Former Peoria resident and mayor Bud Grieves has this dire warning for Peorians in his letter to the editor of the Journal Star yesterday:
If we fail to attract an increasingly mobile and demanding work force, our fine hospitals, Caterpillar and others will look for greener pastures, and Peoria will wither and die.
Now just reading that quote, wouldn’t you think he would talk about the importance of cracking down on crime, enhancing the school district, improving regional alliances, strengthening the city core, or something really important like that? Me too. But no. According to Grieves, the thing that’s going to bring the “high-quality employees” to Peoria in droves is the new regional museum:
First-class museums rank high on their list and, along with our other recent Downtown developments, create a cohesive and exciting environment.
First of all, he’s assuming facts not in evidence. What evidence exists that this still-going-by-its-supposedly-working-title “Central Illinois Regional Museum” is going to be “first-class”? They can’t even decide what kind of museum it’s supposed to be. Is it an art museum? history museum? natural history museum? science and technology museum? According to their website, it’s incredibly all four, all within about 70,000 square feet. That’s about 17,500 square feet to devote to each of those four types of museum exhibits. This is like one of those restaurants where they serve 23 different types of cuisine and none of them well. Trying to be the übermuseum is a recipe for third-rate, not first-class.
Secondly, the museum designers spurned the Heart of Peoria Plan, even though authentic urban character and historic buildings are also among those things “high on the list” of “high-quality,” creative-class employees. Not only that, the Heart of Peoria Plan was crafted to the specs of Peoria residents; perhaps fundraising would be going easier had the museum designers implemented any of the New Urbanist principles Peorians prefer for downtown redevelopment. Of course, as PeoriaIllinoisan points out, there are lots of projects attempting to improve the “quality of life” here in Peoria right now, and all of them need money.
Finally, I simply don’t believe that the museum project is the lynchpin of Peoria’s future, and trying to get people to donate to it out of fear, as Grieves tries to do, only proves the blindness (and desperation) of its supporters, not its critics.
This nonsense just shows how out of touch Grieves and his buddys really are. It also shows just how much they intend to do about real problems like crime. As long as our “leaders” are safe in guarded buildings and gated communities, they don’t see a problem. As long as our “leaders” have good private schools to send their kids to, they don’t see a problem. As long as our “leaders” have SUV’s that burn company and/or taxpayer-bought gas, they don’t see a problem.
They are so fond of fantisizing about what big cities do, perhaps they should consider New York City. It has all the world-class museums and entertainment you could dream of, but it was on the way to oblivion until they got a handle on crime. Even Memphis and Little Rock have made light rail a part of their downtown revitalization.
Musuems and zoos (BTW, when and who renamed Glen Oak Zoo, the “Peoria Zoo”?) and all these things are nice, but if you can’t get there easily and you’re not safe along the way, it won’t matter.
CJ and The Mouse are right!
I don’t know where Grieves is getting the idea that just because Peoria has a museum will be a deciding factor for people and businesses to relocate to Peoria (other than our previous mayors supporting this waste of taxpayer money). Perhaps our mayors should be required to live at Harrison Homes for a good month just to get an idea of what is going on in this fair city. In addition, maybe they should attend District 150 schools for a while as well.
It affordable living and quality of life that will bring people to town; not a fancy museum. Peoria has been losing these two things as of late.
I believe my thoughts on museum are well known. About that goober Grieves and his editorial; did anybody know his daughter works for Lakeview? O.K., I had to say it. Grieves refers to a statement made by Jim Owens, something about Cat’s workforce turning white-collar… This is a problem. What percentage of the tri-county’s area is white collar? Need I continue on this line of thought?
C.J. is correct in pointing out the ‘non-economic’ flaws of, emuseum. I am very happy to knowing that Grieves, Mantz-Drake, etc, are all on the ball. Their extensive expertise in museum studies, history, archaeology, etc make them the perfect museum liasons to the public.
By the way, I am familiar with the staff at Lakeview, whom [who?] I assume will be running new museum. Anyone care to research the background of anyone on Lakeview staff? I could go on…and probably will.
SC
I so desperately want to agree with you all, and honestly, for the most part, I do. But they’ve already demolished an entire block for the damn thing.
And what they have planned is really neat and nice and actually environmentally friendly (barring the disregard of the HOP plan and new urbanism). And it does offer a better view of the river from many locations, and from the river. I don’t think this would work for all of downtown, but having lived in a state where the coastline is 90% obscured by high rise condos (Florida, as if you couldn’t guess), and in a city where the water view for much of downtown was obscured by a two story, earthquake nightmare, concrete monstrosity of a highway – there’s a lot to be said for being able to see water from more than just the sidewalk along it or the beach itself.
