PEORIA — Attorneys for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., have notified the City of Peoria, the Peoria Park District, and Peoria Public Schools (District 150) that their client wants to purchase “a portion of Peoria Stadium on War Memorial Drive … for the construction and operation of a Walmart Super Center.”
The letter states that they have read the recent Peoria Journal Star articles on public reaction to selling the stadium site, and that they are “committed to working with each of the public bodies to arrive at a mutually beneficial development.”
Wal-Mart proposes that the school district sell the entire 76-acre site to the City of Peoria. The City would then sell a portion of the site, adjacent to War Memorial Drive and New York Avenue, to Wal-Mart for them to construct their Super Center. Another portion of the land, “within the Stadium Site closer to Lake Street,” would be leased to the Park District to satisfy terms of the Park District’s grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Any remaining parcels would be sold.
Wal-Mart also proposes that the City of Peoria create a business district for the entire stadium site. A business district is an economic development/incentive program under state law. Incentives include reimbursing a business a portion of the cost of redeveloping land within the district, rebating occupation taxes, and even levying taxes within the business district for the purposes of redevelopment. The City currently has such a district downtown called the Hospitality Improvement Zone Business Development District; an extra 1% tax is collected in the HIZ BDD to help pay for the Pere Marquette redevelopment and Courtyard by Marriott construction.
Walmart-Peoria-Stadium Letter (PDF)
We have to keep in mind that Walmart is not the only chain that sells products from China and other countries. Look at the labels the next time you pick out a rug or towel from Kohl’s, Target or Kmart; chances are it was not made in the USA.
I admit I buy some grocery items from Walmart, because it is cheaper than other grocery chains. Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts, Folger’s coffee singles (only available at Walmart); Fiber One cereal bars (can find a 10-pack only there); and Oscar Meyer hot dogs. 9V, AA, AAA batteries are cheaper there, as well as hearing-aid batteries. We mostly buy groceries at Kroger, because my wife gets 10% discount (only on Kroger-brand items) as an employee.
But I have never bought ground chuck, chicken, pork chops, cube steaks or produce at Walmart.
I wonder where you all are getting your information on what Wal-mart pays. I know several people who work at some of the stores in the area and make a very decent wage. In fact these people make more money than other people I know that work in factories in the area. Wal-mart is not the bad guy here. They are the largest employer in the world offering a decent wage, health insurance, 401 k, retirement and profit sharing checks quarterly. Oh and while you are doing all your research on how bad they are why don’t you think about this…there are many hourly employees that work there and are millionaires because of their profit sharing.
I would also like to point out all the other good things about this “big box store” have you been at the new children’s wing at OSF? ..because Wal-mart donated that money!
The point I am trying to make is there is good and bad in ALL companies. If Peoria is hurting for money and Wal-mart wants to buy I don’t see how Peoria can lose ( no money= no upkeep).
You are clearly drinking the Kool-Aid, “Reality Check,” and it has sent you into an alternate zone, for sure. Walmart’s abuse of employees and communities is well-known and well-documented. Their business model is detrimental and all Peorians should avoid them like the plaque.