PRESS RELEASE

Peoria, IL – The City of Peoria and the Renaissance Park Commission are coordinating a showcase of homes for sale in Renaissance Park. On Sunday, July 16th, real estate agents with listings in the area have been invited to host an open house between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. Property owners who are selling their homes without a real estate agent have also been invited to participate.

As of Tuesday afternoon, real estate agents and homeowners of seventeen different properties have agreed to hold their homes open. The homes represent a true cross-section of Renaissance Park, with properties located on the West and East Bluffs and the North Valley. Homes range in price from a $375,000 Victorian mansion in Old Towne North to a $50,000 bungalow in University East.

With so many homes open in a small area on one day, the Renaissance Park Commission hopes to generate a lot of traffic and interest. “This is a great area with a lot of variety,” states Renaissance Park Commission Chair Karla Dennhardt. “Whether you are looking for house that needs no work at all, or a house that needs renovation, you’ll find it on Sunday. Renaissance Park has so much to offer people: great neighbors, some of Peoria finest public and private schools, and proximity to employment and cultural opportunities.”

In addition to the homes being open, real estate agents and property owners will also be given Renaissance Park brochures and flyers and yard signs that signify that the house is in Renaissance Park. “This is an opportunity to really showcase our great neighborhoods,” stated Craig Hullinger, Director of Peoria’s Department of Economic Development. “The Renaissance Park effort is really about bringing people together – government, private business and homeowners – to highlight and improve this area.”

More information can be found at www.renaissanceparkpeoria.com. Based on three years worth of collaborative work by over 40 community leaders, the Peoria City Council passed an ordinance creating the 773-acre Peoria Medical and Technology District in May of 2003. Since then, the progress of the district has been shepherded by a commission of representatives from the neighborhoods, businesses and anchor institutions. The Commission developed a comprehensive master plan, and in 2005 voted to adopt the name Renaissance Park. For more information, please contact Chris Setti, City of Peoria, at (309) 494-8618 or csetti@ci.peoria.il.us.