Outgoing Mayor Jim Maloof reflects on his years in office at the May 6th Peoria City Council meeting: "The members of this council and previous council members of the past 12 years should take particular pride in their accomplishments of supporting growth, from the new riverfront to the suburbs of the northwest. Neighborhoods, infrastructure, annexation, Southtown. Peoria County and Medina Township agreements. New downtown buildings and parking decks. Employee union contract negotiations. Healthcare savings. From hospitals, science laboratories, airport, park board, intergovernmental relations, Springfield, Washington, and city support of dozens of corporations that have brought about a diversification of national and international businesses.
...Property values increased by nearly 30 percent. The city tax rate decreased 100 percent. More people are working now than at any time in the history of this community. Most of this took vision and risk, and history will show this to be one of the most progressive periods of our city and area. For this, my fellow council members, you deserve accolades for your dedication and service. Yes, the people are the city, and we have followed the lead of the people."
CREATION & DESTRUCTION
Two weeks after a January 8th fire and explosion shut down Tazewell Machine Works, the foundry and machine shop that makes parts for Caterpillar and other companies is open again. Damage to the Pekin business could reach $500,000.
Cohen Furniture Co. closed its downtown store February 17th, citing changes in consumer shopping patterns. The company is actively seeking another location in the metropolitan area and will keep the Sheridan Village location open.
The old Burlington Coat Factory building on University will be demolished and a new retail center built on the site later this year.
Caterpillar Inc. will tear down the buildings where the company first began its Midwest manufacturing operations more than 70 years ago, and plans are underway to transform the area into a greenway in the heart of East Peoria.
Gov. Jim Edgar announced the state will provide $100,000 to help pay for renovation of the Powell Press Building. The 155-year-old building was moved in March from NE Washington Street to Constitution Avenue and Main Street and will become a visitors' center and museum on the riverfront.
Peoria's Riverfront Business District Commission has agreed to redevelop Eckwood Park with the help of private developers. Co-developers Monte Brannon and Mike Wisdom want to build an office structure on top of a parking deck situated in the riverfront parking lot. The project will mean close cooperation between the city and the private sector.
MARKET TRENDS
Peoria will be one of the first test markets for Carl's Jr. fast food. CKE Restaurants, parent company of Carl's Jr., acquired Hardee's in a deal valued at $327 million. The new stores will combine the breakfast menu of Hardee's with Carl's lunch and dinner items.
One of the hottest fashion trends in Hollywood has a strong connection to central Illinois. Caterpillar construction boots are the rage among TV and movie stars, according to Entertainment Weekly. The heavy-duty footwear is manufactured by Wolverine, which has a licensing agreement with Caterpillar. The boots are a popular fashion statement in Europe as well.
BY THE NUMBERS
In August, the Life Flight air transport service at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center surpassed a significant milestone, its 10,000th patient flight-and with a perfect safety record.
A two-hour autograph signing on December 7th by Cleveland Indian first baseman Jim Thome raised over $6,200 for the Children's Hospital of Illinois. Thome, a Peoria native who graduated from Limestone Community High School and attended Illinois Central College, had an exceptional year in 1996 as he batted .311, hit 38 home runs and drove in 116 runs.
The average price for a home in the Peoria area topped the $100,000 mark for the first time. Numbers released by the Peoria Area Association of Realtors show the average price paid for a home in June was $100,544. Association President Nancy Koch said it's an important sign of the area's recovery from the mid-1980s, when home prices were very low.
THEY SAID IT...
"The Peoria area has to be one of the most generous communities
around. I have lived in several other cities and I have never
experienced more volunteerism and charitable giving in any other area.
The people of this community are our number-one asset."
-Greg Edwards, President, Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
"The presence of the College of Medicine and the Peoria area's teaching
hospitals...means that specialists and subspecialists who would
otherwise not practice medicine in a city this size are able to be
recruited here."
-Jim Moore, OSF HealthCare System iBi
