Saturday morning my wife and I decided to take our kids up to the Quad Cities to visit a couple of places we keep hearing about all the time in the news: The John Deere Pavilion and the Putnam Museum IMAX.
We took off late morning so that we got to Galesburg around lunch time. We stopped there and ate at the Packinghouse. I had their prime rib dip; my wife had their soup and salad bar. The children had your typical kids’ meal fare: chicken tenders or a hamburger and french fries. It was all delicious.
Then we hopped back in the van and headed north to Moline, where we stopped first at the John Deere Pavilion. Admission was free, and we all had a lot of fun climbing on the giant tractors. My kids especially enjoyed sitting in the driver’s seat and pretending to drive. There were several interactive/computerized exhibits as well. One of them was a flight-simulator-type of program that let you “drive” a harvester. Watching the children try to steer straight was a real hoot!
After a quick stop in the adjacent John Deere Store, we were off to the IMAX. Following the directions from Google was a little tricky, but we didn’t get lost and made the trip from Moline to Davenport in about 15 minutes.
The IMAX was not showing any big Hollywood shows, but they did have some short educational films. We took in the double-feature of “Mystery of the Nile” and “Under the Sea 3D.” Admission price for the two approximately 45-minute films was $14 for adults and $10 for children. So for my family — two adults and three children — the total admission cost was $58. And of course no movie is complete without some popcorn and soft drinks. That set us back another $20 or so.
We all had a good time and enjoyed the movies — well, except for my three-year-old. We learned that he’s not quite ready for movies yet. He did, however, really enjoy playing with the flip-up theater seat. The girls really enjoyed the 3D movie; my five-year-old kept reaching out and trying to grab objects that looked like they were right in front of her, which was pretty entertaining. There were about 12 people attending the first movie, and about 35 at the second movie.
After the movies, we headed back home and ate supper in Peoria. I asked the kids what their favorite part of the trip was. Answer: climbing on the big tractors.
As I reflected on our trip, I thought about a few things. First of all, the proposed Caterpillar Experience would be really cool down on the Sears block. It could be a real asset to the community and good for tourism. Unfortunately, they’ve inextricably tied themselves to the museum project, so that now their offer to build their visitor’s center is dependent on taxpayers coughing up $40 million for a project they don’t really want. It feels a lot like extortion, frankly, and doesn’t engender good feelings toward Caterpillar. I looked up some information on John Deere and I couldn’t find any ultimatum from the John Deere company that they would only build their Pavilion if some other civic project requiring millions in local tax dollars was built. It appears Deere invested in Davenport with no strings attached; what a nice company!
Nevertheless, Cat is a private company, and they’re free to invest in the community or withhold their investment at their discretion. But let’s get the facts straight: it’s Cat’s decision, not the voters’. The voters are not being given the choice of having the Caterpillar Experience without the Peoria Riverfront Museum. So be it. The ultimatum actually strengthens — not weakens — my resolve to vote against the tax increase.
Secondly, I noted that the Putnam Museum and IMAX are not located adjacent to the John Deere Pavilion. They’re located across the state line, in fact, about 15 minutes away. Yet the museum group here in Peoria holds up this IMAX as an example of how successful an IMAX can be in a community. Perhaps if they really wanted to mimic the success of this project, they should build the IMAX adjacent to the current Lakeview Museum. It would be cheaper and would still utilize local labor, but wouldn’t require a tax increase.
Putnam’s IMAX cost around $14 million to construct, and the only assistance given them by the city of Davenport was about $2 million for a new entrance and parking lot which the city now owns. No county money or tax money was needed. The rest of the funds were privately contributed.
Finally, I thought about the claim that the tax will only cost the average Peoria resident $17 per year. What the $17 doesn’t include is the price of actually patronizing the museum, which can be costly, especially if you have a large family. Just going to a couple of educational movies cost my family nearly $80. If we had wanted to visit the museum’s galleries, it would have cost even more. How are residents on the south side going to afford to go to this new amenity that they will be contributing to build? Or residents in the far-flung reaches of the county, for that matter?
The only answer I can come up with is that they won’t be able to afford it. They will pay to build it, but won’t get to enjoy the benefits of it. Meanwhile, things they would benefit from — improved infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, sewers, etc. — will continue to be deferred for lack of funds.
I enjoyed my trip, but I’m still voting “no” on April 7.
Steve J, you are obviously not familiar with the “kitchen sink” argument. đ
Diane is obviously not familiar with either the “logical” or “fiscally responsible” argument. đ
Steve J,
If the museum block were to incorporate residential and retail, it would be theoretically possible for the PRM to not have to charge nearly so much for admission. The cost burden of the project would be shared by other revenue generating entities. Diversification !!
