At Issue #2407 - Peoria's warehouse district

I AM H. WAYNE WILSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. US. I THANK MY GUESTS FOR JOINING ME I THANK MY GUESTS FOR JOINING ME FOR DISCUSSION OF THE WAREHOUSE FOR DISCUSSION OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. DISTRICT. WE ARE GOING TO DEFINE THE WE ARE GOING TO DEFINE THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, AND FIND OUT WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, AND FIND OUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IN PEORIA. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IN PEORIA. WE ARE GOING TO VISIT OMAHA WE ARE GOING TO VISIT OMAHA WHERE THE OLD MARKET HAS A LOT WHERE THE OLD MARKET HAS A LOT OF SIMILARITIES TO PEORIA'S OF SIMILARITIES TO PEORIA'S WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WITH THAT, LET'S INTRODUCE THE WITH THAT, LET'S INTRODUCE THE PANELISTS. PANELISTS. PAT SULLIVAN IS HERE. PAT SULLIVAN IS HERE. PAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. PAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >>THANK. >>THANK. >>MANY OF YOU KNOW PAT AS OWNER >>MANY OF YOU KNOW PAT AS OWNER OF KELLERS. OF KELLERS. HOWEVER, HE OWNS LEBOUC, AND HOWEVER, HE OWNS LEBOUC, AND OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. PAT, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH PAT, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. US. CHRIS SETTI JOINS US, SPECIAL CHRIS SETTI JOINS US, SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PROJECTS MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PEORIA. PEORIA. >>THANK YOU. >>THANK YOU. >>CHRIS IS THE PERSON WHO WILL >>CHRIS IS THE PERSON WHO WILL LEND CITY EXPERTISE IN TERMS OF LEND CITY EXPERTISE IN TERMS OF DEFINITION. FROM THE CITY DEFINITION. FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, RYAN SPAIN. COUNCIL, RYAN SPAIN. RYAN IS ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT RYAN IS ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT AT HEARTLAND PARTNERSHIP. AT HEARTLAND PARTNERSHIP. WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >>THANK YOU. >>THANK YOU. >>OR ONE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT >>OR ONE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT S. S. NOT THE VICE PRESIDENT. NOT THE VICE PRESIDENT. WITH THAT, CHRIS, WHAT IS THE WITH THAT, CHRIS, WHAT IS THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT? WAREHOUSE DISTRICT? >> WELL, IF YOU THINK OF THE >> WELL, IF YOU THINK OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, IT IS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, IT IS GENERALLY THE KIND OF THE SPACE GENERALLY THE KIND OF THE SPACE BETWEEN THE BRIDGES BETWEEN THE BETWEEN THE BRIDGES BETWEEN THE BOB MICHEL BRIDGE AND CEDAR BOB MICHEL BRIDGE AND CEDAR STREET BRIDGE. STREET BRIDGE. IT ACTUALLY EXTENDS BOND BEYOND IT ACTUALLY EXTENDS BOND BEYOND MAC ARTHUR AVENUE TO INCLUDE MAC ARTHUR AVENUE TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE FACILITIES DOWN SOME OF THE FACILITIES DOWN THERE, INCLUDING TRI-CITY, AND THERE, INCLUDING TRI-CITY, AND PRIOR CENTER FOR THE ARTS. BUT PRIOR CENTER FOR THE ARTS. BUT IT IS THE AREA RIGHT ADJACENT TO IT IS THE AREA RIGHT ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN THAT HAS SOME OF THE DOWNTOWN THAT HAS SOME OF THE GREAT OLD STRUCTURES IN PEORIA, GREAT OLD STRUCTURES IN PEORIA, ALONG WASHINGTON STREET, ADAMS ALONG WASHINGTON STREET, ADAMS AND JEFFERSON T BASICALLY GOES AND JEFFERSON T BASICALLY GOES FROM THE RIVER ALL THE WAY UP TO FROM THE RIVER ALL THE WAY UP TO JEFFERSON STREET. JEFFERSON STREET. IT IS KIND OF INCLUSIVE OF THE IT IS KIND OF INCLUSIVE OF THE