The Peoria Riverfront Museum is nearing completion, and we’re starting to get a pretty good picture of what the finished product will look like. In particular, we’re getting a look at the exterior building materials: grey metal building panels. They don’t look quite as sleek in real life as they did on the artist’s renderings that were shared with the public five years ago:
But read how the building designer describes these exterior panels:
When finished, building designer Bob Frasca envisions the panels “will reflect a shimmer of light across the building’s surface much like light dances across the Illinois River. The site’s exterior design was intended to reach out to embrace the river, harmonizing with the reflective surface of the water; changing by the hour and season. Such connections to our Illinois River are fundamental. The river was the impetus for Peoria’s development and it continues to nurture our community today.”
Here’s the thing: the museum is not on the river, except during a flood. The rest of the time, the Italianate-style Rock Island Depot (aka “River Station”) and the postmodern Riverfront Village stand between the “reflective surface” of the river and the modern-style museum. As a result, it doesn’t really “harmonize” with anything. It’s a building really designed to sit a block east (for better or worse), making it look sharply out of context in its current setting. Where there should be urban density and a mix of uses and styles, there is instead a large, asymmetrical gray box, devoid of ornamentation and aesthetics.
I appreciate the desire of museum promoters to try to drum up excitement for this new building. But one cannot mask with flowery words the banality of the architecture. You’ll recall that this really isn’t what the architects or museum officials had in mind originally. They had to “value engineer” that design into what we’re seeing today because they couldn’t afford the cost of the original plan. Even museum proponents had a hard time covering their disappointment, distracting attention from the outside by insisting we “focus on what we’re gaining” on the inside.
Regrettably, the only surrounding context the museum block does correspond with is the concrete terrace and lower-level parking of Riverfront Village — the most unattractive context designers could have chosen to imitate. There is no inspiring terminal vista for those approaching on Fulton; indeed, no thought at all appears to have been given to the view from this street. For those unlucky enough to approach the building from the south, there is nothing but a large, blank, gray, metal wall leaning over them. On Water Street, passers-by will be greeted with stairs and a parking deck (à la Riverfront Village).
These deficiencies can be largely attributed to the auto-centric focus of the design. The building is designed for motor vehicles either to drop off museum-goers at the front entrance on Washington Street or park in the underground deck and enter the museum from the parking garage via elevator. Hence, not a lot of thought was put into the pedestrian experience around the perimeter of the building. No one is seriously expecting pedestrians to congregate here, so little effort was made to create a place where people would enjoy meeting and hanging out. This is what we call a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Hopefully the inside of the museum will be more attractive.
(laughter) What difference does it make? You’ve been against THIS project, almost from the start. If planners and architects followed opinions like yours, the world wouldn’t have modern masterpieces like the Guggenheim Museum in NYC or the Louvre addition in Paris. The Peoria Riverfront Museum, on the riverbank or not, is set apart from dull brick and concrete surroundings through it’s modern simplicity in design and introduction to Peoria’s cityscape of exterior materials more often associated with, renowned, cultural venues in East and West Coast metropolises.
Many a, beloved and iconic, building or set of buildings (ex: The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Etc.) was quickly derided or lampooned at the outset by long-forgotten critics of that era. Only for these cherished and world-famous structures, within a short time, to become widely-celebrated landmarks that outlasted their critics. THIS building will, no doubt, become one of Peoria’s civic showcases…. and, IT will outlast you!
Parts of it remind me of a jawa transport for Star Wars.
The original concept for the block showed a very pedestrian-friendly area with museum, retail and living space. It was designed for mixed-use and could very well have added a lot toward drawing people back towards downtown. The outside of the museum looks like a bus-shed. This museum project has been nothing but a big bait n switch. It may be fine with bad-idea proponents like “Peoria,” but I think it could have been much better. It is yet another good idea that went South.
As a supporter of the museum project, i am sadly disappointed with the dull battleship gray facade. I’ve seen better looking barges on the river. The museum folks tell me to hold judgement – it will look great when it is completely finished and landscaped.