Museums are nice things. And having spent the first half of this year working my tail off to convince Peorians that a hazardous waste landfill in the back yard is a REALLY bad idea – any many of them actually think it’s a really good idea – arguing against a museum, no matter how misguided it may be, seems rather defeatist.
You can’t argue against everything. Plenty of tax money has gone for ball fields and basketball stadiums that teams can’t fill up. Cities across the country deal with these issues.
But, for one, just can’t bring myself to argue against a museum. Yes, District 150 sucks, and I’m a total new urbanist that wants to see multi-purpose construction downtown (residential with shopping being the tops for me) and hate to see single use buildings anywhere anymore. We need a larger police force and more money for our fire department. But let’s argue for these on their own merits. A small piece of our pie can go to this and we won’t descend into hell.
We’re getting this museum whether we like it or not, it appears. So might as well get on board, throw in your $10 bucks
AND MAKE SURE YOU VOTE IN NOVEMBER! You don’t like the leaders (and I don’t like several just like y’all) make sure you go vote them out, or in as the case may be. Not that you don’t all vote, since the names are usually the same around here and I’m betting we’d all vote if we had to drag ourselves out of burning houses to get there, but make sure your apathetic buddy votes with you this time.
Didn’t think I’d be ending my post with a GOTV ad – but it’s as good an end as any.
Oh, Seattle is the city with the nasty concrete highway blocking the lovely water view across most of downtown (and they are a paragon of new urbanism, for the most part).
And throw in your $10 bucks also because every little bit helps – and maybe if everyone manages $10, or even $5, it will actually be a first rate, heck even second rate is fine, museum. CHicago and NYC have first rate museums, and Paris and Rome and such. All the rest of us have 2nd rate because none of us have that kind of money or status. If no one gets on board, it could really be a bottom rate museum. And there are worse things we could be supporting (like hazardous waste dumps).
I’m not arguing against a museum per se. I’m just saying it’s not going to doom Peoria if it doesn’t get built. As for museum square, not one spade of dirt has been turned for the new construction–there’s still time to revise plans if anyone has the will to do it. Whether or not they do that, they can still narrow their scope. They should choose one kind of museum and put their resources into that — I vote for a Peoria History Museum, which is what was originally proposed before it morphed into the nondescript Central Illinois Regional Museum. We already have Lakeview for an art museum.
I agree with C.J. Along the art line, we also have art guild, etc. Regional museum is FAR from being a “sure thing.” Kick in my ten bucks? I would rather donate ten bucks to any of the rural museums in the small towns outside of Peoria than this waste of space downtown [do I need to list these?]. This “white collar” business is just that. Thank god we have not heard Richerson mention the word ‘legacy’ for sometime. Owens and Grieves [and the rest pushing this thing] know whose “legacy” it really is. In the end…we are still talking about a museum with a $65 million price tag [if it doen’t go up between now and finished construct].
SC
One more thing [maybe two]. Anyone can go to Lakeview and take a gander at the museum plans, guidelines, etc. Believe me there is something more than a bunch of Power point slides. Lakeview, excuse me, Regional Museum paid a fortune to White Oaks to develop this plan. When it is all said and done, the plan looks remarkebly like a great big Lakeview. I know this is old news, but it shows that building a PROPER museum is NOT part of the plan.
One of my biggest complaints have been the people involved with this project. I have said this before, most of Peo history is rotting in Flanagan and Pent-Mor house. Since the conception of the Peoria Hist Soc, no one has ever taken the time to properly treat the material and artifacts stored in these houses. How many of the people on Lakeview board are connected to Peo Hist Soc? My point is this: the board of trustees for PHS [and many other such institutions] is guilty of gross negligence! Lakeview has a trackrecord of being little better. I am going to trust $65 million to these….’people’ to build and run a regional museum? Sure.
SC
Grieves’ shallow, the-sky-will-fall-if-we-don’t do-this arguments sound like the trail proponents’ arguments for turning an operating rail line (until a year ago) into a bike trail.
IMHO, that whole block should be a Caterpillar museum, better and bigger than the John Deere Pavillion in Moline. If the city of Peoria is so eager to become a tourist destination, then something unique should be built there to attract out-of-towners who will spend money on gas, food and hotels in large numbers. (where else on planet earth would you be able to go to a museum celebrating the history and technology of the world’s largest manufacturer of construction and mining machinery?)
IIRC, The John Deere museum in Moline was (is?) the fifth-largest tourist attraction in the state. Forget Lakeview – who cares about them as few are going to rush to see what they have to offer.