AREA AROUND THE STADIUM. AREA AROUND THE STADIUM. >> OF COURSE, THAT INCLUDES SOME >> OF COURSE, THAT INCLUDES SOME OF YOUR PROPERTIES. OF YOUR PROPERTIES. YOU HAVE DEVELOPED SOME YOU HAVE DEVELOPED SOME PROPERTIES AND SOME YOU HAVEN'T. PROPERTIES AND SOME YOU HAVEN'T. HAVE YOU FOUND SOME DIFFICULTIES HAVE YOU FOUND SOME DIFFICULTIES EARLY ON IN DEVELOPING A EARLY ON IN DEVELOPING A WAREHOUSE? WAREHOUSE? >> YES, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST >> YES, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFICULTIES WAS THE CODES THAT DIFFICULTIES WAS THE CODES THAT WERE SET FOR PEORIA BUILDERS AND WERE SET FOR PEORIA BUILDERS AND SO FORTH AND DEVELOPERS, WERE SO FORTH AND DEVELOPERS, WERE ALL GREENFIELD TYPE CODES. ALL GREENFIELD TYPE CODES. WE USED TO HAVE TO TAKE OUT AN WE USED TO HAVE TO TAKE OUT AN OLD STAIRCASE THAT WAS ONLY OLD STAIRCASE THAT WAS ONLY 38 INCHES WIDE AND MAKE IT 42. 38 INCHES WIDE AND MAKE IT 42. WHEN YOU START TAKING COLUMNS WHEN YOU START TAKING COLUMNS OUT OF AN OLD BUILDING, OAK OUT OF AN OLD BUILDING, OAK COLUMNS AND BIG PINE COLUMNS AND COLUMNS AND BIG PINE COLUMNS AND SO FORTH, YOU WRECK THE SO FORTH, YOU WRECK THE BUILDING. BUILDING. SO WE HAD TO GET IN AND GET THE SO WE HAD TO GET IN AND GET THE CITY TO GO TO A CODE SYSTEM CITY TO GO TO A CODE SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN FIX IT UP WITHOUT WHERE WE CAN FIX IT UP WITHOUT COSTING MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY COSTING MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REFURBISH. ARE EXPENSIVE TO REFURBISH. SOME OF THOSE CHANGES, RYAN, SOME OF THOSE CHANGES, RYAN, MIGHT INCLUDE, THAT THE CITY HAS MIGHT INCLUDE, THAT THE CITY HAS CHANGED? CHANGED? >> I THINK WE HAVE DONE A LOT >> I THINK WE HAVE DONE A LOT RECENTLY TO MAKE THIS AREA MORE RECENTLY TO MAKE THIS AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR DEVELOP: WE ATTRACTIVE FOR DEVELOP: WE HAVE CERTAINLY INTRODUCED NEW HAVE CERTAINLY INTRODUCED NEW FORM CODES SO YOU ARE ABLE TO FORM CODES SO YOU ARE ABLE TO MATCH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MATCH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND HAVE A EXISTING BUILDINGS AND HAVE A DIFFERENT STANDARD WITH THE DIFFERENT STANDARD WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE TALKING RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE OLDER AND ABOUT SOME OF THE OLDER AND OLDEST BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF OLDEST BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF PEORIA, BUILDINGS THAT ARE A PEORIA, BUILDINGS THAT ARE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD THAT HAVE HUNDRED YEARS OLD THAT HAVE STOOD EMPTY NOW FOR SEVERAL STOOD EMPTY NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS. YEARS. RATHER THAN TIE UP DEVELOPERS ON RATHER THAN TIE UP DEVELOPERS ON SOME OF THE OTHER DEVELOPMENT SOME OF THE OTHER DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN STANDARDS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN THE GREENFIELD, AS PAT SAID, THE GREENFIELD, AS PAT SAID, WHAT CAN WE REALLY DO TO BRING WHAT CAN WE REALLY DO TO BRING DEVELOPMENT IN TO THESE AREAS DEVELOPMENT IN TO THESE AREAS RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW. WE BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF THE WE BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOST UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF PEORIA TO CREATE A THE CITY OF PEORIA TO CREATE A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT IN OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT IN OUR DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN. THE CITY HAS ALSO CREATED