The Heart of Peoria Commission (HOPC) is on the agenda for Tuesday night. They are recommending approval of the proposed elevations of Museum Square. But included in their request is a copy of the HOPC’s meeting minutes, and they reveal something of Caterpillar’s mindset.
Putting Museum Square parking underground is expensive. As was reported back in February, it may add as much as $3 million to the cost. At that time, the Journal Star editorialized that, essentially, this extra expense was the HOPC’s fault because they didn’t want to see another surface parking lot downtown.
Now it’s Caterpillar’s turn to play the blame game.
Despite the fact that Cat got almost everything it wanted in the museum site plan (except the surface parking lot) even though it severely compromised the Heart of Peoria Plan, and despite the fact that this project is continuing to get support from the HOPC, commission minutes reveal that Caterpillar representative Mark Johnson (Project Manager for the Caterpillar Visitor Center) wanted this line included in the commission’s recommendation to the council on Tuesday:
“The Commission recognizes that the inclusion of the underground parking structure in the site plan has resulted in a substantial increase in infrastructure development cost and urges the Council to work with the developers to adopt a mutually acceptable financing plan.”
In other words, he wanted the Commission to take responsibility for the additional parking expense on Museum Square. Why? The minutes state:
Mr. Johnson said, “I urge the Commission to step up to their responsibility, as we developed this underground parking as a part of this plan in response to this Commission’s strong recommendation; and we have to find a way to pay for it.”
Au contraire, replied commissioner Beth Akeson:
Commissioner Akeson said she was sorry the Commission has been put in the position to make it appear they are the ones that forced the issue of underground parking, when in actuality the Commission was never brought into the conversation about what its recommendation would be.
(Emphasis mine.) That’s right. It wasn’t the HOPC that came up with the underground parking idea. They weren’t even consulted.
In fact, the need for any parking on that site is questionable. Even if it could be shown that parking is needed, the bulk of the cost is not simply to put it underground per se, but to put it below the site as it’s currently designed — i.e., with the boomerang-shaped buildings. Those building designs were not the HOPC’s either.
Mr. Johnson’s amendment was defeated, but expect this argument to surface again — on the very next agenda item.
Caterpillar and Lakeview want to amend the City of Peoria/Museum Block Redevelopment Agreement. Among other things, they want to remove the $500,000 cap on TIF reimbursement. I imagine this will be the source of some discussion, as it’s the only part of the amendment that “could result in additional money being paid over by the City to the Museum.”
I have an idea. Instead of reducing the size of the museum by 15,000 square feet and trying to finagle more money from the city, why not make money and increase density by adding residential, restaurant, and retail components, like the Heart of Peoria Plan recommends? You remember the Heart of Peoria Plan, right? You know, the one the council adopted “in principle”?
There simply is NO leadership on the city council regarding this. NONE. The current ‘museum’ square is so different now from the original bill of goods sold to us, that I feel SWINDLED !!! Swindled by Cat, by Lakeview, by the Commission, and ultimately by the city council.
No wonder people grow bitter about Peoria politics. This city could be so much more than it is, and it is being squandered away.
Mahkno is correct.
Just like — the Riverplex, the Ball Stadium, the Riverfront development in general, …… and so on, Peoria has missed multiple opportunities to become a great city and now the Glen Oak School Site Selection is yet another example. Plans adopted in ‘principle’, adopted as continuums — Master Facility Plan for the reconfiguration of D150 which is a ‘minimum’ and ‘maximum’ plan without all the details being put in place for the taxpayers to get to ‘kick the tires’ before they drive the cars (new schools) off the lot.
Couldn’ t agree more. They should cut in some revenue generating buildings on that lot, like Duany suggested. It needs to be a 24 hr block, not another Lakeview plopped down on the riverfront.
Based upon the other investments our city leaders have gotten us into, should the museum be any different? I agree that there should also be some of the components of the HOP included in this block. It won’t happen.
Years ago when developers wanted to create a shopping outlet to attract “regional” shoppers (and if memory does not fail me), they wanted to place this shopping outlet on the Sears block. I believed that would have been a perfect fit, since they were looking to create a regional draw. I think leaders wanted to do the same with the downtown area. That shopping outlet eventually became the Shoppes at Grand Prairie. And all that sales tax revenue benefiting Dunlap schools.
City leadership really needs to get a clue!
Amen!
Right now, the only things you can do in downtown Peoria are eat and drink. And if you’re underage (or underfunded) your options are even more limited. A multi-use facility with other entertainment draws would aid in keeping more people of diverse ages downtown.
Even better than, say, more ultra-expensive condos/apartments might be another entertainment draw, such as a ComedySportz franchise or a theatre (wasn’t there talk once upon a time of an IMAX, or was that merely wishful thinking?)
As for the museum itself, I want to get back to what Homer said about another Lakeview being plopped down on the Riverfront. Is there anyone besides me who thinks the museum should try and get major traveling exhibits — the kinds you might see in Chicago, St Louis or Kansas City — or should it confine its scope to regional interests?
Yes, there was some chatter about an IMAX being built on the Sears block, but I never knew what become of the idea. Actually, that has been the best idea yet! Talk about a regional draw. Right now you have to travel to Chicago or Indy to see an IMAX.
Of course, if it is a great idea liked by all, and it makes sense, our wise city leaders will pursue the opposite.