With the name Caterpillar on it what would you expect? Remember this is the company that has bulldozed most walkable and mixed-used blocks in Peoria. Looking at the global headquarters up the street, it is not an architectural feat itself either. Whomever is at the helm of the design decisions continues to follow the modernist style inhumane way of building. The company is in the business to make machinery and as a result, Peoria has only come to support machines, not humans.
Comparing this building/museum to modern marvels is a far stretch. Comparing what it is and how it relates to the community it is built in is another thing. Looking in either direction down the road to the Children’s Museum in Normal or to the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield is more of a fair comparison. Both have great value on the inside, but the Children’s Museum is more accommodating to a diverse, mixed-use downtown.
Will this building outlast us? Yes, it’s a pretty obvious statement to make and a pretty safe assumption it will. Per a recent PJS article, the headquarters won’t share the same fate however. The museum is a Catch 22, of course locals want it to succeed and add value to Peoria, but on the other hand, when will the City learn that it is not creating a vibrant environment for the people that live here and support it year round?
“THIS building will, no doubt, become one of Peoria’s civic showcases…. ”
Jesus, I hope not. It’s an eyesore. When you look at the building, you don’t think “This is a museum; it’s a place of learning and discovery. Where the history, art, traditions and labor of the world are valued and preserved.” No, You think, “This building has botulism or it’s just an inefficient, mutant warehouse.”
It’s boring, misshapen and makes no effort to reflect the history of the area it’s suppose to celebrate. If you think this is beautiful, you probably praise the Wal-Mart on Allen Road for it’s stunning architectural design.
Maybe we should all wait until the landscaping and other ground work has been completed before we start deriding the site for not being pedestrian friendly or aesthetically pleasing. If memory serves, the big blank spaces on the theater facing the corner of Liberty and Washington are to be used for banners promoting the museum and exhibits inside, similar to what other museums have (Chicago’s Field and Science and Industry come to mind).
Right now it looks drab and industrial… because it’s still an active construction site. It’s like we’re looking at a pizza baking through the oven window with another 10 minutes to go and complaining about how unappetizing the unmelted cheese looks.
I’m looking forward to this museum opening to the public. The Soldier Field redesign is one of the most atrocious architectural monstrosities in the history of the world but yet, people still go there for Bears games and events. Point is, who cares if it isn’t totally pretty and all on the outside. What’s inside IS what matters. I respect your opinions here, but I think you focus on the negative too much. I for one couldn’t care less what it looks like. I am looking forward to seeing what it has to offer inside its walls. Thank you.
@Sterling
The artist’s renderings tell me everything I need to know about this “building.” Much like the ads for Little Caesar’s tell me everything I need to know about their “pizza.”
Awfully expensive pizza
I agree that the building is a disappointment, at least so far. Ugly. Can landscaping save it? We’ll see but I doubt it.
The good thing is the IMAX should be awesome.
it looks like a sewage treatment plant-
P.S.
It is very ugly and such a waste of taxpayer money
It’s so ugly!
Peoria, what are you drinking? The museum looks likes a tool shed or a morton building. Too many lies were told to get this project sold. It looks nothing like the Louvre and to say that the exhibitis of local basketball, asian carp that is our river rise to the Mona Lisa, what a joke. This is yet another mediocre Spain and co. backed project. No wonder HP is teetering. The glass Marriot is going to be a suburban courtyard, the interesting design of the first museum lost out. I am not going to be the IMAX to death, but it was a bold faced lie. Additionally, there is not storage in this building to house artifacts. How praytell are you going to bring in the wonderful exhibits that would draw crowds, when you failed to plan for them. The outside is a dull gray and does nothing to peak interest.