T.I.F. THE CITY HAS ALSO CREATED T.I.F. DISTRICTS AND THINGS THAT MIGHT DISTRICTS AND THINGS THAT MIGHT BE INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS BE INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS COULD TOM AND SAY LET'S TAKE OLD COULD TOM AND SAY LET'S TAKE OLD BUILDINGS RATHER THAN BUILDINGS RATHER THAN GREENFIELD. GREENFIELD. >>DEFINITELY. >>DEFINITELY. PAT IS PERFECT EXAMPLE OF PAT IS PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS TAKEN OLD SOMEONE WHO HAS TAKEN OLD BUILDING AND DONE SOMETHING WITH BUILDING AND DONE SOMETHING WITH IT, BUT EL ADMIT, THAT IT WAS IT, BUT EL ADMIT, THAT IT WAS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN KELLIHERS THAN A BRAND NEW KELLIHERS THAN A BRAND NEW BUILDING. BUILDING. THE HVAC SYSTEMS DON'T RUN ALL THE HVAC SYSTEMS DON'T RUN ALL THE WAY UP TO THE 8TH FLOOR OF THE WAY UP TO THE 8TH FLOOR OF THESE BUILDINGS BECAUSE IT USED THESE BUILDINGS BECAUSE IT USED TO BE LITERALLY A WAREHOUSE, THE TO BE LITERALLY A WAREHOUSE, THE PLUMBING AND SOME OF THOSE PLUMBING AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS. THINGS. WE KNOW THE BUILDINGS ARE MORE WE KNOW THE BUILDINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE. EXPENSIVE. THE CITY IS TRYING TO CREATE SIN THE CITY IS TRYING TO CREATE SIN BE CENTIVES TO HELP BRING THE BE CENTIVES TO HELP BRING THE COST DOWN TO A LEVEL THAT MAKES COST DOWN TO A LEVEL THAT MAKES IT COMPETITIVE WITH GREENFIELD. IT COMPETITIVE WITH GREENFIELD. IN THE T.I.F., WHAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE T.I.F., WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS ANY NEW PROPERTY TAXES DOING IS ANY NEW PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH REDEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE BEEN REDEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE BEEN REBATING 50% TO THE PROPERTY REBATING 50% TO THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR CERTAIN HISTORICAL OWNER FOR CERTAIN HISTORICAL BUILDINGS, HISTORIC TAX CREDITS BUILDINGS, HISTORIC TAX CREDITS WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE COST. WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE COST. IT DOESN'T REDUCE THE COST UP IT DOESN'T REDUCE THE COST UP FRONT, BUT IT CREATES A REBATE FRONT, BUT IT CREATES A REBATE FOR YOU IN TAXABLE CREDIT. FOR YOU IN TAXABLE CREDIT. SO IF IT IS HISTORICAL BUILDING SO IF IT IS HISTORICAL BUILDING CAN YOU GET 20% FEDERAL TAX CAN YOU GET 20% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT AS WELL AS 25% STATE TAX CREDIT AS WELL AS 25% STATE TAX CREDIT. CREDIT. SO THAT MEANS FOR EVERY DOLLAR SO THAT MEANS FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU ARE PUTTING INTO THE YOU ARE PUTTING INTO THE RENOVATION, YOU ARE GETTING 45 RENOVATION, YOU ARE GETTING 45 CENTS BACK IN TAX CREDITS. CENTS BACK IN TAX CREDITS. IT IS ALSO IN ENTERPRISE ZONE, IT IS ALSO IN ENTERPRISE ZONE, WHICH MEANS YOU DON'T PAY SALES WHICH MEANS YOU DON'T PAY SALES TAX ON BUILDING MATERIALS. TAX ON BUILDING MATERIALS. ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT INCENTIVES LAYERED TOGETHER TO INCENTIVES LAYERED TOGETHER TO HELP REDUCE THE OVER ALL COST. HELP REDUCE THE OVER ALL COST. IT IS STILL VERY EXPENSIVE IT IS STILL VERY EXPENSIVE BUILDINGS TO TO DO, BUT WE THINK BUILDINGS TO TO DO, BUT WE THINK THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS TO DO THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS TO DO THIS, A GREAT MARKET FOR THIS THIS, A GREAT MARKET FOR THIS SORT OF PRODUCT. SORT OF PRODUCT. >>PAT, THAT'S MADE A DIFFERENCE >>PAT, THAT'S MADE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU? TO YOU? >> IT WILL. >> IT WILL. WE WERE WERE SORT OF WAY AHEAD WE WERE WERE SORT OF WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME WHERE WE WERE ABLE OF THE GAME WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN THERE 15, 18, 20 YEARS TO GET IN THERE 15, 18, 20 YEARS AGO. AGO. >>BEFORE THE T.I.F. AND TAX >>BEFORE THE T.I.F. AND TAX CREDITS? CREDITS? >> RIGHT. >> RIGHT. