If you’re interested in the future of Sheridan Village, a trustworthy source has informed me that there’s a meeting at Fashion Bug tonight at 7:00 p.m. to discuss it. I’m told a representative of the Emmes Group will be there (they’re the ones who own Sheridan Village) along with representatives from the city and Hy-Vee, and of course surrounding neighbors and other interested parties. However, I’m told the press will not be allowed to attend. I’m not sure if neighbors will be allowed to voice their concerns or if this is just an informational meeting.
Daily Archives: August 6, 2008
Bryant continues to make case for museum
I got my latest issue of Illinois Business Issues, and I have to say that it looks really good. It’s now full-color, and all the whole thing has been reformatted and updated. Kudos to the folks at Peoria Magazines for a fine makeover.
If only the museum folks would do the same with their plans for the Peoria Regional Museum. Instead, we have yet another article from W. Michael Bryant on why building the museum is critical.
It has been well communicated by Caterpillar that the Visitors’ Center will not be built on the Sears Block without the Peoria Riverfront Museum being built alongside—the company’s vision is that the combination of these two will be spectacular. To that end, Caterpillar has committed $51 million toward its Visitors’ Center and the Riverfront Museum. Without question, we as a community must do everything possible to match Caterpillar’s commitment.
…We must demonstrate our commitment that the future of Caterpillar should remain in Peoria. We will never get another opportunity to partner with Caterpillar like this again—we cannot afford to lose it!
Translation: Heed the dire warning, peasants. If you don’t give your tribute money to this project, you will offend the gods.
This sounds like a veiled threat to me. The implication is that if we don’t want to build the proposed, poorly-planned, overpriced museum, then we will somehow be demonstrating our non-commitment to “the future of Caterpillar…in Peoria.” Hogwash. Peorians can both affirm our desire for Cat to stay and reject a museum development proposal that is flawed and needs revision.
It’s worth noting that Cat hasn’t made any threats. All they’ve said is that they won’t build their visitors center if the museum isn’t built next to it. Fair enough. But they haven’t said that building or not building the museum would have any impact on their “future…in Peoria.” It’s the museum officials that are making that leap.
This article tells me that the museum folks are getting desperate. They obviously don’t feel that the museum can be sold to the public on its own merits, or else they wouldn’t need to resort to this kind of breathless rhetoric about the future of Peoria’s largest employer.
If we have to be motivated by fear to hand over our money to this project, then the project isn’t worth it.