The DeKalb City Council voted unanimously Monday night to vacate Lincon Terrace and turn the road over to NIU.

The road is located at the south part of NIU between Normal Road and Carroll Avenue. NIU owns the property both north and south of the road—two parking lots, Campbell Hall and the Arndt house. Also, the U.S. Geological Survey is housed in a building the federal government rents from NIU.

NIU previously had indicated to the city council that it wanted to integrate the space into its central campus master plan.

The DeKalb Plan Commission held a public hearing on NIU’s request Aug. 22. No opposition was expressed to the plan then and no written requests were received by the council.

NIU thought of the move in 1985, when administration officials were looking at uniting the campus through a comprehensive plan, said Eddie Williams, vice president for Finance and Planning. However, in the back of their minds, officials then knew someday the move would be necessary.

The time is now. Upcoming construction on Faraday II and the ever-tightening parking crunch lead NIU to believe the road could be used at first for on-street parking and later for aesthetics, Williams said.

There would be little added cost to NIU after the takeover for street maintenance, Williams said. However, DeKalb City maintenance would not be responsible for the street’s upkeep.

NIU already maintains roads and walkways throughout campus, including those by the residence halls, Williams said.

He said NIU hopes to have the street “as soon as possible.”