And MW, if this debacle were built with the 70% private money that was promised the taxpayers then it would be less concerning if they wanted it to look like a an old tuna can, but it was built with nearly all tax dollars. The promised endowment still is not raised ($8 million). Richarson was out in DC not too long ago, trying to beg for more money, TAX money that is. Much like the city, he doesn’t get that our pockets have been bled dry. If the citizens are interested a project they would have donated for it. Guess what, the city and county conned the taxpayers. they will cotninue to con the tax payers for operating costs. Please report on each of your visits to the museum. As several hundred thousand people are supposed to go it each year, I will expect at least a quarterly report from you on how interesting you find the same exhibits and how everyone you know from out of town has rushed to this place over and over again. So bury your head in the sand, allow government to continue to waste valuable tax dollars on anything but crime (note: $15,000 worth of damage was done to equipment at the museum…but there isn’t any crime downtown, must have been a freak block long hail storm during our very wet summer, perhaps)… The East bluff TIF….now should be called the OSF TIF is already a huge failure because Mr. Banker and Mr. MBA can’t look at the rest of the country’s property values and housing markets and needed to pay back the campaign donations from OSF. Now to the Warehouse District. Job creation. eliminate the higher wage jobs that are in the district currently and replace them with minimum wage service jobs. Great plan….
I am against these projects, not for the projects themselves, but for the piss poor planning and implementation, the enormouse cost to the taxpayers, the lies and deception used to propigate them, the personal and professional benefits for our local government leaders, and large numbers of problems they are creating accross the city, via unaddressed crime.
Just wait for the palm trees; THEN it will all come together!
My friend made a bullseye’s comment … the “Feng Shui” is all wrong about the building and the block.
checking for details: Pray tell, what are your suggestions then, for improving things in downtown Peoria? You have gone into amazing detail telling me how wrong I am and how terrible all of these ideas to make things better are, yet you have not offered one suggestion. Typical negative behavior. So let’s hear it. What do you propose?
Have offered numerous suggestions. First and formost address the crime issue in the city. If people are not safe and do not feel safe. They are not going to be wandering the streets of Peoria. Look at the “white flight” and abandonment of the older neighborhoods. It boils down to safety. This council truly ignores that. Secondly. The key needs to be private investment. The majority of this council is not spurring private investment, but using tax dollars to overpay for projects that should be funded by banks and investors. Planning of projects is very poor, sticking with a developer that can’t raise money for the hotel then spending more tax dollars to babysit him is a waste. The hotel had other options. One was to be built in the civic Center lot, where it would have really been an attached hotel. Now you are walking three blocks to the courtyard regarless if it is a skyway or on the street. No more advantage than the four seasons. The push for the renovation for the Pere, by attracting restaurants, shops, arts and theatre, there could conceivably be more people wanting to live downtown. The Pere could have been apartments/condos. A much better investment for tax dollars than the hotel subsidy. CJ is correct in the original museum design should have been a 24/7 plan, residences, businesses, etc. The museum could have gone into the warehouse district. It fits better with the plan there and would have been alittle more interesting as a destination spot as a complete package. Again, not against these projects, but the funding and the planning. The museum is built on lies told to the public. The Economic Development department was gutted from the city and given to Heartland Partnerships, essentially. That is a mistake.
BTW I have offered numerous suggestions to councilmembers. Suggestions these days, fall on deaf ears, because they don’t fit with the agenda.
Ok thank you for your reply. I’m in favor of doing things to revive our downtown. I’d like to see more people throwing their support behind projects that are under way. I understand the complaints beforehand but now that projects like this one are moving forward, how about letting go of the things you didn’t or don’t like about it and being supportive instead? That’s my biggest problem with the negativity. It’s a free country and I totally am for healthy debate and all points being brought forward as projects are being planned. Once they’re going ahead though, it’s on people like you to take the “if you can’t beat them, join them” mentality and work together to make projects like this one a success. If you really care about your community, set your feelings and opinions aside and support what’s being done when it comes to things that are long past the debate stage. That’s all. Thank you again for replying. Best wishes.
