PACKAGES, WORKING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO LURE BUSINESS NOT ONLY TO NEW SITES BUT EXISTING VACANT SITES.

PROMOTE AN 1-74 RETAIL CORRIDOR

PROFESSIONALLY PURSUE RETAIL STORES TO LOCATE HERE.

ESTABLISH A FUND FOR THE PRESERVATION OF VACANT COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES.

PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESSES CATERING TO LEISURE ACTIVITIES, UTILIZING OUR NATURAL ASSETS.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION:

CONTINUED DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED PROPERTY

STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF CODES ON OWNER OCCUPIED AS WELL AS RENTAL HOUSING

IN FILLING OF VACANT LOTS AND DILAPIDATED AREAS WITH NEW HOUSING UTILIZING OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

RETENTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS - ESTABLISHMENT OF A CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR STREET AND SEWER REPLACEMENT

COMMUNITY IMAGE:

CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE " AT THE CORNER OF PROGRESS AND HISTORY " CAMPAIGN

CONTINUED REVIEW, UPDATING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.

FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIDE GROWS PROGRAM. (PARTNERS RESTORING AND IMPROVING DANVILLE'S ENVIRONMENT)

QUARTERLY WARD MEETINGS - TO ADDRESS CONCERNS, PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION AND ALLOW FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

WORK TO TELEVISE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

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A HISTORY OF DANVILLE By Michael Puhr

I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK

TO A TIME FAR FROM HERE

IT'S ANOTHER CENTURY

 IT'S ANOTHER YEAR

THE WILDERNESS, THIS VALLEY

 LIES ALL AROUND YOU

 THE MIAMI'S AND KICKAPOO

AND CHIEF KENNEKUK TOO

THE RIVERS ARE CALLING

THE SETTLERS ALL HEAR

 "WE HAVE SALT DEPOSITS

SO PLEASE GRAB YOUR GEAR"

BECKWITH AND TREAT

AND WEIR STAKED CLAIMS

IN "THE VALLEY OF THE SALINES"

THIS AREAS, INDIAN NAME

THE TRAPPERS AND TRADERS

GUERDON HUBBARD WAS ONE

 WENT NORTH TO CHICAGO

 ON WHAT'S NOW CALLED RT 1

TO DAN BECKWITH OUR FOUNDER

WE ALL OWE A HAND

IT WAS HIM AND GUY SMITH

THEY DONATED THE LAND

OUR CITY WAS FOUNDED IN 1827

TO MANY IT SEEMED ALMOST LIKE HEAVEN

 IT GREW AND EXPANDED AT A RAPID PACE

THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR MUCH MORE SPACE

THE SALT WORKS WERE DAMAGED

 WITH THE DISCOVERY OF COAL

THE LAND STRIPPED OF IT'S BEAUTY

WAS THAT REALLY THE GOAL ?

THE RAILROAD'S ARRIVAL IN 1856

BROUGHT WITH IT EXCITEMENT, SOME EVEN TURNED TRICKS

THE JUNCTION AND GREEN STREET WERE OFF LIMITS TO YOU

IF YOU SERVED IN THE MILITARY OF THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

WESTERN BRICK WHEN IT OPENED

 BACK IN 1901

BEGAN PRODUCING SO MANY

IT WAS SOON NUMBER ONE

NOW I CAN'T FORGET OUR FAVORITE SON

YOU KNOW ABRAHAM LINCOLN

 THE LAWYER, THE PRESIDENT

 OH YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE

OUR DOWNTOWN WAS BOOMING

 THERE WERE FACTORIES GALORE

 JOBS WERE PLENTIFUL

 AS WERE MOM AND POP STORES

THE ECONOMY TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE

 OUR CITY SUFFERED FROM THAT TERRIBLE CURSE

WE LOST MANY FACTORIES AND POPULATION TOO

 OUR LEADERS WONDERED WHAT COULD THEY DO

WE'RE NOW AT THE PRESENT

 YOU ALL KNOW THE REST

 IT'S UP TO ALL OF US HERE

TO MAKE DANVILLE THE BEST

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