Grant will help revitalize Peoria's Warehouse District
PEORIA — For the past two years, whenever the approximately 40 business owners in the Warehouse District got together for regular meetings, the talk would typically focus on crumbling streets and sidewalks.
"All we did for two years was talk about the streets and how nothing was happening with them," Margaret Hanley, president of A. Lucas & Sons said.
That's about to change. The city of Peoria got an early Christmas gift Friday, with the announcement of a $10 million federal grant that will help finance the revitalization of the Warehouse District, more specifically the changes to Washington Street.
According to a news release from the office of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the investment is anticipated to help create 470 jobs and will go toward creating a "complete street network that is safe, walkable and attractive" within the Warehouse District. The district extends from Downtown south toward MacArthur Highway and encompasses nine blocks of mostly aging warehouse buildings.
The $10 million funding is through a U.S. Department of Transportation's Investments Generation Economic Recovery II grant created by Congress in the 2010 Transportations Appropriations Act for capital investments.
Only $600 million was available for grants nationwide. Two other projects in Illinois - one in Chicago, the other in Moline - got money through the program.
Durbin said the process is highly competitive, with nearly $19 billion in bids submitted to the DOT.
"It speaks well of Peoria," Durbin said. "It's the most exciting development plan in downstate Illinois."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of Peoria, a former 18th District congressman, agreed.
"I think this really gives them a lot of wind in their sails to get going with the Warehouse District," he said. "It's very good news for the community."
The $10 million could conceivably be enough to fund a road narrowing project along Washington, if the City Council agrees to utilize $10.7 million in unused state money for the project. That money was set aside for work on the now-defunct S-curve project in the North Valley.
The overall lane-narrowing project of Washington Street, from Hamilton Boulevard to MacArthur Highway, costs about $16 million.
The news came as one of celebration among city officials and developers. It was the first time a large amount of government money was directly appropriated toward the project, despite the Warehouse District's plans discussed and planned for many years.
"The TIGER grant will do what it is intended to, generate economic recovery through transportation investments," said Mayor Jim Ardis, who calls the revitalization of the district a top Peoria priority. "Putting $10 million into the infrastructure in the Warehouse District will have a positive impact on developers who are anxious to invest in the area but have been reluctant due to the high cost of these infrastructure needs."
At-large City Councilman Ryan Spain said the goal of the $10 million could help the city progress toward building a new urban neighborhood.
"Redevelopment of the Warehouse District has been in the making for a long time," Spain said, referring to the council's creation of tax incentives for developing in the district in 2007, and hiring a consultant to look at the potential for new housing options in 2008.
"Now it's time for the private sector to go to work - and we have significant investors and developers that will be able to move forward as a result of the TIGER II grant," he added.
Pat Sullivan, co-owner of Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery, said it will be up to banks to push for the private development needed to make the Warehouse District a success. He said he's confident that if the city "stays on course," the development of the area will take off.
"This is going to be a big turnaround for Peoria and create jobs, not just construction jobs, but also at the warehouses and (with the) condos and apartments and restaurants and retail," Sullivan said.
"It has the opportunity to revitalize and change this whole area," Hanley said.