Up until the last few years, crumbling infrastructure and a lack of retail variety left the University of Illinois Campustown neighborhood in a depressed state.  The few businesses that could remain viable mostly fell into three categories: collegiate apparel, bookstores and bars-all three safe bets in any college town.  As commerce continued dying off, those strong enough to survive formed "Campustown 2000," a partnership set to revive the area. 

“Business owners down there felt they were hanging on by their fingernails,” adds Todd Salen, advisor at Sperry Van Ness.

Midwest Real Estate News, April 2007