The Champaign City Council held a study session Tuesday to discuss a possible annexation of University property to the city of Champaign.

As a part of the next phase of the development of the University Research Park, the University and the developer have requested that the city take ownership of a portion of the Research Park.

“This is always a challenging process because we have to go back and forth between the University and the City,” said planning director Bruce Knight.

The park, which includes new constructions such as the iHotel, is designed to house technology and research-based businesses and facilities. The next phase of development would include the construction of office buildings and a new retail center. Fifty acres of the park, which fall primarily between Hazelwood Drive and Windsor Road near First Street, currently belong to the University.

“The city is taking back ownership of this portion,” said Lorrie Pearson, land development manager for the city of Champaign.

The city will provide $479,279 toward the $1.5 million project, and the University will provide $65,000. Pearson said the remainder of the costs are expected to come from federal grants. Pearson said that the city can cancel the project if the funding does not become available. “Times are not what we want them to be, but things are still happening,” said Bruce Walden, director of real estate planning and services for the University.

Warren said that construction was going smoothly in the other portions of the Research Park.

The Board of Trustees will consider the annexation agreement on March 11, and the council approved the plan of their own consideration on March 17.