More change on the riverfront?
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- Published on Friday, 18 January 2013 17:42
- Written by Paul Gordon
Already we've some major changes lately along the riverfront downtown, with the opening of the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center.
But we may also soon see changes at a smaller, but no-less-significant building — changes that could be significant in terms of the local economy as well as for activities.
The city of Peoria is considering different uses for the Powell Press Building, the old house-like structure that sits at the foot of Main Street near the entrance to The Spirit of Peoria. Currently that building houses the Riverfront Visitors Center, operated by the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
When I first heard of the city's plans, I was disappointed because I thought it meant the Visitors Center was going away. It gets thousands of visitors each year, mostly during spring and summer, of course, helping tourists decide where to visit while in town and informing them about events, places to stay and eat. Also, it's one of the key locations for The Peorian magazine.
But Chris Setti, assistant city manager, assured me the city's preference would be to keep the Riverfront Visitors Center right where it is in the Powell Press Building. "We have stated clearly that our preference would be for the visitors center to be incorporated into whatever else is put there. We know how important it has been down there," he said.
The city is accepting proposals for possible new uses for the building, but Setti said that doesn't mean it will accept any willy-nilly alternative. "Simply because we have put out a request for proposal doesn't mean we have to take whatever is proposed. We are not going to take just anything. We are serious about finding a best alternative use for the building but we also want to keep the integrity of the riverfront," he said.
By the same token, Setti said there is no ironclad guarantee the Riverfront Visitors Center will stay in the Powell Press Building no matter what. If something is proposed that simply cannot be refused and it does not include space for the visitors center, then it would have to move, he said.
"Again, that is not our preference and we believe we may find a use where it won't have to move. We're thinking a retail use of some type. We just want to see what some of the possibilities would be. We're just getting started," Setti said.
One thing that for sure won't move is the building itself. Built in 1852, it was moved to its existing riverfront location in 1997 from another part of downtown and that was no easy undertaking. "We're not going to move the building again," Setti said.
According to a city news release, a tenant is being sought "that will increase the vitality and vibrancy of downtown Peoria. Thousands of people visit downtown Peoria each year. From their openings in late October 2012, over 20,000 individuals have visited the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center. Additional traffic is generated by Riverfront restaurants and entertainment venues. From spring to fall, the building sits in the middle of an actively programmed area that is home to concerts, ethnic festivals, the Taste of Peoria and the 4th of July "Red, White, and Boom!" The City believes that the building could accommodate a small retail operation such as the sale of coffee, desserts, and/or gifts," it said.
Sue Atherton, vice president and head of marketing for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said there are small retail operations that would be attractive and with which the bureau would be happy to cohabitate in the Powell building. "The problem is finding something that could also survive the winter months. That's what kills businesses down there. With the opening of the museum and Cat visitors center maybe that will change somewhat. We can hope," she said.
Atherton said that at one point the Convention and Visitors Bureau thought the city was going to close the building altogether. "That hasn't happened, thankfully. Instead the city wants to find another tenant. We certainly don't blame the city for looking for something that could generate some more revenue down there. It's a great location for that during the warm weather. At this point, we're just waiting to see what happens," she said.
The full RFP can be viewed on the City's website (www.ci.peoria.il.us). It can also be obtained by contacting Setti at (309) 494-8618 or csetti@ci.peoria.il.us. The deadline for the submission of proposals is Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at 3 p.m.
Paul Gordon is editor of The Peorian. He can be reached at 692-7880 or editor@thepeorian.com