On the front page of the Journal Star today there is an article about the museum. Quote from the article: “There is a separate entrance for the theater, a concession stand and bistro seating.”
Just wondering, if the downtown restaurants are so against pushcarts and food trucks, how do they feel about a new eatery in the TAXPAYER-FUNDED museum? Doesn’t sound like a “level playing field” to me……
….”how do they feel about a new eatery in the TAXPAYER-FUNDED museum? …..”
The same way hotel owners feel about a taxpayer supported hotel I guess.
There will also be eateries in the taxpayer-funded Marriott, as well. Voters will have the opportunity to decide the fate of the district council folks who voted for this mess, as well as the mayor, who instigated it all, in the next election. We need some real change in this town.
Probably the same way the health clubs feel about the tax payer funded Riverplex.
MW: How would one get behind these projects now? Should we prostitute ourselves to participate in the same lying process … are you suggesting that we go done and be a volunteer and do whatever is asked?
Just trying to understand how one paricipates in these projects per your suggestion. Thanks for your help.
Heck fire the plans were out for all to see. they buit it per the plans now we have what we approved ( county board and city of peoria) yes it is a big gray box but that was presented that way. Now the question is will it bring in the dollars ? I for one take my purchases out of peoria county if I can. my one way in not supporting this waste of tax monies Basic services is goverments place. Not in the hotel,midtown plaza, museum,bass pro,or other private venture.
Karrie: You can get behind these projects by not filling up websites with negative comments, to start. If you are really concerned about this area as a whole (and why wouldn’t you be if you live here?) then stop to think for a minute what the success of this museum could mean. It could mean an influx of visitors to the area. It could mean a rebirth of the downtown area. It could mean a lot of good things. Now picture someone from out of town doing a Google search for it, then coming across this post. He/she reads the comments and thinks, “Wow that sounds terrible, maybe this is a waste of my time.” So people like you and all of the other negative voices out there can help our community by simply shutting your mouth if all you have is bad things to say. You’re only hurting our community worse with your destructive comments about something that may play a big role in reviving a big part of our city. Ok? If you really want to help out then yes, go volunteer there or spread the word that we have a really big thing coming to Peoria and let people know they should come check it out. In other words, swallow your pride (all of you) and think past yourselves and your personal opinions and do something for the good of this entire community instead! Do you want to see this city and area improve or not? You can make a difference. Do it.
The new PRM is not being built to be a candidate for the National Register of Historic Places. It’s “being” is to assist in bringing my (our) hometown and the region to the forefront of design, innovation, Progress (remember the 60’s Peoria Developement Motto”, technological and medical achievement and the expansion of tourism, sports, entertainment and conventions by embracing its natural beauty…of the river valley and it’s strategic location. Peoria and its environs are not perfect but what city/county/state/country is. The Peoria area is blessed in many ways…people, corporations, education, medical, military and retail entities are investing in what many of you see as a cesspool and a backward looking community. The critics and grippers need to move on and let the progressive thinkers and new blood continue to work for a new and exciting Peoriarea. Thank you Mayor Adrdis and Mingus for the vision and determination to move forward…building a magnetic destination in the heart of Illinois. Please move quickly to save a complex that is on the NRHP, The Madison. It exemplifies Peoria’s great entertainment history. Make sure that this treasure “Plays In Peoria”.
MW…bless you. Great comments. How true. Enough bashing…more praising.
Thanking the Mayor and Mingus for vision is like thanking Ray Charles for vision.
I have been perusing the “Build the Block” Web Cam site since it was established. Have you checked it out lately??? Wait til the lighting and landscaping…then there will be silence from the Emtronics of the world…please. I don’t get to live in my hometown at the moment but it is always good to come home from the insanity of the big city on the lake. Would you rather look at a “Sears” block…empty and falling apart. That was a beautiful showcase for all to see when Caterpillars worldwide customers and enthusiasts came to town. Thank you Cat for investing in your hometown!Hold your head’s high. 91 day’s. It will be a new chapter for Peoria along with all of the new building throughout Peoria and East Peoria and the revitalized I-74.
