URBANA — A new entertainment venue and restaurant in downtown Urbana may not open until the end of the year.
Patrick Singer, a managing partner with developer Race Street Ventures LLC, said the group is seeking “a short extension” on its deadline to achieve occupancy for Fernie’s High Horse, with the date hopefully being pushed from Oct. 31 to Dec. 31.
He told The News-Gazette that the two historic buildings at 118 and 120 S. Race St. have required “significant structural redevelopment, which began in earnest January 2025.”
“The entire rebuild has been progressing with much diligence and attention to detail to create a truly unique third space,” Singer continued. “The buildings have been completely transformed, as Fernie’s High Horse encompasses a live-performance venue, a single-screen cinema, fully operational cafe and bar, a stationary food trailer, renovated patio exterior, in addition to rentals on the second floor.”
In February 2025, Race Street Ventures LLC entered into an agreement with the city of Urbana for an incentive of up to $258,000 on the development.
One year later, the city council voted to extend the project’s deadline to achieve occupancy from March 31 to Oct. 31.
The council will consider the request for an additional extension during Monday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, but no formal action will be taken at that time.
“From a business perspective, we’re working behind the scenes to develop our operational framework and team in an effort to be ready to introduce these elements to the community in a sound, impactful way,” Singer said. “Our long-term investment to downtown Urbana will soon be realized and we look forward to welcoming patrons.”
While an official opening date for Fernie’s has yet to be announced, at least two concerts are already booked for late 2026.
Singer is the director of development for the annual Pygmalion music festival, and the organization also arranges other performances throughout the year.
The current lineup of “Inter-Pygmalion” events includes two performances at Fernie’s High Horse: emo brand TRSH on Dec. 4 and dream-pop band She’s Green on Dec. 6.
Also on the agenda for Monday’s council meeting:
Time for applicants for the Ward 6 council vacancy to introduce themselves and field questions.A request for a liquor license from 83 Vietnamese Cuisine to operate at Black Dog’s former location at 201 N. Broadway Ave.A request for a temporary liquor license at Soccer Planet, 2310 Willow Road. If approved, the incubator license is valid for up to 180 consecutive days initially and can be extended once for another 180 days.An ordinance, sponsored by Alderman Chris Evans, that would amend city code to clarify the mayor’s role during committee-of-the-whole meetings. The proposed language states that the mayor “is a nonvoting member of the committee and is not counted for the purpose of determining a quorum.”
According to a report to the council, the same provision was approved by the council in September 2019. However, this language “was replaced by a change three months later, when the same section was amended to reverse the weeks of the month that council and committee meetings were held.”
The oversight was discovered earlier this year when Mayor DeShawn Williams was asked to cast a tie-breaking vote at a May 18 committee meeting. The vote was regarding whether to put a multifamily development proposal on West Main Street on a regular meeting agenda.
“The former (city) officials questioning the procedure maintain that the December change to the code ‘overwriting’ the previous action in September resulted from a mistake by staff who pulled older language (prior to the September change) from the code when preparing the later ordinance,” the report stated.
“The discussion at the December 2019 meetings where the most recent change was made did not include any reference to the mayor’s right to vote in committee meetings.”
Dining and Cooking