Reading Polly Peoria’s latest post reminded me of a rumor I heard about the Peoria Riverfront Museum: it’s getting smaller.
You know they’ve been having a little trouble raising the money for this monstrosity, the plans for which are antithetical to the Heart of Peoria Plan. Rather than taking that as a hint that maybe people aren’t really as excited about this project as they thought they were, they’ve now (I’ve been told) begun cutting construction costs by making it smaller. Specifically, I hear they’ve cut it down to a one-story building except for the generic-IMAX part. Won’t that look inspiring? Maybe they can put up a weather vane and plant some prairie grass next to it to complete the anatopism.
So let’s think about this for a minute. First, the idea was to use just a portion of the old Sears block for a Peoria history museum sponsored by the Peoria Historical Society. Then Lakeview got involved and it mushroomed into a mega-museum that would include art, history, science, nature, a digital big-screen theater ala IMAX (but not actually IMAX), the African American Hall of Fame, the IHSA Peak Performance Center, and a partridge in a pear tree. All this in only 70,000 square feet. And now they want to make all that fit in an even smaller space?
Why don’t they just admit they bit off more than they could chew and go back to the drawing board? If they root around the drawing board long enough they may even happen upon this:
I WANT the original concept. End this bait n switch!!!
I think your drawing forgot the awful looking montrosity they are going to build over stilt village in Ekwood Park, in order to block the view of the River.
I believe Cat’s matching gift ends very soon, which should be decision time for both Lakeview and Cat. I’m sure Lakeview would love to keep this very hush hush.
The unknown is now that Cat’s charity chief has *ahem* retired, their charitable plans are completely up in the air.
I am sorry, but a little profanity is needed here. Loved Polly and her post. The Lakeview SHITHEADS – especially their bullshit, arrogant, useless, IGNORANT ABOUT ANYTHING TO DO WITH MUSEUMs, BOARD will never admit defeat. What!? Let THEIR legacy die with a little murmur? This idiocy has gone on far too long. While they are all busy stealing paintings, protecting their high society images [in Peoria?], and getting ridiculous press time, they can give back all of the money donated so far.
How many duplicates are serving on the boards at Lakeview, BOE and the Peoria Zoological Society?
Not enough money for the Zoo so the PPD funds it with taxpayer dollars.
Not enough money for the museum (expiring pledges sounds reminiscent of the Recplex — um Riverplex) so now let’s build a fifty plus year building of the wrong um well ‘everything’ (anatopism) a la the school in GOP idea.
The cycle once again repeats — insanity reigns in Peoria.
Have to echo Karrie on this. Duplicates or clones, or just plain the same old people. I have complained about this for years. Same limited group of Peoria snobbery nearly on every board: arts, humanities, etc. I am sure someone will chime in here telling me “at least they are doing something for the community.” “They are being so generous with their time.” “Why don’t you volunteer yourself and your time Mr. Big Mountain?” Thing is, I do or at least I have tried. It is very difficult breaking into their little ‘clubs’. Peo Museum is just another perfect, screwed up example of what the players are doing to our city.
That illustration is hideous. I hope that whatever they end up doing fits in with the current skyline and colors of downtown.
The block needs to be developed the right way. I’d rather see it be made a park than something stupid.
I actually like the drawing above. It would be a great develpment, excellent mixed use potential. Commercial/office space, residential housing (both low and high income) plus the museum spaces.
Although, CJ, making a green space out of the whole thing wouldn’t be totally anatopic. Look at Central Park in NYC… that gets plenty of use. Granted, this would not be that big, but thinking proportionally, it’s probably about right.
Also, I would like to the Lakeview Museum expand – it’s Peoria’s only multi-generational museum at the moment, and they have great exhibits. They are so hidden in their current location, I think fewer people take advantage of their offerings.
We have PLENTY of green space and park space along the river. The last thing we need on the Sears block is another park. What we need on the Sears block is urban density.