Keep carrying the museum’s train, chamberlains. You must bear up to the end.
MW and Peoria Proud,
I am sorry, I just can’t go with the “nothing to see here mentality that plagues our leadership. We could have had a great project, especially for the money the taxpayers have had to pony up, but instead the mentality is to settle for the mediocre. It continues on and on. I believe Emtronics listed project after project. And we are told to get on board now. You asked Karrie to swallow her pride and get on board. Perhaps because she has pride and should have be able to have pride in our community that she and I and others are continually disappointed. We severely need to elect new people to the council. The Mayor is without a doubt grooming Spain for Mayor and he is obviously itching for more power. Do we really want our money spent of lackluster projects that do not achieve their intent? We spent tons of money on the Riverfront. Other than the fireworks and a couple of other events, it’s not packed, nor are people interested in supporting restaurants there. I again repeat. We could have had gorgeous hotel, built in the right location, but we robbed the retirment fund and maxed out the visa for Matthews. Regarding the Sears block. It could have had something there. The Embassy Suites wanted to build in the Sears block, offering the city $6million and requested about $20,000 in tax funds. Instead we sell the block for a dollar, use the excuse of inadequate hotel space to pay off what Banks, whose job it is to raise money by loaning funds to sound projects, to Matthews, and are robbed by the city and county for the tool shed built there, only planning on housing what Lakeview already had.
I think it is insanity and to back it, while I understand that continued failure will just cost us all more money, only encourages our leaders to continue the same BS approach to “economic Development”. So I guess some of us could just throw in the towel like others on here have and simply continue to expect the same low standards of our leadership….or you could also speak up and demand more for your tax dollars. My guess is, if your house (or even you, God forbid) was the next one to be vandalized, robbed, burned, etc. your viewpoint would drastically shift.
“…from the Emtronics of the world..” ????
What kind of bullshit is that Proud? I barley used 25 words throughout all this and yes, I am pissed that tax money was used, we as taxpayers were lied to, the whole thing was manipulated through fancy advertising (more tax money used) and we are promised this place will bring life to downtown. Like we were promised the “Pad” would do the same but now it looks like the damn Pad is falling down. I see Joe’s leaving real soon. Tax payer money being spent on that repair also. Now, we ignore crime and the CEFCU downtown was robbed in broad daylight which is what, a few blocks from all this? I really want this to work because if it doesn’t, I, along with others who can’t sell and get out will be stuck with the frickin bill. The track record of this City’s investments is dismal to say the least. The good ol rich folf that wheel and deal will simply be gone if this fails. They is too much good ol boy networking going on and too many hands in the till. The City of Peoria spends millions to rebuild Water Street and what? A guy who owns a bar can close it anytime he likes. Cha Ching!
I would hate to live in an Emtronics utopia. You think Peoria politics stink…check out Detroit, Chicago, Philidelphia, etc. All Democrat lead towns. Talk about nepotism, cronyism, good-ole-boys clubs, patronage, corruption…and guess where Obama came from. Illinois State gov, not much different. Peoria needs to be a bastian of clean and transparent politics. Unfortunately, governments are run by humans, placed in office by flawed voters. I know that the mayor’s of Peoria and East Peoria want better. It all starts in “the hoods” and down deep in the home. No leadership, love and direction in the home=gangs for fathers/family.
Peoria is not a bastiann of transparency. Currently agenda items are decided in secret between two council members. Behind the scenes vote trading and backing are done for pet projects and money wasted while citizens are shot like dogs in the street. I loved it when Clyde Gully of all people busted out the Mayor, Spain, their lying mouthpiece Urich about the southtown TIF funds. Those three were saying on the council floor that nowhere in the ordiance they were discussing was that TIF mentioned. Clyde’s response was that it was brought up the night before in apparantly some unnounced, closed door session. Now the council wants guidelines on that TIF’s funds use. Note: they want it badly for warehouse district, go back and watch the night they voted not to use it. It was only due to forthcoming horrible press and “soundbytes” that the money wasn’t stolen that night. Look at the faces of the proponents, the veiled anger.
