Royse + Brinkmeyer announced the start of lease-up for The Pilot, a new mixed-income residential community that will deliver 151 apartments, townhomes, and lofts to Champaign, Illinois’, In-Town Neighborhood.
Supported by a blended financing structure from PNC Bank, The Pilot includes five planned properties designed to expand workforce housing options in the city.
Champaign continues to see rising demand for moderate-income housing, driven by population growth, wage increases, and limited new supply. The Pilot offers expanded choices for residents – including those in the region’s “missing middle”, who earn too much to qualify for traditional affordability programs but still face increasing barriers in the rental market.
Situated along South State and Prairie Streets, the three-acre development blends renovated historic assets with three new distinct residential concepts: Prairie Townhomes, Alley Lofts, and State Street Flats.
PNC Bank provided financing through a combination of traditional lending and an equity-equivalent investment – an approach that could serve as a scalable model for future non–tax credit workforce housing developments.
This project supports the City of Champaign’s goal to increase housing units by 2035 as part of a broader strategy to address the region’s supply shortage. Statewide, Illinois faces an existing housing deficit of 142,000 housing units and will need to build an estimated 227,000 new homes by 2030 to meet demand, according to the Illinois Economic Policy Institute.
In partnership with Royse + Brinkmeyer and Catalyst Construction, the Champaign City Council approved a Planned Development in the fall of 2024, enabling a mix of housing types in the In-Town Neighborhood.
Located steps from downtown along State and Prairie Streets, The Pilot features units priced from $1,500 to more than $3,000 and offers amenities such as rooftop decks, ample natural light, attached garages, community gardens, rewilded landscaping and expanded parking. Floor plans span 513 to nearly 1300 square feet.
The Pilot, located along 305-315 S. State Street and 308-314 S. Prairie Streets, includes:
New Construction: (101 units)
- Alley Lofts – 42 loft-style units ranging from studios to three-bedrooms – 312 S. Prairie St.
- Prairie Townhomes – 12 family-oriented two-bedroom units – 308, 314 S. Prairie St.
- State Street Flats – 47 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom with select rooftop patios – 305 S. State St.
Existing Properties: (50 units)
- State Street House – Single family home with two units – 315 S. State St.
- State Street Apartments – 48 one-bedroom units – 307, 309 S. State St.