If the City of Peoria keeps spending millions and millions on “quality-of-life” projects, fails to get serious about crime, neglecting basic services while continuing to lose businesses (Amerhart, Elecsys, Win-Pak, Pepsi-Cola, etc. since 1999) and their tax revenue then for sure ” others will look for greener pastures, and Peoria will wither and die.”
Not sure if this is public knowledge, but I recently met someone who is in a management position at Lakeview and she told me that they do not plan on hiring anymore staff when the new museum opens. I found that more than a little odd, as they are going to be this ubermuseum which will cover numerous varied subjects. Wouldn’t they need new staff that specialized in these different areas rather than retaining just the old staff? That helps to confirm to me that this new museum is in fact just a Lakeview on steroids.
My point exactly.
SC
man that “cloned lakeview by the river” really, REALLY BUMS ME OUT about the future of PEORIA.
Just curious….
Anyone else out there know where Grieves now lives? It’s certainly not in Peoria. Take a ride on Rt 24 heading toward Lewiston and about two miles this side of the Rice Lake Conservation area sits a huge log mansion on a hill – that’s where Grieves now lives.
Why don’t they enlarge Lakeview, build a bigger Planetarium on the site and let CAT have the whole Sears lot for a huge CAT museum? This could be done for millions less, give us a bugger and maybe better Lakeview and a much nicer and up to date Planetarium while CAT can get to building it’s museum.
As Emtronics said they could just do what they want to do where they are now. They already have their suburban campus. The property down by the river is too valuable to just Hail Mary this play. I think that the concept developed for the space in the Heart of Peoria Plan made much more sense. Public space with a mixture of retail and residential.
The more time that passes the more I believe that Lakeview is trying to do too much with too little thought, money, space, and time. Also when I say Lakeview I mean Lakeview. The other entities that are attached to this project are just there for window dressing. I really doubt that they have much say in what is going on, or at the best they rubber stamp whatever Lakeview wants so they can stay with the project regardless of what part they play as long as their names are mentioned in the press releases.
I especially believe that the Historical Society is getting the shaft as this project was supposed to have them as the centerpiece initially. Does anyone know if any of the collections from the Historical Society are actually going to be displayed or are they going to stay where they are in the houses and at Bradley? I would guess that Lakeview will take the best of everything for themselves and then give the Society little or no control of what will be done with it.
I realize that I sound pretty cynical, but the more news I hear about this museum the more FUBAR it sounds.
The PHS collections, which is for the most part now controlled by Lakeview, will in-part go to the new museum. Most of it, as I suspect will be auctioned or just plain ‘lost.’ Any artifact in the PHS collection can be deaccessioned by whom ever, and whenever they want[‘they’ being the PHS Board of Trustees and Lakeview board – same thing]. PHS has certainly never had the knowledge needed to manage the collections in their care. In fact, neither has Lakeview. I can tell you what they have in their collection, and it isn’t related to Peoria history or archaeology [with exception of metal bird]. They also plan to contract-out and preservation or conservation work needed on collections. Do you know how MUCH THAT WILL COST!!! STUPID IDIOTS!!!
Understand now?
SC
FUBAR and SNAFU then.
I have heard from reliable sources that Lakeview is extending its tentacles beyond the PHS collection…..I would not expect to see the Duryea at the Peoria Public Library much longer if the artifact scavengers from Lakeview get their way. It appears to me that Lakeview is trying to run roughshod over smaller entities and taking their best to add to the new Lakeview they are making by the river. Since they will have the same staff you won’t much of their new collections and exhibits not be interpreted correctly? This, of course assumes that the current staff at Lakeview specializes in the arts and sciences and not history, the Illinois River valley, African Americans, sports and running a “giant†screen theater.
Does anyone from the Lakeview read these posts to get a feel for the community? If you do feel free to contradict me at any time when I am wrong.
How long before the new Lakeview comes looking for money from the taxpayers for the monster it appears they are creating.
I think the design is like Lakeview after the big tornado hit. Why not have a beautiful building? Of course, no self-respecting architect would ever design a beautiful building – it doesn’t make a “statement.” The idea is visual “shock and awe.” And after all, the purpose of our contributions is to allow a world class architect to make his “statement,” leaking roof and lousy HVAC notwithstanding.
And hey, the Historical Society owns its collection – and takes care of it fairly well, given their small budget. Visit the houses when they have some theme on display. Give ’em a little moola. THey make a little go a long way.
The Historical Society is part of the new project and their collection, which has very little exposure now, will be rotated thru “The Street” portion of the museum. I ‘m looking forward to it.