There is no leadership in the hoods. Those strong leaders are facing health issues, getting old and soon will be dying off to be replaced by no one. The council gives lip services, but no real changes and efforts and they will be showing up for their annual photoshoots and National Night Out in a couple of weeks. The effects of Night Out Against crime: the thugs get fed on the tax dime and if you remember last years event, about an hour after the clean up, there was yet another incident by Glen Oak School. Cops don’t have time to answer all the calls they get, much less work with neighborhoods. All proactive type policing has stopped the only frantic reactions are left and unsolved crimes pile up. Infastructure improvements in older neighborhoods is left to the whim of the district council person, at least one of which uses them to buy votes and ignores needs in areas where she can’t get any votes.
So who cares about comparing us to Chicago, fix the problems here, where they effect us the strongest.
I keep thinking about how the sale of the block to a private developer would have aided the City’s bottom line and that basic services could have been maintained at former levels. The museum is a nice to have thing , but not essential. Same with the Mariott project- a total waste of taxpayer money. I think there will be some change on the Council after the next election. I only hope it is for the better.
“I would hate to live in an Emtronics utopia. You think Peoria politics stink…check out Detroit, Chicago, Philidelphia, etc.”
Well Peoria, I am sure other big cities have their problems too. I knew it wouldn’t be long before you blamed Democrats and even Obama. Let’s look at where we live, here, in Peoria. Ardis is as red as they come along with Spain, almost all the Heartland Partnership, Sullivan, and on and on. They, right now, drive this town and it’s monies. One word: Warehouse District. All good Republicans. Making deals in back rooms before a citizen even has a chance to ask or inquire about what is happening. That is how the hotel deal went down and that is how other deals go down in this town. I don’t give a rats ass about Detroit or Chicago or whatever. I do about Peoria. Speaking of Chicago, Obama’s hometown, they get things done there and have a hell of a lot more to offer than this podunk town has and there are just as many Republican governors in prison from this state as there are Democratic ones. Both are corrupt and no damn Republican is going to save the working person ever. They never have and they never will. I don’t trust the Democrats any farther than I can throw one but at least, if not much, they will look after the middle class more than any Rightwinger would. It was and is the middle class in this country that made it and makes it now. When it goes, so goes this country. Then who is going to mow your lawn, wash your cars, wait on your tables???
BTW, Peoria politics do stink, to high heaven. Tell me they don’t.
MW: Thanks for your thoughts. That is what is needed is dialogue. Many people have one or more passions in life … a couple of mine … transparency and inclusion … not going to happen in Peoria until leadership drastically changes.
Amen to CJ comments … MW — pretend it is whatever it is in your world … we all want it to FINANCIALLY succeed because we cannot afford any more taxpayer rescue missions.
MW – Not sure where you might live … checking for details makes bullseye comments … you have to take care of crime … before the people will come.
Perhaps you do not live in an area where it occurs or are willing to be where it does occur. Many people who do not live in an older section … do not come to older neighborhoods because of perception and then the actual reality of crime. Crime happens in many neighborhood as we recently witnessed with the standoff in the far north end of Peoria. With the recent shooting in Colorado … it literally can happen anywhere … nevertheless, many many people perceive older neighborhoods are not where they want to live because of crime and poor schools. Not to say that children who apply themselves will be able to get a good education … just that as long as sixteen years ago … a friend moved here and said that she would not purchase in D150 because of all the dysfunction and drama … sadly … not much has changed.
The challenge is for inclusion at the onseat and transparency and honesty in the process.
Please think about cheerleading and telling people everything is great and then the tourists get here and wonder what type of cool-aid Peorians drink because the hype does not match reality. You may be doing a disservice because you want to say that all is well.
