Have you seen “Junction City Phase II” yet? Here’s the sign with an artist’s rendering:
Doesn’t really look like Junction City, does it? Kinda looks more like the strip mall out by Wal-Mart on Allen Road. Is it just me, or did anyone else expect the new addition to be complementary to the style of the older part of Junction City, with its boardwalks and town hall? This new development looks… generic.
But hey, they’re not breaking any zoning laws or anything. They’re free to build another nondescript, run-of-the-mill, cookie-cutter strip mall if they wish. I had just come to expect something with a bit more style from Junction Ventures.
Will they build it with a Railroad by there? Thought they wanted a “trail” Not rail? Or is the rail to be “Meggs Field” action planned.
Surprises me they have such a big parking lot. I thought everyone was going to arrive by bicycle? Take a good look, folks, that rendering doesn’t look very bicycle/pedestrian friendly to me. As CJ said, looks like another car city. A few little srubs, but not even a tree for the tree-huggers. Maybe the Developer/Trail Advocate romance is on the rocks?
Looks a lot better than the Grandview Hotel and IDOT building.
Personally I like this look over the Wild West look of the orignal Junction City.
Oh, well, if that’s the standard (must look “better than the Grandview Hotel and IDOT building”), then yes, it looks fabulous! Other things that look better than the Grandview Hotel and IDOT building:
Let’s hope JV doesn’t use “looks better than the Grandview Hotel and IDOT building” in their marketing literature! 🙂
Before I respond to this post I would like to say I am the original “George.” Someone last week decided to post with my signature, so how shall I distinguish myself gong forward? I will now sign on as the “original George” and ask CJ to distinguish between the two if there appears to be any “monkey business”
As the original George I would like all of you to know the following about me.
• I am 100% behind “new urbanism”
• I worry that Aaron Schock does not have enough life experience to represent us in Congress or for that matter in the Illinois House
• I think the trail concept is mostly appealing to people who have never lived in a real neighborhood. They have only lived in subdivisions and they get the two places confused and therefore are unable to envision themselves walking or running on a sidewalk that connects them to something like a post office, grocery store, or Starbuck’s.
• I believe our current leadership is too provincial to be effective and they clearly lack vision.
• I love Kelleher’s yet wish the food was healthier.
• I wish the city had standards that would elevate us to a city known for innovation and science rather than for naked women and strip malls (yes there is a difference)
• I believe all Peorians deserve a greater legacy than being known as the home of Big Als and a plethora of strip malls (am I sounding like a broken record?)
• I have witnessed many old moneyed Peorians and new moneyed Peorians unaware of how desperate our city has become…
• I would like to see Peoria grow, succeed, and survive the overwhelming problems caused by poverty, prejudice, and ignor
Hey George, There can’t be two George’s that sign on with just their first name?
P.S. Just Georging you!
Going Generic?
Peoria doesn’t need any more Drivet® covered, canopied curtsied been –there-done-that strip malls.
I would suggest Alexis is now disengaged. He and Beth did a marvelous job of updating and improving the old Junction City shopping center and I (along with many others) hoped he would continue the same pattern. I suggest his planners might consider planting a row of trees on Knoxville and orient phase II inward.
I have been told he is hung up on the trail debacle. Regardless of whether the trail is build his project will be more interesting (and successful) if the orientation is towards the center and away from Knoxville and if the architecture repeats the current style of the center and the city hall.
Unfortunately, my sources say Alexis now has limited involvement in Junction Ventures.
Maybe Alexis will weigh in?
nd by the way- if anyone is curious about “josephcamper” http://www.josephcamper.com/About.aspx
read this and think Campus Town & Cub Foods
ICK!!!!
This is interesting:
http://www.leitergroup.com/projects.html
Yep… seeing Joseph there says to me, ‘Coming soon another bottom feeding strip mall’.
mahkno- you forgot to add “with a parking lot from hell”
I hope this is a joke. The plans for a strip mall called Junction City II are heinous.
Great. Another generic strip center in Peoria that will sit empty.