The current project does in fact incorporate a retail component. I am not informed ref any projections of expected retail revenues nor whether they could potentially defray admission charges. But there is a significant retail footprint in the plan, and a lot of folks are unaware of it.
Mahkno: Agreed.
Steve J:
The current project does in fact incorporate a retail component.
In addition to admission to the attractions, the museum / book store and the proposed museum cafe, what other retail will be at the site?
There is a space for an additional 15,000 sq ft of retail in the ‘grassy area’ which city staff has made public comment that if it is not built when the museum is built will likely not be built at all.
Steve J — The current project theoretically incorporates a retail component. They’ve “set aside” an area where 15,000 feet of retail could go on the Water Street side. But they’re not committed to this. In fact they tried to remove it from the redevelopment agreement with the city, but the city wouldn’t allow it. You don’t see it built out in any of the artists’ renderings. Also, I would not call this a “significant retail footprint” even if it were built out when compared to the potential retail development that could be done on that block.
NV:
Yes, the proposed sales tax increase will be for all of Peoria County. The amount of sales tax will be increased by 1/4%. Depending where you live in Peoria County, the total amount of sales tax you pay would defer.
In Peoria, the HRA tax is 10% + 1/4% = 10 1/4%.
In the downtown Peoria Hospitality area the tax is
10% + 1% = 11% + 1/45 = 11 1/4%.
Talk about sales tax disparity —- 11 1/4% vs. 8 % in East Peoria.
Steve J:
At the town hall meeting last night, families who cannot afford the admissions can use one of the twelve Lakeview Museum Passes which can be checked out from the Peoria Public Library. Additionally, grants will be pursued to help fund admissions for those who cannot afford the admissions.
Thanks Karrie!
Still wondering what [if anything] the small towns stand to gain from this project…..?
While it is cool that Lakeview has Museum Passes, and plans to pursue grant funding, etc. Grant writing is a part of ‘museum life!’ It can be difficult to obtain grants on a consistent basis……………….
Still, and I am not trying to be a goof about this, how does Lakeview/PRM plan to maintain its lofty attendence figures…? You know, make a little $ to keep the place going, etc?
“Steve J â The current project theoretically incorporates a retail component. Theyâve âset asideâ an area where 15,000 feet of retail could go on the Water Street side. But theyâre not committed to this. In fact they tried to remove it from the redevelopment agreement with the city, but the city wouldnât allow it. You donât see it built out in any of the artistsâ renderings. Also, I would not call this a âsignificant retail footprintâ even if it were built out when compared to the potential retail development that could be done on that block.”
Hey CJ – this is something you and I agreee on. I would like to see more opportunity for retail and restuarant development on the block.
But not enough to scap the whole project. As a whole this projects benifits far outway the bad.
Over $100 million dollar project in downtown is not a bad thing.
let me correct all my typos in that last post.
Hey CJ – this is something you and I agree on. I would like to see more opportunity for retail and restaurant development on the block.
But not enough to scrap the whole project. As a whole this projects benefits far out way the bad.
Over $100 million dollar project in downtown is not a bad thing.
“Over $100 million dollar project in downtown is not a bad thing”… It could actually be a terrible thing at the moment. $100 plus dollars is a huge investment. We need to get it right the first time. Retail and residental developement need to be incorporated in order for the project to succeed. Im sick of people in Peoria settling for less. Its time that we take the time to invest in our future… Whats the rush?
Whats the rush?
You have to be kidding me. It has been over ten years since SEARS left downtown. We have been waiting for a project for over 10 years.
It will be another ten years if this is voted down but that’s ok, no rush.
peoriafan-
The current plan is not dynamic enough to revitalize our downtown. If this project moves forward and “Build the Block”, in ten years we will be saying… oops, we could have, and should have, done more with the site. Lets not have another oops moment i.e. (riverfront platform).
Like i said, Id rather take our time and implement the right design in 5 years, than Build the Block now and realize it was a mistake in 5 years.
typo… “and we “Build the Block”
Peoriafan & Dr. Jack,
Why has the Sears Block stayed empty for so many years?
Well, we know Lakeview and company have spent the last 4-5 years trying to come up with the money to build ‘their’ museum. Peoria City gave them one extension after another to scrape up the needed funds. One ridiculous fund-raising scheme after another……….
What was happening on the Sears Block during all of this? NOTHING? Instead of looking for alternatives, Peoria City Council, etc, sat on their hands and did nothing but wait the museum out! Is this counter-productive or what? That is one reason why there is no PLAN B.
If the museum backers have their way, they will turn the Sears Block into a large vacuum. Can you hear the tax dollars being sucked right up?