PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

Short-term rentals are a hot button issue throughout the West Bluff. “Per sonally, I’m OK with someone turning part of their home into an Airbnb rental, but I wouldn’t be happy with a hotel in the neighborhood,” Krouse said. PILLARS The Moss-Bradley Council, made up of representatives from homeowner groups, businesses, university officials and students, annually recognizes individuals who work to “make the area better.” This year’s Pillar of the West Bluff Award went to Peoria City Councilman Chuck Grayeb. The 2nd District representative grew up “in the shadow of St. Mark’s Church,” walked to classes at Bradley, and has lived on the West Bluff most of his life. “The people of the West Bluff are very resilient, very dedicated to their neighborhoods,” said Grayeb, who hinted at a $10 million project set to begin soon on Main Street between Sheridan and High streets. “It will be a vitamin B12 shot for the area,” he promised. He also spoke of the $25 million already approved by the Illinois Legisla ture to repave Main Street and rebuild sidewalks and curbs from Farmington Road to the Illinois River. “Once we put in the new Main Street, it will raise the bar and bring even more investment,” predicted Grayeb. While many West Bluff residents are forthcoming with their views, at least one long-term resident remains mum. But if the massive, 500-year-old bur oak tree in Giant Oak Park on High Street could talk, it might very well agree with Grayeb’s assessment: “I truly believe that the best days for the West Bluff and Peoria are still ahead.”

Jan Krouse, president of the Moss-Bradley Residential Association, walks by one of the mansions on Moss Avenue

SERIOUS BUSINESS, NO BLUFFING

novation Center, 801 S. Main, a modern facility with several success stories since opening in 2007. The corner of University and Main, including Campustown, boasts multiple dining experiences — Chinese, Vietnam ese and Mexican cuisine, sushi, vegan options and more. The urban adventure is further enhanced by the likes of the Church Mouse Thrift Shop, Habitat for Hu manity Restore, Ribbon Records, Prim itiques Market, Haddad’s well-known Lebanese restaurant, The Basket Case pub and others. The mom-and-pop-dominated neighborhood is “super walkable,” said McGhee, who loves the multiple lifestyles and artistic visions represented. ‘I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS, AND NOT JUST BY NAME’ The Moss-Bradley District bumps up against the southern edge of Bradley and brags some of the most prestigious homes in the city. “We are kind of an old-fashioned neighborhood,” said Jan Krouse, pres ident of the Moss-Bradley Homeowners Association. “I know my neighbors, and not just by name. I really know them. You don’t find that often in newer neighborhoods.” Krouse is the lead organizer for the annual Moss Avenue Sale, which has evolved from a high-end neighborhood garage sale into a much-anticipated annual festival.

Empty storefronts along West Main Street are offset by an eclectic mix of businesses that lend character to this well-traveled stretch of pavement. Steve Spain and his venerable The Costume Trunk have anchored the Sheridan/Main intersection since 1981. The business is for sale — Spain wants to retire after 40 years – but he has no regrets about his choice of location. “I have always thought this business was unique and that it fit better in a neighborhood like this than in a strip mall,” he said. To survive today, “you have to be Amazon-proof.” Also facing Main are Lit on Fire Books and My Writing Shed, a shared space for local writers. Just around the corner is Urban Artifacts, a purveyor of “antiques, souvenirs, vintage and nostalgia” for 11 years. Owned and curated by Jon and Angie Walker, the store is part of a net work of interconnected shops and art studios that draw curious browsers and serious collectors, lured to the likes of J. Draper glassblowing studio, Moon Dancer gifts, Restoration Studios and Escape 60. “There are some empty buildings around here that haven’t been very aggressively marketed,” said Jon Walker. “There could be some really nice projects if we can get motivated sellers and buyers together.” Just to the west is Bradley’s small business incubator, Peoria NEXT In

Scott Fishel is a senior communications executive at WTVP

72 JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE