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New apartments and commercial space planned for former Marion library lot

Kilbourne Group and Gronen development companies plan to break ground within the next year on a mixed-use building in Uptown Marion.

By Jordan BeckPublished Jul 27, 2026, 9:58 AM CT1 min read
AI-generated editorial scene: A wide, eye-level view shows a flat, vacant gravel lot bordered by mature deciduous trees and a paved street in a quiet downtown district. In the background, a row of two-story brick commercial buildings stands under a bright, overcast afternoon sky. A single wooden surveyor’s stake with a small orange ribbon sits upright in the foreground, marking the open space.
AI-generated editorial photo · CR Pulse Graphics Desk

A vacant lot in Uptown Marion is set to transform into a four-story, mixed-use hub featuring 63 apartments and ground-floor commercial space.

The Marion City Council recently voted unanimously to approve the site layout for the property along Sixth Avenue between 10th and 11th streets, marking a new chapter for the land where the former Nancy A. Miller Marion Public Library stood before the 2020 derecho.

Led by Kilbourne Group and Gronen development companies, the project blueprint includes indoor and outdoor parking, a rooftop patio, a resident lounge, and a fitness area. Developers have agreed to a minimum assessed value of roughly $17.8 million upon the project's completion.

Marion City Council member Grant Harper voiced support for the partnership, stating that the development team has proven responsive throughout the planning process.

Construction on the site is scheduled to begin within the next year, with substantial completion targeted for late 2028. The original library building was torn down following the 2020 storm, paving the way for a replacement library that opened across the street in 2022.

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Sources

  1. 1.Marion approves layout for project at former library site — The Gazette

This story was researched and drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication. Read our Editorial Standards & AI Disclosure. Spot an error? Request a correction.

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