The comment posted by Anonymous couldn’t be more inaccurate. There was no time limit associated with the commitment to the project made by the Caterpillar Foundation. And his concluding statement is also just a bunch of bull. Although Mr. Henry Holling, former head of the Caterpillar Foundation has retired effective the first of this month, there are numerous other people involved with the company’s charitable gifts program that will continue the legacy which Mr. Holling directed for so many years. “Completely up in the air” . . . . not in the least.
Every summer scores of young people, with disposable income, a lot of whom wish they actually lived in a large city like all their friends who got jobs in Chicago, start their stint at CAT corporate headquarters. These people want to live downtown but there are no options. Right now you can choose between a one bedroom condo for $225,000 or a $900 a month tiny apartment. Consequently most choose to live in the new construction complexes out on the far north end were you can get twice the space for $650 a month. I know this; I listen to them complain about it every summer while lounging by the pool and drinking the weekend away. They want the urban flavor. Get the freakin lofts built with cheaper rent, run the trolley bus from the lofts to CAT in the mornings and evenings, and get them out of my pool! Instead of trying to throw anything down on the riverfront to try to draw people down for a visit, how about we get people living down there see what their needs are and then start building amenities to address them. It is like putting the cart before the horse. Once things start turning around downtown I hope it spreads outward so I can feel comfortable buying one of the adorable bungalows in the center of the city and then I can get out of the pool too. They filled the pool yesterday, apparently it is dominating my mind 🙂
Peoria is & has been for as long as I can remember, a very closed society. Big Mtn. and Karrie are right on target.
These people are on all these boards to keep control and keep others out, make no mistake about it. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. I have lived in other places that are not like this. What-the-X hurts his case with the 4-letter words. They are NOT “needed here”.
I agree with urban density, CJ. I’d like to see the old Sears block developed right, rather than royally screwed up. I’d also like to see more folks living downtown, as well as (drum roll ,please) the return of RETAIL. Other small cities have retail in their downtowns, why can’t we? Cornfield Mall aka Grand Prairie just doesn’t cut it for me.
urban density is needed, but something has to spur that development. the CAT center and Lakeview museum are meant to be a catalyst for that development. Look around downtown…this project wont instantly change the lifestyle of peoria where it seems there is a parking garage on every block. build something at the sears block that will bring people downtown. if they spend $$ then retail may follow and eventually a revitalization of people actually living downtown. there needs to be a first step. it doesnt need to be this project….but, build SOMETHING COMPELLING down there in the old sears block or leave it and accept that peoria isnt ready for change.
Mr. T. — Yes, build something compelling rather than just build is a bullseye! We already can see that the restaurants on stilts were the wrong choice — not to repeated, unless we are going for continued insanity.
Green space, green space. That was part of the original discussion for the Sears block, and I’d like to see us reenter that debate.
I agree that local “board members” need to get a clue. I’m sorry but sitting on a board, nodding your head with pinkie extended from the teacup, and giving your tax-deductible gifts is NOT community service. Tutoring, working at the food pantry, and helping others in the community by donating your time and talent – THAT is community service.
CJ, for maybe the 1st time, I think your new urbanism might be worth something. If the Sears block was developed into a high-rise apartment/condo mix, CAT alone would help fill the thing with people. That would, in turn help draw down the ridiculously high rents from the Twin Towers debacle which would draw more people to live downtown. This would then lure more private investment downtown which would draw more people to live downtown…
But quit trying to restrict traffic as the method to get people downtown! It will drive them away. After the people are there, MAYBE it might work.
Letting Lakeview expand had always been a noteworthy idea. I used to think that a suitable building might already exist in the downtown area, just perfect for the ‘museum’ and it’s ‘mission.’ One that could have been worked-up for a fraction of the cost, etc. Oh well. There is expansion and there is Lakeview expansion!
Having a billion dollar museum in a prime location [downtown] is not going to draw hundreds of [high] rent paying tenants to Peoria. If HIGH culture is what they want they will move to Chicago, etc. Our great entertainment resource is the river. Clean it up, build it up and spruce it up…the people will come. Excuse me!!! Is there anywhere along downtown riverfront I can park my freaking boat?