Peoria has much to offer … we fritter away our resources … the most important one of which is our citizens … so in the end … with freedom of speech still in place … we have to agree to disagree.
And you are mistaken to think that I would be welcome as a volunteer at the PRM … such is not the case.
CJ- You are too funny! Karrie, right on, Sister.
ProudPeorian and MW…..what the city leaders don’t understand is this : 2 things will make this city great: lower crime and a great school system.
Then you know what happens?: people start moving into, not out of, Peoria. Then you get a bigger tax base which in turn leads to maybe thinking about projects like…..fixing or installing sidewalks…..overhaul of an outdated sewer system…road repairs. And THEN you start thinking about projects like a taxpayer funded hotel or museum.
The city leaders have it backward. We have shootings almost on a daily basis, a school system that is flawed (to say the least) and what are our elected officials answers to this? Museums and ballparks and whatever grand ideas the Ryan Spains and Jim McCoughneys come up with. Are these things going to help in getting people to move to Peoria?
As I’ve said before…more frosting on the crumbling cake. Sorry I can’t don the City of Peoria cheerleading outfit.
how’s about the item at the end for a 200k walkway from the Amazeum to the pad? so businesses can stay open when it floods, we are told. oh, and if a 3 story building is constructed, then the developers of this walkway will be reimbursed. but the building is supposed to be completed by 12/31/12 and there’s no building started? fear not, an extension is being requested. doubtful of extensions? oh ye of little faith! the money will be reimbursed to the developers regardless of a building being built!
so…be sure to watch the exciting council debate an extension for a building that may or may not be built, but probably not before new years anyway, the construction of which makes no difference, all to make sure Ryan Spain can have a nice walkway from Heartland to the Amazeum and the city can pay for it. last i checked an agreement meant BOTH sides gave something of value.
my counter-proposal is simple. in lieu of the council throwing our money into the river, i propose we do it ourselves. proceed post haste to the river, toss your money in. eventually a useable bridge of currency will be created across the river. at that time, we can all make a surreptitious escape.
Mazr:
You have that right! Schools in the Peoria area must raise the bar in order to attract and retain more middle class citizens which will in turn spur the process of creating a more vibrant city. And, I am not talking just about District 150. I have been back in Peoria 1 year now and have met many recent transplants to the area and all are surprised at the limited school choice and the caliber of the schools currently established in the community.
Mazr, Your comments are correct. You hit it on the head…but I am still a cheerleader and always will be. There is too much at stake not to. Peoria and its environs offers much more than many metro areas its size. I have traveled to many of them because of the business I am in. The Rockfords, Auroras, Joliets, Elgins of the world would be overjoyed to have a dynamic CBD like Peoria/East Peoria. Go visit for yourself. The old cities of Illinois all share the same issues. Gang influence from outside and within. Families without fathers/male leadership (of every race). Godlessness. Evil done in the dark and now in the daylight. This must be addressed by the faith community and the city and neighborhood leadership. I will not give up on my town. The 4 cities above draw much from being in Chicagoland. Peoria and its neihbors must address everything alone…the hoods, schools, jobs, developement and re-developement. There are crooks and coruption everywhere. Much of the bad element are fed into Peoria from St.Louis and Chicago. Those lines must be closed. Pride of neighborhood by way of faith based initiatives (which is done in Peoria) and the community as a whole must support rebuilding/flipping older structurally sound homes and building new where delapidated and crime ridden homes now stand. If rented, background checks, job verification and or job creation must be a priority along with home ownership initiatives. Guidelines must be adhered to and enforced. The redevelopement of our neighborhoods and inner city drives jobs and responsibility. Let’s quit griping and get involved. Does your ranting and raving help Peoria in anyway. No, unless you reach out and care for others. It takes a lot of work and most won’t do it. This is needed on both sides of the Illinois River. I will not give up on my town. There is too much good going on to not support the efforts of many.
