ICC Student Housing Reopening with Upgrades After Year Long Closure
By Jade White
To the shock of many, Illinois Central College (ICC) announced on March 6, 2025 that on-campus housing would be closing for the 2025-26 school year. The owners, Educational Foundation Student Residence LLC, did not have enough resources to fix the emerging problems within the 21-year-old building. The housing is set to reopen before the fall 2026 semester.
According to ICC student Catherine Steider, who lived in student housing during the 2024-25 school year, problems with the housing included dirty chairs, tiles, and couches, along with reports of mold from other students. “The dirt was well known to the point that most students would wrap blankets around the furniture before sitting,” she said.
After the closure, students were given housing options, including housing at Bradley University. Many roommate mixers were held but they were not well attended. The purpose of these mixers was to allow students to meet others with similar interests and lifestyles that would work well as roommates. International students were encouraged to transfer to Bradley campus housing.
In the past school year, there was relative radio silence about the steps ICC had taken to deal with the housing issue. Other construction projects went ahead on campus, not including housing, leading many to worry there was not a plan to reopen the buildings. That changed on March 6, 2026, when the sale of the housing property was finalized.
The deal was announced in a March 18 press release. Local real estate investors Brad Joseph, Bill Joseph, and Chad Joos purchased the property, which will be managed by Young America Realty.
Young America reality is a property management company that focuses on student and residential housing in Bloomington-Normal. Marketing director, Megan Bachman, explained how the new management will operate. Bachman explained that Young America is currently working on pre-opening and pre-leasing of the housing. Students can apply for updates at https://www.yarealty.com/woodside.
Bachman also said that the company plans to have a “regular presence on campus during peak hours.” The company is currently looking for part time leasing agents to help with the influx of student applicants. Interested students can apply at https://www.yarealty.com/about/employment.
According to Bruce Budde, the interim president of ICC, housing is scheduled to reopen during the fall 2026 semester at full capacity under the name Woodside. Woodside will open with renovations and updates including new carpet, fresh paint, updated kitchen appliances, and new furniture. When asked about the rumors of mold, Budde said “Young America is the property management group and they will manage and monitor any questions and concerns regarding facility conditions or issues. It is important to note that the ownership group is currently engaged in a comprehensive remodel and an upgrade of the entire complex”
As Fall 2026 nears, students will start looking to apply to housing. With the extensive renovations and sale, questions have been raised if the application process and rent cost will stay the same. Bruce Budde explained that the process should stay like how it was before. Budde did not give an exact number on the rent but assured that the price was comparable to the current market.
Students are urged to check out https://icc.edu/student-housing/ and https://www.yarealty.com/woodside for specific application information.