Polly Peoria has the right take on the Southtown deal:

Peoria very well might be better off if Methodist and/or OSF build their planned facilities and the would be buyer of the vacant lot be shut out. However, that is the role of the market place, not local government (no matter how noble their intent) to decide.

Didn’t somebody say they didn’t think government should be into choosing the winners and losers?  If this isn’t just that sort of situation, I don’t know what is.