It would be a shame if Kazzam actually built that. He seems like someone who wants to do things differently. If he does build that, then he is no better than the rest of the long list of very disappointing developers this city harbors.
Why can’t Peoria find or cultivate a developer who thinks and acts differently?
I think the original plans called for mixed use – multi-story w/ apartments above retail. Now, I’m not a trail-only proponent, but do you think that maybe Khazzam thinks there is no market for residential right next to an active track? I know, 401 Water is next to one, but it is his money, his property and ultimately his decision.
on March 26th, 2008 C. J. Summers said:
“Oh, well, if that’s the standard (must look “better than the Grandview Hotel and IDOT building”), then yes, it looks fabulous! Other things that look better than the Grandview Hotel and IDOT building:
* Rear end of an elephant
* Manhole cover
* Garden gnomes”
Completely LMAO over that!
It does look like any strip mall built in the US in the last 5-10 years. I hope it’s just a generic rendition. It would be nice to have the two areas compliment each other in style.
I think Alexis has done a wonderful job so far to that whole corner. It has taken someone from out of town to come in and spruce up and renovate a very tired and outdated strip center. Then he took an old hotel/drug house and tore it down. Wasn’t this a huge problem area just a short few years ago or should we have let Chase continue to operate that fine establishment?
What ever Alexis decides to do with land it will be far better than what was there. It may not be what the bloging community wants though. How many of you that are ripping on him have developed anything in the City of Peoria anyway? You seem to be able to point out all the problems but don’t really offer any solutions.
“How many of you that are ripping on him have developed anything in the City of Peoria anyway?”
If I had the money, I would. I would love to take on the National Guard Armory / Taft homes area. I think the Armory would make a great 4 season open market. Redo the housing in the area to be more New Urbanist and more upscale. Main street would be a worthy challenge as well.
But it takes money.
Why don’t you ask Peoriafan to give you the money mahkno? He/She is easily satisfied, so I’m sure he’d support whatever you would want to do. Only thing is, you can’t say anything negative about the establishment.
After some checking, this new development is only part of a much larger plan with that area. The rendering you are seeing first of all is just that, a conceptual rendering. The finished product may or many not look exactly like what is shown. The other thing is this is a rendering of what the old IDOT building that is currently there will look like after its remodeled. This is not a new building and I think you will still see mixed use on this corner as there is still a whole lot of space left for other projects.
Sometimes you need all the facts before rushing to judgment on something. Of course that’s not near as fun is it?
As far as the Armory goes it would be a good one season market currently. The roof is caving in. I think Chase had something to do with that building too??
I agree though, the Taft homes area and the Armory could make a great area for redevelopment.
As far as the parking lot goes the city has certain requirements for parking spaces and how the lots are designed. Much better than the old days before landscaping was required. No matter what the building looks like you have to have parking and it has to meet certain criteria. No different than any other projects in this area, East Peoria included.
I have high standards but I am also realistic. Again Junction City looks as good as it’s ever looked but I don’t see anything wrong with what they are planning for the area next store. That style architecture is what is in fashion right now. Again I personally don’t care for the Wild West looking style of Junction City, it kind of looks like a movie set but that was what was popular when it was built. They have updated it very nicely though.
And for the record, I personally would of liked to have seen a walking trail through town.
Hate to rain on your happy facts parade, but the old IDOT building has been torn down. The rendering is of new construction.
PeoriaIllinoisan- Drive by, yes they tore down the big building but there is still another building left. Illinois Valley Glass is located in the front of it. I believe that it used to be part of the IDOT sign shop. This rendering is for the remodel of that building.
If you look at the photo where the white car is parked that is the end closest to Knoxville. The long stretch of stores faces the empty lot.
Happy parade? Is that what these blogs are only about, just a place for people to complain and bitch? If you subject something positive you are considered an outcast? Here again another reason Peoria will always be Peoria.
I will drive by today and check it out.
PeoriaIllinoisan- did you ever go drive by?- you saw I was correct didn’t ya.
peoriafan- for what it’s worth, yes, I did drive by, and you are correct in that the north building still stands.