URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — After several businesses have closed their doors along Urbana’s Philo Road, Mayor DeShawn Williams is taking the next steps to turn the southeast side of the city around.

He believes one step to fixing the problem and moving things forward starts this Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Sunnycrest parking lot. The city is hosting ‘Philo Road Ahead’ from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. as a way to bring the community together and ‘reimagine’ what this part of Urbana could look like.

“For me, it’s very important that we change the narrative around the area and that we bring the excitement and focus around that area,” he said.

Williams said he wants to hear from neighbors directly and learn what they want to see right outside their front doors.

“We can’t be afraid to go into some of our most vulnerable places to help turn it around. That takes action,” he added.

The event will include 25 community organizations, DJs, and free food.

Down the way from the ‘Philo Road Corridor’ is Urbana’s former Dart factory, which shut its doors in August of 2023. Williams said it’s also important to him that he pours his attention into that space and brings more jobs back to the city.

The parking lot remains empty today, and a large ‘available’ sign is displayed out front. But, Williams said, companies are starting to show interest. He expects that traction to continue in the next month, in particular.

“We would of course love to see another industrial type of organization that would fill that space. The ideas and thoughts are endless,” the mayor said.

Williams said he doesn’t want to “limit himself.”

“We have an opportunity to go broad and beyond the scope that we are used to looking through,” he added.