Wednesday, April 26, 2006

 

We at the Peoriablog look forward to a nice quiet summer -- no more boomcars.

Can't wait.

posted by peoriablog 7:33 PM

 

The coffee scene continues to improve in our fair city.

Welcome to the good folks at Starbuck's at Campustown.

posted by peoriablog 7:23 PM

Monday, November 08, 2004

 

Peoriablog is glad to report this is the final week that Peoria is B.S.E.: Before Starbuck's Era.

Let the coffee flow...

posted by peoriablog 9:07 PM

Monday, August 25, 2003

 

Well, we at Peoriablog regretfully welcome the arrival of the Walmart Supercenter on Allen Road.

May the endless parking lot road-rage commence!

It's so nice to see our elected 'leaders' showing up for the ribbon cutting. Aren't they happy to have had to spend so much city money upgrading the roads around there. What great news...


And, let the death watch for Sheridan Village continue.
Have you been there recently?
If someone trips and kicks the cord out of the wall, that place is history. How much longer do any of us expect Bergner's to hold onto that place?

Peoriablog estimates April 04 closure of Bergner's with a Dollar Tree occupying the site by 2006. Won't that be great for the heart of Peoria.



email us at peoriablog@gmail.com

posted by peoriablog 10:35 PM

Thursday, May 01, 2003

 

Those "Semi-trailers" That Sell Food Downtown During the Weekday Lunch Hours



I love those food "carts." Who wouldn't?

You get to walk down the sidewalk on a bright spring day, take your pick from the variety of smells
that waft across the wide street and settle down on a ledge to avoid spilling crud on your tie.

It's a fantastic thing and it's nice to have them there during the lunch hour.

But -- you know what's NOT so nice? It's the fact that they are NOT there after 2pm. Or in the evenings.
Or on the weekends. Or if the weather is lousy. Or if it's not a suitable time of year to be eating outside.

The fact that they are there during lunch, when the crowd is heaviest, drives out restaurants that otherwise might
have tried to open in the vicinity. And that means empty storefronts and fewer options downtown all other hours of
the week.

Some say it's the carts that make downtown so vibrant. Imagine for a moment if the carts only sold pickled pigs feet.
Very few would eat there in such a case -- and chances are that foot traffic would drop off significantly. If the people aren't
on the street, suddenly downtown does not seem so vivacious.

This is the point: It is the PEOPLE who make downtown vibrant. This is why sidewalk cafes are so popular in many cities. Having people out on the sidewalks is a fantastic way to add vitality to a city. But buying food from a cart and sitting on a concrete ledge is not really what makes a downtown great.

A history lesson: The carts were great when they were first introduced and there still was a downtown in Peoria. Bergner's was still there. Sear's was still open. There were other reasons to go downtown other than tourism and working. The carts were a nice accent to downtown Peoria. BUT, when they are the major source of food for downtown workers, the carts have essentially replaced many restaurants. It didn't happen overnight, but look at the longterm results.

Peoriablog is not opposed to carts in principle, but prefers a vibrant city to carpetbagging pita merchants.

The "agreement" that the City Council passed last week was a mistake. The agreement does nothing to address the fact that the city itself is not improved by passing the new fees, cash register rules, sizes etc. Downtown Peoria is no better off as a result of the new ordinance and that is a shame.



email peoriablog@gmail.com

posted by peoriablog 11:15 PM

Sunday, April 27, 2003

 

Another consultant for the Sear's Block Museum?

Isn't this getting ridiculous? Yet another outside outfit is going to weigh in on the Sear's block.

While we can't say we think it's necessary to pay out more money for another study, let's hope
they agree that the museum should include some shops and restaurants...

Lakeview's initial plan was a complete travesty -- what on earth was that huge green space for?
The site plan looked like a giant helicopter picked the museum out of the property on Lake St and dropped it near the river.
Don't the Lakeview folks realize that in the middle of a downtown, you need different things from a museum site?
Have any of them visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, or MOMA in NYC, or SFMOMA in San Francisco?
Those fantastic museums wouldn't have dreamed of putting a huge green lawn on their property -- either fill it up with museum or put it to better use. But as far as leaving it open -- for picnics or whatever -- forget about it. There is already plenty of green space along the riverfront, and when was the last time you saw picnickers there?

Museums, shops etc. are what draw people to a downtown -- not large green spaces. Get urban or get lost, Lakeview.

posted by peoriablog 12:32 AM

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

 

A unanimous approval for Knoxville historic district

Congratulations to the City Council for its approval of an historic district along Knoxville.
A recent drive along that stretch makes it utterly clear that this was the right thing to do.
Littering the Glen Ave. side of this row of stately lawns would have created an eyesore to haunt
Peoria for generations to come.

posted by peoriablog 9:15 PM

Thursday, December 19, 2002

 

Potentially a New Historic District for Peoria?

Kudos to the Historic Preservation Board this week for their recommendation to the City Council that the row of houses along Knoxville Ave near Glen be considered as historic properties.

Many of those homes are equally as magnificent as the mansions along Moss and High but are so far from the road they are easy to miss. They are definitely worth protecting.

It would be a good idea for the zoning board to review the zoning of those properties and other significant areas around Peoria to ensure the zoning matches the character of the neighborhood.

posted by peoriablog 9:06 PM