I think the history and natural history parts of the new museum will be the big draws – and will make the place, operationally. The Lakeview part will do alright, as it does now, but the other two will be the crown jewels – if we really insist they be done well.
New Urban Man,
I thank you for proving my point so well. It is your misguided perception of this entire ‘museum’ project that makes the whole thing ridiculous! You are an expert? First, the PHS does not OWN ANYTHING! The artifacts you speak of are being held in trust by PHS. The houses are state/fed landmarks on historical registry. PHS has to fill out forms, obtain permits, etc, before they can wash the windows! You see objects/artifacts on display…wonderful. You obviously have no idea what they store in their basements, attics, etc. The proper conservation, documentation and storage of these historical artifacts is NOT a matter of how PHS “makes a little go a long way,” it is a matter of expertise and knowledge, it is also a matter of taking Peoria’s history out of the select few who control it. You have not been reading all of the blogs. As far as your wonderful, all-encompassing museum…I refer you to C.J.s blog [August 13 – Regional Museum Can’t Be Everything]. You are like the rest of the idiots, the armchair historians and ‘museum experts.’ Wise-up or shut-up! SC
Having worked with the staff at Lakeview for many years , i can tell you they have put alot of effort and time into the project and seem open
to input on the project , in something this size there is no way everyone walks away happy , getting involved , letting your voice be heard in productive ways makes it happen , some of this seems too after the fact
Sure Phil, as if we haven’t TRIED! Don’t be another idiot. Look at this blog [any blog]. More people have a rational argument against the museum or this type of museum…. I am sure Lakeview’s staff is working hard. I am sure the board is working hard. I am sure you, with all of your extensive experience in the museum business, are still working hard. Too after the fact? Running around working on capital campaigns, etc. is necessary, but none of what the Lakeview staff is doing or capable of doing is going to make this museum a success. Letting my voice be heard? Again, don’t be an idiot. If you are into history ask yourself a question. Why did the Peoria Art Guild break ties with Lakeview some years ago? Why did mostly everybody break ties with Lakeview some years ago?
Sorry, had to add something.
1.) Chris above had a question. “Does anyone from Lakeview read these posts…?” Phil does and New Urban Man does.
2.) Maybe they don’t read these posts thoroughly…….!
3.) People in this city have been for a museum for years. They have not been for a $65 million waste of space. Just like gambling boat, civic center, HOP Plan, etc., any plan that does not fit the ‘need’ of our city elite gets…swept away.
Are you saying that the civic center does not fit the need of the city’s “elite”?
If that’s the case, that would be a pretty funny observation. If anyone will recall, the whole argument *against* the civic center 20+ years ago was its “elitist” nature.
Let’s see…it was supposed to be a waste of money, in an unrealisitc location, dedicated to the losing proposition of a vibrant downtown (Northwoods Mall was supposed to be the savior of the north side…), with a “statement” based appearance, built by an incompetent city counsel, and used a dubious source of income (the hotel-motel tax).
If the downtown museum is half as successful as the civic center, then I guess they’ll be in pretty good company.
“Scott Creedy”,
You sure do seem to assume a lot and jump to illogical conclusions in your blogs. Maybe you should visit Lakeview’s website to find out their correct current hours of operation before lambasting the new museum for short hours. With so many larger decisions still to be made, I highly doubt the new museum board (which doesn’t even exist yet) has finalized gallery hours.
Moreover, what makes you think that New Urban Man and Phil are museum “experts” with “extensive experience”? In fact, rather than have a good healthy discussion with folks who view things in a positive light, you immediately attack them personally.
What exactly are your qualifications in museum studies, historic homes, and Peoria history?
Devil’s Advocate,
First, I have NEVER said ANYTHING about museum hours, nor do I care about hours. So you are wrong about that. I am glad Phil and U Man are so sunny about this project, however, a $65 million project taking up half of downtown area is not something that should be taken so lightly.
“With so many larger decisions to be made…” Are you SERIOUS?!?!
You have a big hole in middle of Peoria, Mayors panhandling, promises this thing will be up by 2007, 2008, 2009…, and a zillion dollars already spent. If there are still major decisions to be made…well you have proven my point. My qualifications? Don’t my blogs speak for themselves?
No, actually they don’t.
Dev Adv,
I am sorry it has come to this, but now you are an idiot as well. How many blogs [including the guy who runs this site] have offered countless reasons why this museum will not work. These reasons are, for the most part viable concerns when you are talking about museum operations, purpose, theme, intepretation, etc. All I have heard from museum advocates [pun intended] is talk about a ‘legacy,’ the supposed economic boom Peoria will experience as a result of the museum, somebody may have actually mentioned something about education? Whose legacy are we REALLY talking about? If my blogs are becoming a bit crude, read C.J.’s stuff. I am waiting for someone to answer/address his questions. Can you?????