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT WHAT WE LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE ON WHAT WE LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE ON THIS T.I.F., IF I AM PAYING 50 THIS T.I.F., IF I AM PAYING 50 CENTS A FOOT RIGHT NOW FOR THIS CENTS A FOOT RIGHT NOW FOR THIS OLD WAREHOUSE BUILDING, AND I OLD WAREHOUSE BUILDING, AND I HAVE GOT 20,000 SQUARE FEET, THE HAVE GOT 20,000 SQUARE FEET, THE SCHOOLS, THE CITY AND EVERYBODY SCHOOLS, THE CITY AND EVERYBODY STILL GETS THAT 50 CENTS A STILL GETS THAT 50 CENTS A SQUARE FOOT ON TAXES. SQUARE FOOT ON TAXES. THEY DON'T LOSE THAT. THEY DON'T LOSE THAT. NOW, I JUST PUT IN TEN MILLION NOW, I JUST PUT IN TEN MILLION DOLLARS TO REHAB IT. DOLLARS TO REHAB IT. OF COURSE, THE TAX ASSESSOR WILL OF COURSE, THE TAX ASSESSOR WILL COME AROUND AND SAY "WAIT A COME AROUND AND SAY "WAIT A MINUTE, YOUR PROPERTY TAX JUST MINUTE, YOUR PROPERTY TAX JUST WENT TO $2.50, OR $3.50 A SQUARE WENT TO $2.50, OR $3.50 A SQUARE FOOT" OR WHATEVER IT IS. FOOT" OR WHATEVER IT IS. THAT IS THE INCREMENT. THAT IS THE INCREMENT. THEY STILL GET THE 50 CENTS, BUT THEY STILL GET THE 50 CENTS, BUT THE INCREMENT IS WHAT WE SPLIT. THE INCREMENT IS WHAT WE SPLIT. THAT GIVES US THE INCENTIVE TO THAT GIVES US THE INCENTIVE TO DO THIS AND IT GIVES THE DO THIS AND IT GIVES THE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES TO DO IT. GOVERNMENTAL BODIES TO DO IT. THAT'S THE SIMPLEST WAY TO THAT'S THE SIMPLEST WAY TO EXPLAIN T BUT AFTER 21 OR 22 EXPLAIN T BUT AFTER 21 OR 22 YEARS, THE CITY -- AND THE YEARS, THE CITY -- AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EVERYBODY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EVERYBODY GETS IT ALL. GETS IT ALL. SO IT IS LIKE A BANK LONING YOU SO IT IS LIKE A BANK LONING YOU MONEY FOR 22 YEARS. MONEY FOR 22 YEARS. IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT INTO IT. IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT INTO IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. IT COULD STAY EMPTY, AND THAT IT COULD STAY EMPTY, AND THAT DOESN'T DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD. DOESN'T DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD. >>THERE IS YOUR DEFINITION OF >>THERE IS YOUR DEFINITION OF T.I.F., TAX INCREMENT T.I.F., TAX INCREMENT FINANCINGS. FINANCINGS. WE HAVE A LOST ISSUES TO TALK WE HAVE A LOST ISSUES TO TALK ABOUT. ABOUT. BUT FIRST, CHANNEL 47 BUT FIRST, CHANNEL 47 PHOTOGRAPHER TODD PILAN HAD A PHOTOGRAPHER TODD PILAN HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA, CHANCE TO GO TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA, TO VISIT THE OLD MARKET. TO VISIT THE OLD MARKET. SAM AND MARK MERCER OWNED A SAM AND MARK MERCER OWNED A COUPLE OF WAREHOUSES. COUPLE OF WAREHOUSES. THEY HAVE SINCE BOUGHT SOME THEY HAVE SINCE BOUGHT SOME MORE. MORE. OVER OF APPEARED ABOUT FOUR OVER OF APPEARED ABOUT FOUR DECADES, OMAHA CONVERTED THE DECADES, OMAHA CONVERTED THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT THERE TO THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT THERE TO THE OLD MARKET. OLD MARKET. