URBANA – Developers detailed plans for two new office parks, a new state office and the extension of South Fourth Street to the Champaign County Economic Development Corp. board Thursday.

"It's not the vast volume (of projects) we had a couple years ago," said John Dimit, the group's chief executive officer. "But we're still living in a dynamic community. Change is happening."

As part of the annual "developers roundtable," Matt Wavering said Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty is marketing The Gates at Applewood Valley, a new retail and office park planned for the southwest corner of Curtis Road and Mattis Avenue in Champaign.

He said the park, being developed by Hallbeck Homes, will offer office and retail lots for development, with spring 2012 targeted as the start date.

Wavering also mentioned the launch of City Center office park, developed by Thompson Land Co., on U.S. 45 in Savoy, north and west of the Provena medical office. He said a new commercial building available for lease has already been built at 111 Calvin St.

Jay Ramshaw of Sperry Van Ness/Ramshaw Real Estate reported that the Illinois Department of Human Services has leased 15,000 square feet at the front of the former Tile Specialists building at 705 N. Country Fair Drive, C. The department's local office is now at 801 N. Walnut St., C.

The Champaign County YMCA continues to lease the rear portion of the former Tile Specialists building, using it for a Fitness & Family Center.

John Carson, also of Sperry Van Ness/Ramshaw, said two national tenants are considering the 63,000-square-foot space available just west of the County Market store at 1914 Glenn Park Drive, C. Hobby Lobby occupied part of that space before moving to North Neil Street in Champaign.

Laura Frerichs, associate director of the University of Illinois Research Park, showed plans for the extension of South Fourth Street in Champaign from St. Mary's Road to Windsor Road.

Rather than running due north and south, the street would wind slightly to the west. It would have three lanes, including a bidirectional turn lane, with a shared-use path nearby.

She said the Moorman Swine Research Unit – part of the UI College of Agriculture – will stay where it is for a while, even though surrounding land is being developed for the next phase of the research park.

"Our friends, the pigs, are not moving any time soon," she said.

Jill Guth of JSM Development, which has multiple properties in the campus area, said the company owns 1,500 apartments, twice as many as six years ago.

Residential leasing is running behind last year's pace, particularly in efficiency and one-bedroom units, she said. But there's been an uptick in activity in March.

Commercial leasing in Campustown is strong, she said, with properties along Green Street commanding rents that are considered huge for Champaign County "if you're not in a mall environment."

Nick Taylor of Re/Max Realty Associates discussed the residential real estate market, saying buyers are getting good deals now.

Houses at the upper end of the market showed the largest price declines last year, he said, with real estate activity down about 40 percent.

Taylor said housing activity picked up this spring, but houses in the "mid" price range have also seen downward adjustments.