The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please go out and vote, and encourage your friends and family to vote.
And please take Scott Janz’s advice and vote “No” on the public facilities sales tax referendum.
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please go out and vote, and encourage your friends and family to vote.
And please take Scott Janz’s advice and vote “No” on the public facilities sales tax referendum.
The polls are open from 6am until 7 pm today.
Vote Yes for progress.
BUILD THE BLOCK!!
Vote No on this expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable museum project.
Stick to the community’s vision for downtown. Build a BETTER block.
Peoriafan,
You have a twisted sense of “progress!”
C.J. – not trying to be contrary but what is the “community’s vision for downtown”? I’m all for something “better” – but I have no idea what that would be. All I’ve heard is vague plans toward some type of new urbanist development that the private sector will provide. I think the vote will determine (to some extent) whether the public feels the current project fits their vision or not. If it doesn’t pass, I’d like to see a definitive plan developed for what the community would like to see. All I’m hearing is that they don’t like this plan but that’s not giving anyone an alternative to a continuing empty block.
Peo Proud — That would be the Heart of Peoria Plan that was developed by the community and adopted in principle by the City Council. That was the plan that was developed before the museum folks designed the block (HOP Plan adopted in 2002; redevelopment agreement signed in 2003). This is why people get cynical and jaded. The public puts a lot of time and effort into giving their vision and feedback to the city, and then they are ignored.
CJ – You don’t have a lock on the “community’s vision”. The community’s vision for the block will be decided today at the polls.
Put it up for sale and let a private investor build the block.
Diane, the Heart of Peoria Plan IS the community’s vision whether you like it or not. It was created by the community — specifically those who actually live down here in the older neighborhoods — for the community, and was adopted in principle by the City Council. Thus, it’s the community’s vision of record.
C.J. – the Heart of Peoria plan is a concept but not a specific project. I can be 100% behind implementation of the HOP vision and see nothing downtown but an empty block. I agree the process didn’t allow us to make a choice between two (or more) competing projects – too bad – that would have been a better decision to have before us. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we can rectify the past problems with this situation. Given current economics I think the real choice is do we move forward with the museum or face years of a hole in the ground with no real commitment that anything will happen there. I feel that I’m finding myself in favor of the project as much to see “something” happen there out of real enthusiasm for the project itself.
As a favorite country singer of mine says “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.” Might be your theme song!
PeoriaIllinois – we should have done that years ago to see what the market would have proposed. However, we didn’t and I’m not convinced we should start over at this point. I could be wrong.
This is community visioning in action.
http://www.heartofpeoria.com/handson.html
Nothing that has come out of the Build the Block camp looks anything like that.
My invitation must have been lost in the mail.
Diane — Or maybe you just weren’t paying attention. It was pretty widely publicized.
Peo Proud — I’m not willing to accept “something” that wasn’t the community’s vision, that will not revitalize downtown, that has unsustainable operating costs, and is being rammed down our throats — especially at the cost of $40 million in our tax dollars that should be used for more important priorities.
Peoria has accepted “something” for far too long already. It’s time that we demanded something better.
Peo Proud, Diane,
Going forward with a QUESTIONABLE $136 million investment [most of which is tax payers money], is NOT something you do…just to do something. Once the museum is built [as designed], you can’t just tear it down and start all over. If the museum cannot fund itself in the future, what will Peoria [the community] do then?
If everyone is so worried about what to do with the ‘hole’, let the Peoria City/County Councils really get the community involved [‘new’ commissions, etc]. One of the biggest problems with the current museum project is that NO community input was involved. Every time the PRM went to the ‘community’ it was for something ridiculous like the NAME THE MUSEUM GAME, etc. So far as I know, any and all suggestions/advice offered by the community has been routinely ignored by the museum group. WELL?!?
…and here I thought today was election day!
Diane,
It is election day! I am happy to know I have convinced you to VOTE NO to the proposed sales tax! Good for you! I will send all of my friends [who need to buy a home] your way!
If you vote no say goodbye to the Cat Visitor center to East Peoria. They are ready to develop there own vacant block over there. Say goodbye to progress and vision for Peoria. They will go for it mark my word. Hope you are happy!
let east peoria have it. Why is that a bad thing?
Sailman — Will Cat require Tazewell County residents to pony up $40 million for a companion project before they’ll build their visitors center there?
I don’t think they will have any problem coming up with the money with all the development and resulting sales tax money being generated over there. Peoria needs this down there to spur more development along the river. It is dead unless something signifcant is put down there.
Sailman,
I think you are really reaching here………
Call it fast food/gambling heaven if you like, but East Peoria/Tazewell County has a nasty habit of ‘investing’ in projects that MAKE MONEY.
I am asking this sincerely and in an effort to understand, so don’t take this the wrong way CJ. I am not extremely familiar with the process the HOPC took to develop its plans. So my question is, how is the HOP plan anymore owned by the community than the BTB plan? It seems like BTB has as much support from people in the community as HOP did.
It’s clear that few minds will be changed in the last hours of election day. However, it would be nice to see a clear commitment made that whatever the decision in the election — whether you prevail on your preferred councilmember or the outcome of the museum; that both sides commit to putting aside the last few months (which have been divisive) and working together to make the outcome successful. If the tax passes, we should all hope for the museum to succeed (not to fail so we can say “told you so”). Likewise, if your preferred city councilmember doesn’t win, we need to get behind the winner and make the next four years better than the last. What IS important is an improvement in the neighborhoods — wasn’t isn’t important is who gets credit — and we all know the second district (more than others) needs to move past the divisive elections and inter-neighborhood squabbles. Can we all drink to that (minor pun intended)?
Peo Proud,
I agree with what you wrote, however I still have my reservations.
The PRM didn’t solicite any public input to get the thing built [well…they wanted our money], what difference does it make when [if] they get the go-ahead to start construction? Lakeview is going to control EVERY aspect of this project, from beginning to end.
We can only hope for the best.
By the way………………………
I voted twice.
Diane,
Cat issues layoff notices on the very day they want “Yes” votes for a downtown museum. 55 million of Cat Money going toward this museum. Do you not find it ironic that Cat has enough cash to help build a museum but not avoid layoffs?
My “No” vote is now set in stone.
“CJ – You don’t have a lock on the “community’s vision”. The community’s vision for the block will be decided today at the polls.”
Now Diane, you wouldn’t like it if CJ said that to you about the closing of schools would you?
Peoria Riverfront Museum referendum
Yes – 3683
No – 3543
Tazewell County sales tax referendum
Yes – 318
No – 1084
I know the final count is pending, but [and I hate to say this], I always figured the people of Tazewell were more interested in MAKING money rather than throwing it away………..
Peoria. Go figure.
It’s early; but Beth is looking good. I think the newest figures for Peoria County is looking better for “no” museum vote, too. I’ll stop counting chickens before they are hatched. Why doesn’t the PJS have the District 150 race count?
O.K., O.K.! I am getting a little excited over here.
Please ignore my last post; and no jokes either………
I hope Beth is going to demand a re-count.
Oh no….just what we need — a Minnesota situation in Peoria 🙂
In all seriousness-that’s a close race. Guess it says there are two good candidates there.
Disappointed in some of the other results…..me thinks CJ will be sad tonight.
“we should all hope for the museum to succeed (not to fail so we can say “told you so”)”
Peo Proud, after the Riverplex, ballpark, One Technology Plaza, “told you so” has no effect anymore.