Scott,
I think rather than focusing on the new museum, you should take a look at your own life. I agree with Devil’s Advocate on you attacking individuals rather than staying on your main focus, which you know absolutely nothing about. So I’m returning the favor. Do you have a job, or a life at that? Your multiple blogs lead me to believe that you are a professional asshole. I think you need to take a look at your own life and make corrections to it before trying to make corrections to a museum that hasn’t even been erected yet. Go out and enjoy life rather than wasting your time on this website. The new museum is coming, and you and your blogs can do nothing about it. Accept it and get out and smell the roses.
Peace.
So……you don’t really know how to address the concerns MOST of the bloggers on this site have for the museum?
Let me just say…..that the museum IS NOT HERE YET!
You go smell the roses! I want to make sure this city does not get stuck [again] with a $65 million hunk of junk, and I certainly do not want to get stuck paying taxes to support your silly-shit idea of a museum. Must I state again dumb-ass, waiting until the museum has “been erected” to address these larger issues, well…..are you bright enough to see the problem with that?
Hey Scott, for the life of me, I can’t find any of your “multiple blogs”.
PeoIll,
Sorry about the lapse in techno-jargon. I was referring to my comments on this site. I believe I have made a couple on yours as well. That aside, what is your point?
It’s called tongue in cheek.
PeoIll,
I can see the only point you are going to make is the one on top of your head. I am just trying to get an intelligent responce to the issues I have with this museum. I realize I am a little wound up about the Reg Mus. I may even be a little crude. I HAVE addressed these issues with Lakeview. The only response I received was no response [and this has been going on for years]. Have YOU been reading C.J’s entries? Have you read my entries [not blogs] concerning museum? If so, I am waiting for you and the rest of the Devil’s Ad and New Urban Men out there to address the issues concerning the content, conservation labs, etc, that have brought forward.
“you and the rest of the Devil’s Ad and New Urban Men”. Scott, you’re really barking up the wrong tree here.
A few answers to you though:
1. No, I hardly ever read CJ Summer’s blog.
2. I forgot that levity is not allowed on blogs.
3. Intelligent Responses? You troll CJ’s blog calling everyone an idiot and yelling at them to shut-up, and then ask for intelligent responses? You don’t know who are your allies and who are your enemies!
P I,
Have you by any chance read Peoria Pundit’s series “Rise and Fall of Peoria?” I was born and raised in Peoria area. I love it in this area. I am tired of seeing crap like this [museum] go on. Remember in the 1980s – “Last one to leave Peoria – turn out the lights?” It is NOT Peoria and the citizens responsible for Peoria’s plight. You have how many mayors in a row with the same BS agenda, the SAME peope sit on the board of every 501 (3) (c) in this city, and they have since…as it been that long? How many times have the bloggers complained about the City Council not caring a whiff about what voters REALLY want, etc. We are talking about a $65 mil project here. Peoria is going to get sucked dry again and I hear some of these goobers commending the staff of Lakeview for doing a good job. It is not their butts on the line. Their cozy new offices await! Now dip-dong [I made that up], when my comments started at the beginning of this series, I was cool and my complaints legitimate, just like they were when I approached the Lakeview board. All I got, then as now, is crap like yours blown up my ass. I have been commenting on this museum for a long time and NEVER has anyone been able to address my concerns. Which by the ARE shared by many BLOGGERS
Sorry for last grammar spoof.
Are you actually asking me to defend Lakeview!??
O.K. I am NOT asking you to defend Lakeview. I should not let my frustration with this project reach this point. For the most part, they have a good staff. I question the people involved who are making decisions that have no business doing so [at least about the museum]. This is not an insult, yet people jump on me and accuse me of bashing everyone. In this city, bleeding hearts get nowhere or they get stomped. There is a reason why I am now only limited to writing my opinions on blog sites. It is called protecting my butt.
My original comment of “multiple blogs” was a phrase used by the peacenik “Concerned Individual”. You’re so ready to blowup on anyone who responds that you completely missed it. If you read my blog or some of my comments, you’ll know where I stand, which is also why I said “you don’t know who are your allies and who are your enemies”, and why I am not debating you on the issue even though you think I am, or at least SHOULD be.
CJ, you laughing yet!?
AH!!!! I alone can be best!
I am sure C.J. is rollling on the floor. He might know me and what I am about a little better than anyone else. O.K. PEORIAILLINOISAN, you an be my ally. I am going to go have a drink now.
Sounds like a good idea. I’ll join you.