According to the new “Build the Block” website, “The Block will embrace the concepts of new urbanism to encourage a scenic, walkable community where people live, work and enjoy leisure activities.”
Where people live? Where exactly are people going to live on this block? Because I don’t see any apartments, condos, or hotel rooms in their plans. Heck, I don’t even see a habitable second story on any of the buildings. Or are they referring to the homeless who will camp out in the ample green space at night when the block is dead?
You can’t fool people into thinking that this block “embrace[s] the concepts of new urbanism” when it manifestly does not. Just saying it’s new urban doesn’t make it so.
Also, from the Journal Star article today:
“Caterpillar has already put $56 million on the table that would all go away if the museum isn’t built,” Brad McMillan, the spokesman for the museum collaboration group, said. “We need to ask: Is it in central Illinois’ best interest that Caterpillar drive deep stakes in this community?”
First of all, it’s interesting that the group has a new spokesman. Is he their first official spokesman, or does he replace someone else? I don’t recall. Secondly — and I’ve mentioned this before but it’s worth repeating — notice that the museum group is now using fear and intimidation to get you to support the museum.
Follow the logic here — if we build it, it means Cat “drive[s] deep stakes in this community.” The implication is, if we don’t build it, then Cat will not have “deep stakes” here, meaning they could go away and take all their jobs and prestige with them. Ergo, we should hand over our money to this museum because otherwise our city will face economic ruin as our biggest employer moves out of town.
I find that line of reasoning offensive, and to hear leaders like Mayor Ardis and Sen. Koehler parrot the rhetoric is very disappointing. What kind of leadership is that? Either the museum on its own merits is good for the region and worth the investment or it’s not. What Cat will or will not do is immaterial. If Cat told us they would leave unless we all stood on our heads or jumped off the Murray Baker Bridge or built a big $100 million golden statue of a tractor in the middle of the Illinois River, would our leaders be encouraging us to do so? It sounds like it.
Not only that, but as astute commenter Dirk pointed out in a previous post, “If the only thing keeping Caterpillar in Peoria is this museum complex, and nothing else, then I would venture that Caterpillar isn’t very committed to staying in Peoria anyway. Why would a museum [solely] keep Caterpillar anchored here in Peoria? Business is business and economics and not about some amalgam of buildings for tourists or visitors.”
It should be noted, again, that Caterpillar is not making any threats themselves. All they’ve said is that they’ll only build their visitors center if the museum is built next to it. They haven’t said anything about this project deepening their ties with Peoria. Thus, there’s no promise of longevity from them if we build it and no threat of moving if we don’t. The only ones inserting fear and insinuation into this matter are the museum cheerleaders.
Finally, there’s this:
“This is the (Peoria) Civic Center moment of our generation,” said Michael Bryant, the president and CEO of Methodist Medical Center….
The only thing that’s analogous to the Civic Center is that it would require a permanent sales tax to support it. Fortunately, this time the voters will get to decide if that tax is levied.
As Mr Burns would say: “excellent”
At some level, don’t we need to do something with that block? As long a the museum breaks even, and isn’t a loss, it’s a bonus to Peoria and downtown.
That said – I’m with CJ all the way on mixed use for the site. God knowns downtown needs more pedestrian traffic/actual residences.
And, Cat already has pretty deep stakes in Peoria. And they’re big enough that they’ve already sent a fair amount of jobs overseas, and still can employ people here.
I’d bet that the big picture is that really, we’d all like to see the museum happen. How can you not like museums and zoos and entertainment stuff? The cost and the details are the devil here. There are indeed lots of problems.
Cat is goin nowhere.
I am not voting for a tax increase. I don’t care how they threaten us about Cat or sugar coat the deal, my answer is NO!
I think some are reading into this too much. I don’t really think the marketing is aimed to threaten or scare people. I think the promoters may be kissing up to CAT-but I don’t think it’s a “We better do this, or this will happen” deal.
Does anybody remember the Illinois American Water Co. buyout deal? How many times did the people of this city vote AGAINST the buyout before the city council stopped trying?
This is going to take more than one referendum, one vote to make these people realize that the public doesn’t want to pay for this monstrosity.
CJ writes, “It should be noted, again, that Caterpillar is not making any threats themselves.”
True, but CAT seems to be letting quite a few people do their talking for them. I [believe] that CAT is perfectly happy letting Peoria sweat this out.
Brad McMillan? A museum expert? What happened to Jimbo Richerson? I am tired of people who have no idea what the hell they are talking about pump up this museum.
Driving along Lake Ave., across from Lakeview Museum is a big double banner advertising “Build the Block”. I wonder who is paying for this advertisement? And just for the record I vote “no” to any new taxes that are not for desperately need infrastructure and that does not include a museum.
Blogging sort of reminds me of being on a committee where there are too many ideas clouding the issues. Blogs on the Sears block [let’s not call it a museum, yet] are manifold.
So here is my two cents.
Why not “give” the land to the first developer that comes up with a plan that includes what downtown needs? That might or might not include all or some of these:
1: A top quality hotel with all the essentials to bolster the civic center. [Generating tax revenue]
2: A ‘historic Peoria’ section that may look like a museum, but pays for itself.
3: A Caterpillar “brag space”
4: Retail space.
5: Outdoor space that eliminates the Crab Shack and buys back Peoria’s front door to the river.
6: Tax revenue from use of the facility, not tacked on to your property.
The land has the potential to become something great.
You know what makes this great?
We get to hear from C.E.O.’s of companies and people like McMillan on this make-or-break deal for the city.
Because just because they’re C.E.O.’s or a mover and shaker they know what’s best for the community.
Maybe they could put the museum in the PeoriaNext building.
This whole thing reminds me of the old phrase “The beatings will continue until morale improves”.
I clicked on that “build the block” website.
How about a “contact us” link?
Or don’t they want to hear what the public has to say?
Brad McMillan might as well be speaking for Caterpillar. As Ray Lahood’s former right hand, McMillan still enjoys a very close relationship with Cat execs.
I just took a call, it seems that the museum folks have hired a Chicago firm to do market research on peoria. They are looking for people to do a 90min. program to talk about their views on the project. They will pay $50.00 to anyone who participates.
Another outside firm? What did this cost…and where did the money come from? If this ‘little project’ is going to be like the ‘name-the-museum’ bull, and the last tax referendum poll, forget it.
I am sure you have plenty of Lakeview friends and family members lining up for the chance to pull down $50.00 [and make the museum go toot!].
This is a farce. What will the poll tell these people that editorials, blog sites, etc do not? Money would not have been [as big as] an issue if the public where behind this project. I’ll bet anyone $50.00 that the poll will end with a huge % of people in favor of the museum. MIRACLE!!!
Vote Yes on April 7th for the public facility tax! If this museum actually happens, it will bring so many new jobs to the Peoria area while its being built, and once it is open!! The tax increase is only 2.5 cents on $10!! Once the museum is built, there we be about $20 million our back into our local economy each year!! go to buildtheblock.org for more information, and dont forget to vote yes on April 7th!!
Remember “BOEING”? it was supposed they would never leave Seattle.
So are the Chinese building thier aircraft yet? They did move their Headquarters to Chicago.
Cat’s FOOT PRINT here is getting smaller and smaller.With this CEO anything can happen.