PEORIA MAGAZINE April 2023

MORE TO COME People may soon be living in the Levee District. City officials said developers expect to break ground this spring on 501 Blutowne, a 226-unit residential development west of the Fondulac District Library/City Hall complex. The $55 million plan from Flaherty and Collins Properties in Indianapolis features a parking deck, swimming pool and 10,000 square feet of commercial space.

that will include green space, a water feature, venues for markets and festivals, a terraced seating area and stage. EPCF Board President Susan Portscheller said the park will be “the beautiful, iconic center of our downtown.” The recently concluded raffle of a Special Edition 2023 Corvette raised $250,000 for the cause. Portscheller ex pects Phase 3, including a splash pad and water feature, to be complete next year. LIVING, WORKING, PLAYING Amid this commercial redevelopment and renewal, East Peoria is home to more than 22,200 people. The topog raphy dictates the pattern of streets and neighborhoods stretching from Washington and Morton to Creve Coeur. Caterpillar still has a commanding presence, employing thousands on the east bank of the Illinois River. Hundreds more are found at homegrown companies such as Jtec Industries, maker of industrial material handling systems; Sorce Freshwater, purveyor of Asian carp to the world; and Hagerty Steel and Aluminum. “East Peoria leadership has been very supportive,” said Jon Peterson, who runs Jtec with partner Joe Knepp. “We have worked together well and have been able to grow the company locally.” The Fondulac Park District manages 1,600 acres of parks, natural areas, two golf courses, a marina and campground, a farm park and a stretch of the

recreational trail that connects with Morton to the east and across the river to the Rock Island Trail. From its home on the bluff between East Peoria and Washington, Illinois Central College has prepared generations of students for rewarding careers and is at the forefront of efforts to train tomorrow’s tech-oriented workforce. The local branch of Midwest Technical Institute also offers nationally accredited vocational programs. Meanwhile, a block of the “old down town” still stands along Washington Street between Main and Anna, a remind er of how different this city once was. Bookended by the bright yellow mural enrobing Beck’s Florists and a craft and gift consignment shop called Craftology, these buildings are an increasingly rare glimpse of East Peoria’s past. “This is what I remember growing up,” said Sally Taylor, proprietor of Craftology. “Everyone is concentrating on the Levee District but I like the old buildings. This is what I remember as downtown.” All in all, it has been nothing short of a metamorphosis. Said Mayor Kahl: “I look at what we have done here and I see it as a win for the region as well as a win for East Peoria.”

‘ONE OF MY GOALS HAS BEEN TO FOCUS ON THE RESIDENTIAL ELEMENT’ — Mayor John Kahl

Riverview Lofts, a 142-unit residential development, is being planned by the Peoria-based Teekona Group, to be located on the riverfront near the Michel Bridge and Embassy Suites. “One of my goals has been to focus on the residential element,” said Kahl. “That’s the one part of that early vision that hasn’t been achieved yet. “It should bring some life down here. When we get people living here it will be even more vibrant and lively.” On the other side of City Hall, the East Peoria Community Foundation is in the second phase of developing Levee Park, a $3.3 million privately funded project

Scott Fishel is a senior communications executive at WTVP

74 APRIL 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE