Unwilling to wait on the Illinois General Assembly, the Sangamon County Board plans to vote as soon as Sept. 1 to impose a new 3% hotel tax to fund a $60 million expansion of the BOS Center. County officials say they want to act now because state legislation that would create an oversight board – […]
Dean Olsen
Dean Olsen is a senior staff writer for Illinois Times. He can be reached at:
dolsen@illinoistimes.com, 217-679-7810 or @DeanOlsenIT.
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Another downtown project
Local real estate investor Chris Stone has acquired the former PNC Bank building on the Old State Capitol Plaza downtown. “I think it’s probably the best building on the square,” Stone said. “I’ve been working on projects in downtown Springfield for more than 10 years, and I thought this was an opportunity to take a […]
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Data center developer abandons plans for Christian County
Eagle Rock Partners announced Aug. 12 that it will abandon its quest to build a $6 billion data center in Christian County. County Board President Bryan Sharp told Illinois Times that the North Carolina-based company’s decision was rooted in its concern that the planned supplier of the 1,000-megawatt data center’s power – a yet-to-be-built natural […]
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Wyndham hotel up for sale
The 30-story Wyndham Springfield City Centre, closed since March 2025 by water damage that local police and the FBI were investigating as an alleged act of vandalism, is going up for sale as part of bankruptcy proceedings. Bids for the aging former hotel are due by Sept. 15, according to a July 30 news release. […]
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Data center development linked to power plant construction
A change in developers hoping to build Lincoln Land Energy Center near Pawnee in Sangamon County has meant more uncertainty for a project in Christian County – a proposed $6 billion data center. Christian County Board Chairperson Bryan Sharp told Illinois Times on July 28 that he is “waiting on clarification” from Eagle Rock Partners, […]
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End run for data center developer
Hut 8 Corp. could avoid scrutiny from the Logan County Board if it convinces Latham Village Board members to annex the proposed site of the company’s planned 500-megawatt data center – two miles west of the village – and thus take control over the future of the $5 billion project. The five-member Village Board – […]
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Mayor, state detail Y block plans
A permanent amphitheater for free Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series concerts and other community events would be built on the downtown Y block, and the state would acquire the two-acre property as part of a $4 million, state-funded development plan for a public park that City Council members may consider for approval this month. Mayor […]
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Crowd reacts to Christian County data center plan
Facing strong opposition to a proposed $6 billion data center near Taylorville, a founder of Eagle Rock Partners told the Christian County Board he wouldn’t want to live next door to the center his firm wants to build. But Ken Loeber added that the center, on farm ground two miles southwest of the Christian County […]
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Area data center updates
Plans for CyrusOne’s $500 million data center in Sangamon County are moving forward, with construction expected to begin this summer, after approval two months ago in a County Board vote that crossed party lines. Meanwhile, debate on the potential Meridian Technology Park data center – 10 times more expensive and two miles west of Taylorville […]
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Springfield Memorial Hospital CEO to resign
The president and chief executive officer of Springfield’s largest hospital is resigning after fewer than two years at the helm. Jay Roszhart, 41, who was promoted to lead 500-bed Springfield Memorial Hospital on July 1, 2024, will leave on June 12, according to a statement June 9 from Drew Early, senior vice president and chief […]
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LifeStar Ambulance fights suspension
LifeStar Ambulance Service officials say they will continue to press their case in court after failing to convince a judge May 22 that the company shouldn’t be kicked out of Springfield and Sangamon County’s 911 emergency response system. “We will continue to contest it until hell freezes over,” LifeStar owner Roger Campbell told Illinois Times […]
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“A lot of things are getting confused”
The only revenue Springfield city government might forfeit to help pay for the proposed BOS Center expansion and new hotel next door would be the city’s share of hotel taxes on room rates at the site and part of the expected increase in city sales taxes. Those were guarantees that Sangamon County Board Chair Andy […]