Karrie: In response to your post, I live in the heart of the city. It’s an old neighborhood. There is crime in every direction from where I live. My desire for more people to be positive does not mean I support crime. My desire for more people to look toward the future instead of criticizing the past does not mean I want people to be robbed or killed. Please don’t confuse what I am trying to get across here. Complaining about things that complaints will not change (as in, projects that are far, far beyond the public input phase) is simply not productive and can be detrimental to our community as a whole as I pointed out in the scenario given in my earlier post. Yes, let’s fight crime! Let’s work to educate kids so they know right from wrong. Let’s all DO SOMETHING in our community instead of complain about it on public websites. We’re all on the same team. We have to be. It’s the only chance this city has to become strong again.
MW: Thanks for the dialogue! 🙂 Glad that we are the same page about crime.
My desire is for people to be positive too … the challenge is that when taxpayer dollars are used for projects we “WANT” vs. projects or delivery of services that we “NEED” … to continue to purchase baubles will not bring back residents and taxpayers to our city’s core or other parts of our city..
The challenge is … where are the Peoria projects which are advanced which had true, robust, involved, perhaps messy et al public input? I am unable to think of any.
Where are the relationships of trust with the public by elected officials? When there is a steady stream of changes, switch and bait … the horse is always a horse of a different color … you will not earn the public’s trust.
Projects are advanced … too late for public input because it will raise the cost of construction … make the bonds cost extra … when in reality … projects are advanced along the criteria of the advancing organization’s leadership with no input from the public except that that group will gladly take taxpayer funding. The group does not want public input only public $. The group’s regrettably operate under the scarcity mentality and fear rather than the abundance mentality and inclusion. The group so wants their awesome project that any methods will be employed to achieve that goal … museum, Riverplex, new Glen Oak School, Gateway Building and so on.
One game is to have a public meetings, asking for public input and then never use it … think Sheridan Triangle.
The new game is to get public input at end and then flaunt that public input was sought but the public input is not used because the project is already defined … recent example … East Village TIF. Neighborhood residents notified around 10 pm the night before the first public input meeting. Some people heard about it on the news. And by the way, the East Village TIF already had a well defined web presence where residents could check out. Lip service to inclusive process.
The newest game in town was to try to take the Southtown TIF money for the hotel deal. The memo said that there were no neighborhood concerns. Absolutely correct. If you do not discuss the project with the neighborhood residents then you can validly claim that there are no neighborhood concerns (think the head of the food chain = city manager who signs off on the document). We saw that that was not the case when the neighbors were in an uproar in the city council chambers and now the funding is being more appropriately used.
Two examples … I have more … it would be nice to believe that the adminstration is inclusive and transparent … just not the reality of their method of operation … this has been going on for the past 18 years that I have lived here and many decades previous to that.
If any group or organization is going to ask for public dollars … then there should be public input from the start … period.
When a project is changed and morphed and misrepresented and even lied about to the public … the public trust is damaged. Maybe not in your world or in your belief system … it is in mine.
Until the process is changed and until elected officials and administrators act in an inclusive and transparent matter … Peoria will not be able to reach it’s full potential.
Please do not ask me to pay for baubles when the basics go by the wayside and the crime problem festers into a bigger wound. I feel that we do our city a disservice by ignorning the problems … we are willing to promote a Riverplex, ball stadium, Riverfront village, museum, hotel … meanwhile our CSO problem has been around for decades … again more needs which have no sizzle appeal go unresolved while we puchase the glitz. Not the way that I was raised … not the way that I raise my children … the way that I believe.
So, thanks for the dialogue!
P.S. Where you living in Peoria in 1994?
ProudPeorian:
You are correct that we must work together. Nevertheless, where is the buy-in that the projects which need to be done … which come from the grassroot level are advanced rather than the top down management style?
What are your ideas about that? Thanks for helping to brainstorm.
the building is as ugly as the “hook-ups” our mayor and sheriff have on their fun runs