From my inbox:
Peoria IL, (February 23, 2011) — The public is invited and encouraged to attend the East Village Growth Cell Advisory Committee Meeting, Tuesday, March 1st, in the Glen Oak School Library, 2100 N Wisconsin Avenue, at 6:00 P.M. This meeting will be devoted to a workshop session for the development of a residential program concept. The meeting will be facilitated by Ross Black, Assistant Director of the Department of Planning and Growth Management. Residents are encouraged to provide input and present ideas toward the development of a residential program concept, as part of the proposed East Village Growth Cell TIF.
This looks interesting, but it is just for “part of the proposed East Village Growth Cell TIF” — the “residential program concept.” When will the public meetings be for the other parts of this proposed TIF? For instance, where can the public see OSF’s plans? They paid for the TIF study; surely they have plans for what this proposed TIF will do for them. Will those plans be made public before the Council votes to approve the TIF?
Good question. Time will tell….
We are not going to see those plans!! They don’t care about us all they want is it done there way.
According to “Mitch” Mitchell, the meeting is supposed to be a “nuts and bolts” session, where people are to bring Ideas to the table about how the TIF funds are to be used, how they are to be controlled, and how a “point system” will be used to determine the amount of funds available for private/homeowner projects. Here are my notes for ideas I will be bringing to the table on Tuesday.
Meeting notes for March 1, 2011
EVGC TIF Planning notes
Implementing the TIF:
1. Priority must be the reduction of criminal elements.
2. Identify vacant properties where drug users and other criminals are able to access the property for illegal use.
3. Secure these properties by placing barricades and other restrictions that will prevent people from entering.
4. Seek the cooperation of the Peoria Police in maintaining a non-routine schedule where these properties are patrolled and inspected from the outside of the building to determine if the building has been compromised.
5. Request a step up in curfew enforcement, especially in areas identified as “high crime” areas.
6. Identify the houses which are dilapidated and beyond repair.
7. Utilize Special Service Area Tax Funds to purchase and demolish these properties.
8. Identify starting point for infrastructure improvements, beginning with street lights.
Why not get a police substation in the area we have enough empty buildings to put one in.
How about more officers that actually drive the area and not hang out at the funeral home. I drove by lastnight and 3 of them were parked under the awning for the hearse.
How about enforcing the BOOM CAR ordinace I am already having the windows rattling in my house and I sit 75 feet back from the curb.
I would also like to see more cameras with public access so we could help by watching the cameras and call when something doesn’t look right.
As far as street lights that would be great but they are going to have to fix the sewer issues first then work there way up to lights.
I do like your idea with the empty houses maybe code should step it up and start cranking out the violations. Then the city could use eminate domain and then demo the houses faster.
I forgot my favorite issue the Ho-Chi-Min trail and all of its extensions. How about putting in some fencing to block the traffic and make them actually use the sidewalks we have instead of peoples yards. This would help with the crime because you would get rid of the short cuts and places to hide from the PO-PO.
The non-owner occupied situation needs to be addressed. Although they (property owners) will complain about already high taxes, rates, and depreciating values I would suggest bumping the $25 registration fee up to $100. Leave the late payment penalty of $150-500 the same. Actually enforce the building codes/violations. Direct the funds and penalties occurred into a fund for home repair/purchase/demolition. Use that fund to create small, short term loans to be paid back with a rate of 3-7% so that the cycle renews itself.
I believe in the Decatur TIF these types of loans are forgivable. They only get paid back if the home changes ownership. While that is a good approach as well see the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit. Did good in the short term but doesn’t continue to renew itself. If this is to last 23 years might as well get your money’s worth.
…Or as mentioned sit back and wait until OSF reveals its Blinded By The Blight plan and see if they can’t help chip in on their masterplan.
Eye, Erik, great ideas…..see you at the meeting? We need voices there, not just words in print.
I have had the same line used on me by a slum lord. I told him the extra taxes were to cover the extra police we have to keep calling out because he didn’t make sure to get GOOD tenants. He shut up right after that.
Does anybody remember the mover The Super? I think doing something like that would be a great idea let the SL live next to the trash they rent to for a month.
Erik:
OSF is first in line to recieve cash back when the council approves the TIF. That is part of the deal OSF has with the city. If the city does not approve the TIF (fat chance) OSF would be out the cash they put up for the study. The meeting 3/1 will set up possable programs for residents and others (non-resident owners). Wonder what % of TIF funds will be proposed? 5? 10? 15% Loans? Grants? Until all of the cards are on the table it is still a huge unknown for the residents. What % will go for infrastructure and who sets what gets done? What % goes to a developer (such as OSF per the city staff). If federal cuts keep on the CDBG funds and Tiger II could dry up for the city and force more budget cuts. How would that effect this and other TIF’s? Fredrick and others have good points. Until crime is addressed no amount of money will bring back the East bluff. That was proven with Midtown Plaza. This is like Putting lipsick on a pig.
Martin, according to the Proposal prepared by Teska, the infrastructure expenditure is approximately $43 million over the 23 year life of the TIF. It’s the other $52 million (projected) that I am worried about.
SO OSF did the study that said the TIF wold be helpful AND they get paid back for the cost of the study???
SWEET
Charlie
Welcome to IL politics!!!The state where money talks and BS walks all the way to the bank.
Charlie:
Yep. Like shooting fish in a barrel.Frederick, $52Million is most likley earmarked for the combined sewer the city has under OSF. It is the only way they can pay to fix this problem. Who allowed the Gerlach building to be built over this and why? Everyone knew it was there BEFORE construction.It is a huge conduit you could walk in. Stupid,stupid,stupid.
I would like to do a study that shows how important part time teachers are in West Peoria for the overall crime prevention and well being of the entire tri-county area…
Where do I get my check?
Charlie: contact the man from Teska, they did the study and he said they never did a study that was not approved for a TIF.
Why dont we just put up some hanging baskets, new ornamental lighting, on street parking, reduce the traffic speed to 15 and call it good? New businesses will flock to the area thanks to all the additional parking, low rent and “walkablity” of the new East Bluff Urban Corridor. Trendy young people with LARGE disposable incomes will start snatching up all those 10k caving in s..t boxes and returning them to their former glory thanks in part to all the organic bakeries, coffee shops, bars you name it popping up all along knoxville and the adjoining streets. All those new young couples with 2.5 kids will of course enroll in the neighborhood school which in turn will improve 150 thanks to all the new rich, white folks that are on the PTA and they will tell all their friends what they are missing by living out in DUnlap and EP which will continue to pull them in from the boonies for their little slice of urban paradise. Hell may as well have a few chickens on our lot like Mother Earth Magazine says riight? Thats how new urbanism works right? You build it they are sure to come?
Where do I get my consultation check?
I never saw a study I didn’t like….
Funny.
CJ,
per an early thread on the TIF: you said you couldn’t find a reference to a vote made by the council to strike “inclusionary housing.” I had not forgotten to respond, just have been fairly swamped. The earliest discussion that I had about that vote was on April 15, 2005. So it would have been in and around that meeting. If memory serves me correctly it started with a developer and the community out near what would have been new apartments along knoxville at this time did not want to put in the required percentage of low income housing units. As a home rule community, the vote could and was accomplished. I remember being quite miffed as apparantly as I was one of the people who couldn’t afford living in the high priced unit. I wondered if I were “rif” or “raf” In reading more emails from 9/2005 and into the first part of 2006 there was discussing of setting up an inclusionary housing zone in the comprehensive plan..I don’t remember if the plan was admended or not. hope that helps.