Campustown could probably benefit from a comprehensive plan to help guide city and private development. That would hopefully give it some cohesion. I think the current council motioned to create such a plan, but it may have been postponed due to funding concerns at the onset of COVID. As for the Welch Ave project I agree not a big fan, the water quality improvements are nice but that's about it (although the aesthetics and the trees are subpar).
I agree. I have no hopes though - since I've been around that "Lot X" and main parts of the Campustown "block" have bedeviled and outlasted four ISU presidents now and who knows how many developer's "Concept Plans". I just searched "Lane4" (the old concept plans this reminded me of) and see you too have been on this beat on CF here since at least 2011
Have to give credit to whoever owns that big old house tucked back there (that I imagine most Campustown visitors never even notice) just steadily collecting rent while plans come and go!