Peoria, Illinois, USA

Green Sculpture Park


“GREEN” SCULPTURE PARK PEORIA
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The new Caterpillar Museum and Peoria Riverfront Museum creates a great attraction The addition of a Green Sculpture Park on the Museum Campus and spreading to the Riverfront, Interstate, and Civic Center could greatly enhance the downtown. It would be the first and only Green Sculpture Park in the world and help bring people to Play in Peoria.
This proposal calls for the addition of green sculptures that would be artistic and “green”. Wind and solar energy and recycled materials would be incorporated into the design. They could also generate power for lighting in the downtown.

The City of Peoria has many quality sculptures in downtown. The City is increasing “Green” Technology and Sustainability. This Park would be an extension and major enhancement of  those efforts.
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A program modeled on the Sioux Falls, South Dakota  sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com 
could be used. Each year sculptures are mounted, kept in place for one year, and become a tourist attraction. After one year those sculptures are removed and new ones mounted in their place. The sculptures are for sale and people vote for their favorite.
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The Civic Center could be a sponsor this event, with sculptures mounted in their green space. As the event grew it could cascade down Fulton and on to the Build the Block Campus  buildtheblock.com. The sculptures would be a major tourist attraction. And they could be paid for with a mix of TIF Dollars and charitable gifts.

Major "green" sculptures would be erected to be a major entrance to the City at the River and Interstate. And they could provide a very attractive entrance to Build the Block and downtown Peoria.  




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Build the Block - Congratulations




  1. Build the Block Looks Great. 

    Congratulations to everyone who 

    helped make it a reality


    Peoria Riverfront Museum

    www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/
    LIVE SHOTS FROM BUILD THE BLOCK CAM. Build The Block Camera. 

  2. Build the Block Camera

    www.buildtheblockcam.com/
    BuildTheBlockCam.com provides a near, real-time view into the transformation of seven acres on the Peoria, Illinois riverfront. 

Lovely Peoria on August 1, 2013



401 Water Street - Great Mixed Use Redevelopment of Warehouse

Developers Wanted




Just outside Chicago, there is a place called Illinois.

Peoria, that is.  

Minimal hassle and congestion, affordable, dynamic.








These photos taken from East Peoria August 1, 2013



TIF Plays In Peoria


Redevelopment assisted by Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is very effective in the City of Peoria. The City created three new TIF's in 2007-2009 and approved twenty redevelopments - some during the "great recession".


Total investment in the buildings is estimated at $336,000,000, creating approximately 1,050 jobs. And there are many more developments in the works.

 We offer up to 45% of investment historic tax credits and up to 60% TIF incentives. Now is the time to move forward with a quality redevelopment.





More info at:



































































Heart of the Heartland
































The Heart
of the Heartland


 If the Midwest is the Heartland of America, then Peoria and Central Illinois are the “Heart of the Heartland”. Our region is midway between Chicago and St. Louis. We are smaller and less congested. Our rush hour is the "Rush Minute", compared to our larger neighbors.


We have a high quality workforce. We are served by miles of congestion free interstate highways and major railroads. We welcome new developments and industries. You can drive to destinations anywhere in the United States without traffic jams and their cost and aggravation. The Heart of the Heartland has approximately 1,741,829 people according to the 2000 US Census.

We are easy to work with and offer a pleasant atmosphere in which to conduct business. In many cases you can meet directly with the Mayor and City Council to discuss your development and needs.This region is the Heart of America’s Heartland.

Our crime rate is low and we offer great school systems, low taxes, and affordable housing for your employees. For those seeking higher education, the region offers several universities and colleges.

We offer numerous economic development incentives, including Tax Increment Financing, Enterprise Zones, Port Districts, HUB Zones, Foreign Free Trade Zones, low interest loans, and many other incentive programs. All of this makes the “Heart of the Heartland” a wonderful place to live and conduct business.



Heart of the Heartland - Smaller


















 There are approximately 860,000 people  located within the Heartland Area above. 

1.5 Hour Drive Time Area From Peoria





Drive Shed - Between Peoria and Chicago













Warehouse District Aerial with TIF Boundary in Blue


Build the Block Retail

The City of Peoria is seeking a developer to create a quality commercial development to be collocated with our new multi-million dollar Build the Block development. The site faces Water Street and the Illinois River, adjacent to the new Museum and Caterpillar Visitor Center. The site is in the Enterprise Zone and TIF District.
The drawing above is the site plan for the Block. Retail areas are shown in RED.  

The Museum building is BLUE, and the Caterpillar building is YELLOW.  The balance of the parcel is an urban park and circulation space with sculpture and landscaping.

The retail faces is on the southeast side of the two block site facing Water and Liberty Street.  The larger area is about 16,000 gsf, and the smaller area about 5,000 gsf.