HOI News is reporting that the Peoria Public Library board has picked a site for the new north library branch — an undeveloped parcel behind the new Menards off of Allen Road (there’s a picture of the lot on HOI’s site, so click the link to see it).
The cost for the 6.12 acre lot will be $1.67 million.
Board members say the site was picked based on price.
The land developer has agreed to keep industrial businesses off the lots surrounding the library site for aesthetic reasons.
I find that last line amusing. As if there is any aesthetically pleasing commercial area in the fifth district!
The story also mentioned that the board voted to not expand Lakeview, as expected.
Yeah…. put it back by the woodshed Tony. Yeah that’s good. Don’t want people out front to see it. There you go.
What an uninspired location. But hey that is the 5th District for you. One big uninspired space.
I still say K’s and rent out the unused space/use it for other COP purposes. Perfect location.
Seconded.
Maybe it’s just me and my small-town upbringing, but when I think of a library, I think of a place where kids can walk to after school, or ride their bicycles to. I can’t imagine that happening at the location they’ve chosen. If you’re going to have to get in a car and be driven (or drive yourself..whatever), does it really matter if you have to drive another couple of miles to the next closest branch??? It just seems like a lot of $$ for a less than ideal location for a new library.
Yep Sheets… this new branch is totally pedestrian UNFRIENDLY. But then that is most of the 5th District too. For the City Council to actually mandate New Urbanist principles for North Peoria would … would … make Nichting’s head asplode.
mahkno….and that would be a bad thing?
Gee no one here on the blogs likes the location. Imagine that….
a nice pig farm would look better than the neon jungles, concrete deserts, and dilapidated/abandoned buildings that consume much of that area.
Wonder how many wal-mart and menards bags will be trapped up in the bushes around the library.
Has anyone explained why this was the best location?
Why does Peoris continue to suffer with poor choices for use of land and location of structures, like giving the filet migon of Peoria land to Damons and the Crab Shack?
A library in a commercial zone?
Behind Menards looks like a good location. The Peoria sprawl area is not pedestrian friendly – but the people that live there presumably didn’t mind driving everywhere when they located there. If they want pedestrian friendly, they need to move. I can’t think of a pedestrian- friendly location in the sprawl area except within a subdivision – and then it would only be pedestrian friendly to the people in that single subdivision.
It’s not my first pick of location… but it’s not a bad location, either. It is conveniently located for people who are going shopping at Wal-Mart and could also allow parents to drop off their (appropriately aged) kids to check out books while they shop. There’s a veterinary clinic next door, maybe the vets and the library could get together to do some children’s programs or programs for new pet owners.
My pick was Suds… closer to residential areas, a little more secluded and close to the Rock Island trail. But at the same time, it makes sense that they’d choose Medina Plains over Suds because all of the utilities and such were at Medina Plains and there’s alot less prep work to do there. Second pick was Festival… but Festival isn’t the nicest and I don’t care for how some of the shopping centers that are owned/managed by Northpoint’s owners are maintained (parking lots specifically).
Emtronics: It might warm your heart to know that I have no opinion on way or another.
John33,
I was told the site was picked mainly because of the price. Other concerns were visibility and accessibility. I think it’s visible from Route 6…as you drive by @ 60mph.
Public Library. Why would you hide anything that is pulic?
Opps, I meant, Why would you hide anything that is public?