Peoria, Illinois, USA

SynergiCity


With a particular emphasis on the Rust Belt of the American Midwest, SynergiCity argues that cities such as Detroit, St. Louis, and Peoria must redefine themselves to be globally competitive. This revitalization is possible through environmentally and economically sustainable restoration of industrial areas and warehouse districts for commercial, research, light industrial, and residential uses. The volume's expert researchers, urban planners, and architects draw on the redevelopment successes of other major cities--such as the American Tobacco District in Durham, North Carolina, and the Milwaukee River Greenway--to set guidelines and goals for reinventing and revitalizing the postindustrial landscape.

Contributors are Paul J. Armstrong, Donald K. Carter, Lynne M. Dearborn, Norman W. Garrick, Mark L. Gillem, Robert Greenstreet, Craig Harlan Hullinger, Paul Hardin Kapp, Ray Lees, Emil Malizia, John O. Norquist, Christine Scott Thomson, and James H. Wasley.

"Instead of handing over neighborhoods to city hall or private developers, this book shows that the solution to many cities' plights lies within them. Empowering residents to take control of and build on community assets, engaging them in community-based organizations that can spearhead revitalization and build real quality of place, yields real results. To the extent that they adopt a holistic approach to planning and build on a city's intrinsic strengths, they can accomplish miracles."--from the foreword by Richard Florida
Hardcover $60.00 Buy Now

* Full Disclosure - Ray Lees and I wrote a chapter.





Most of my Future Posts will be made to: 





Peoria Riverfront Museum, Cat Visitors Center grand opening October 20, 2013

Peoria Riverfront Museum, Cat Visitors Center grand opening

Submitted by Alex Rusciano on Sat, 10/20/2012 

"Hundreds of people attended the grand opening of the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center. Both projects total about $200 million, with the museum project first talked about more than 12 years ago. US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the collaboration between the city, county, lawmakers and business investment that made the project a reality: "

“The people that are gathered here continued to work
The Plan
until we came together around the idea that we have so much history in this community and so much to share with the world and the world community that will come here as a result of Caterpillar being here, within our state and community, we need one place and one place only, and that’s what we’re celebrating here today,” LaHood says."

"The Riverfront Museum includes a digital big screen theatre, planetarium and exhibits showcasing the history of Central Illinois. The Caterpillar Visitors Center includes a movie theatre inside a D-797 mining truck and exhibits detailing the company's outreach across the world."

Click to read more

 Time Lapse Video of the Construction


Green Sculpture Park



“GREEN” SCULPTURE PARK - PEORIA, ILLINOIS


The City of Peoria has many quality sculptures. The City is also leading the expansion of “Green” Technology and Sustainability. A Green Sculpture Park could be developed that would be artistic and “green”, incorporating recycled materials, wind and solar energy, etc. into the design. 


A program modeled on the successful Sioux Falls, South Dakota program could be created.www.sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com . Each year new sculptures are displayed in downtown for one year, and become a tourist attraction. After one year the sculptures are replaced by new sculptures. The sculptures are for sale and people vote for their favorite.

The Civic Center could sponsor this event, with sculptures mounted in Civic Center green space. As the event grew it could cascade down Fulton and on to the Build the Block Campus.http://buildtheblock.com. 

The sculptures would be a major tourist attraction.


The Green Sculpture Park Could start small on the green space at the Civic Center, then expand down Fulton Street to Build the Block and the River.



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. 






Warehouse District

Munster, Indiana Landscaping Improvements