PEORIA — Wm. Aupperle & Sons put the finishing touches on the $137,000 replacement arbor at Rebecca and Main. The City Council approved the expenditure in April out of the capital fund rather than as a special assessment on the homeowners.
The Arbor District has an arbor again
This is wonderful and hopefully a sign of reinvestment in the niceties which make neighborhoods livable and attractive.
Well, doubtful, but it sounds good on paper.
It is nice to have the arbors back. Wasn’t it supposed to cost $200,000 or more when it was a special assessment project — and that is why it couldn’t be completed — prior to Bradley overstepping their institutional boundaries — or is this a misstatement of what happened?
Karrie — there were initial quotes that came in higher (between $225,000 and $300,000 back in April 2006). I heard from someone who works for the city (can’t remember his name — I met him at Whitey’s one night after the council meeting) that the reason the initial quotes were higher is because the original specs called for hollow pillars, which are apparently much more difficult and costly to construct than solid pillars. I have no independent confirmation of that, however, so who knows if that’s accurate.
They are nice and add a lot to the “character” of the neighborhood…..but too bad that same amount couldn’t be found to improve the sidewalks in the neighborhood, tear down the unsightly boarded up and trash infested former gas station around the corner, or other (in my opinion) more critical neighborhood features.
I supported the expenditure of City funds when it was going to be a shared assessment with those in the neighborhood, but that went by the wayside. Now every neighborhood will be looking for their “pet project” to be funded at City expense.
“Guy” — If the city hadn’t just let Bradley tear down an entire street of beautiful 100-year-old houses so they could put up a large parking deck 25 feet from the alley behind Cooper, then I’d agree with you. Now it just looks patronizing.
I am waiting for an someone to make a “Bradely destroyed my neighborhood and all I got was this stupid arbor” sign and hang it up and take a pic.
Or perhaps just hang a ‘Welcome to Bradley University: West Entrance’ sign off it.
What a waste of taxpayer money. Don’t forget to pay your garbage fee.
Peoria Proud,
I’d be perfectly happy with just the sidewalks vs.a pet project. Have had two councilmen either trip or slip on them and school children going to two different schools have to navigate them or just wander into the streets, and PPD refuses to chase anyone on them because they are dangerous. Can’t get the slumlords to even plant grass in their yards am sure they’ll agree to a special assessment. No problem…..The arbor looks nice. I hope BU doesn’t flatten it in their latest project that has already been hinted at…
Paul,
Personnally, I think sidewalks are a basic service that should be covered by taxes – course that means an increase in taxes but an area where I think public money truly makes a difference.
Beancounter and Mahnko: Couldn’t agree more. I think next election time, the arbors will be a wonderful place to hang elected officials in effigy to show the dislike for the type of double-speak and broken promises that are becoming too common.
$175,000 could go a long ways to improving some other neighborhoods a lot more than it did here. If we want to create postcard pictures – great expenditure; to great great neighborhoods – I’m not sure it’s going to accomplish that.
I look at the Arbors this way. When you move into a new house, the rooms are a blank slate. There is usually an off-white paint, a similarly colored carpet and empty spaces. It’s nice, but nothing to write home about. As you move your stuff into the room, it starts to take shape. You do little things like paint, find houseplants and arrange furniture in a way that it is functional and efficent. Now, here’s my analogy: At sometime in the future, you want to provide a centerpiece to the room. It doesn’t do anything for you that saves you money, makes the room more effective in its purposes, or anything else. The only thing it does it make the room unique and something to write home about. That’s what the arbors do. I don’t say spend all the money on projects like this, but every once in a while you need to decorate with a centerpiece item to give the City the character and charm that leaves an impression.
If Bradley wants an impression piece in their living room they should pay for it.
Would you rather the council be reinvesting in the neighborhoods in District 5? Hell, why not Dunlap…
These comments crack me up. I recognize most who read these blogs are “essential services” advocates, but you also have to foster and create a sense of place, uniquesss, and community otherwise you’ll be providing those services for no one. (as they’ll be moving elsewhere).
Its like the flower baskets on Main, or art in the park, they’re community amenties that make these places attractive and unique. Cudos to Barb V for retaining a piece of otherwise lost Peoria history here.
It isn’t about the arbor, it is the politics of that neighborhood and its history with Bradley. CJ said it best, it is just patronizing.
BeanCounter, how does the arbor benefit Bradley other than being within 500 feet of them? Although Bradley may have stomped all over a portion of this area, to completely disregard a quality improvement is childish.
the guy,
it will be a lovely entrance to the new performaning arts center BU has been hinting at.
Even further west? there goes the neighborhood.