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. IN THE FIRST YEAR, I THINK WE HAD THE GALLERY, COFFEE SHOP, HAD THE GALLERY, COFFEE SHOP, MOVIE THEATER THE, BOOKSTORE, MOVIE THEATER THE, BOOKSTORE, SORT OF HEAD SHOP, PSYCHEDELIC SORT OF HEAD SHOP, PSYCHEDELIC PLACE, AND I THINK TRULY THE PLACE, AND I THINK TRULY THE MERCERS WERE THE CHAMPION OF THE MERCERS WERE THE CHAMPION OF THE OLD MARKET. OLD MARKET. THEY BOUGHT SOME BUILDINGS AND THEY BOUGHT SOME BUILDINGS AND LATER BROUGHT MORE BUILDINGS LATER BROUGHT MORE BUILDINGS INTO IT. INTO IT. IT WAS THEIR INITIAL IT WAS THEIR INITIAL ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND ACQUISITION AND WHAT THEY HAD IN ACQUISITION AND WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND FOR IT. MIND FOR IT. 2 REALLY SET THE TONE FOR THE 2 REALLY SET THE TONE FOR THE MARKET. MARKET. RIGHT IN THE CENTER THERE WAS RIGHT IN THE CENTER THERE WAS FRUIT WHOLESALERS STILL GOING FRUIT WHOLESALERS STILL GOING ON. ON. FOR A LONG TIME, CENTRAL SUPPLY FOR A LONG TIME, CENTRAL SUPPLY AND RUBBER COMPANY, FARM AND RUBBER COMPANY, FARM EQUIPMENT, AND ACROSS TENTH EQUIPMENT, AND ACROSS TENTH STREET, A BIG AREA CALLED STREET, A BIG AREA CALLED JOBBERS CANNON, WHOLESALE JOBBERS CANNON, WHOLESALE FARMER, WHOLESALE HARDWARE FARMER, WHOLESALE HARDWARE PEOPLE. PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO CREATE IT. YOU HAVE TO CREATE IT. IT IS NEVER AUTHENTIC AS IF IT IT IS NEVER AUTHENTIC AS IF IT EVOLVES. EVOLVES. >>I DON'T THINK EVER THROUGH TRY >>I DON'T THINK EVER THROUGH TRY TO GET RID OF WHOLESALERS OR TO GET RID OF WHOLESALERS OR MANUFACTURINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE MANUFACTURINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT. THEY GO WELL. THEY GO WELL. >>I LOVE THE OLD MARKET. >>I LOVE THE OLD MARKET. IT IS ORIGINAL. IT IS ORIGINAL. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE WHEN YOU COME TO GOING TO SEE WHEN YOU COME TO WORK EVERY DAY. WORK EVERY DAY. IT IS A GREAT PLACE. IT IS A GREAT PLACE. >>HAVING THE RESTAURANTS AND >>HAVING THE RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS THAT WERE UNIQUE AND ONE SHOPS THAT WERE UNIQUE AND ONE OF A KIND REALLY HELPED TO DRAW OF A KIND REALLY HELPED TO DRAW PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. ONCE PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE ONCE PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE MARKET AND ENJOYED THE MARKET, MARKET AND ENJOYED THE MARKET, THEN AS HOUSING BECAME THEN AS HOUSING BECAME AVAILABLE, THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE AVAILABLE, THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT SO THEY COULD LIVE IN OF THAT SO THEY COULD LIVE IN THE PLACE THEY ENJOY. THE PLACE THEY ENJOY. >>PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE OLD >>PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE OLD MARKET PETITIONED THE CITY FOR MARKET PETITIONED THE CITY FOR LANDMARK COMMISSIONED STATUS IN LANDMARK COMMISSIONED STATUS IN 1985 TO MONITOR PROPOSED CHANGES 1985 TO MONITOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EXTERIOR OF BUILDINGS. TO THE EXTERIOR OF BUILDINGS. >> WE FELT THAT THE MOST >> WE FELT THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE THING WAS TO DO WAS APPROPRIATE THING WAS TO DO WAS LET IT EVOLVE, AND I THINK THAT LET IT EVOLVE, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE MERCER'S PHILOSOPHY AS WAS THE MERCER'S PHILOSOPHY AS WELL. WELL. WHATEVER CHANGES WOULD BE MADE WHATEVER CHANGES WOULD BE MADE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE WOULD BE IN WOULD BE APPROPRIATE WOULD BE IN CHARACTER WITH THE AREA I. CHARACTER WITH THE AREA I. >>THE CITY PROVIDED A PARKING >>THE CITY PROVIDED A PARKING DECK AT THE EDGE OF THE OLD DECK AT THE EDGE OF THE OLD MARKET, BUT ALSO MADE SURE MARKET, BUT ALSO MADE SURE ON-STREET PARKING WAS AVAILABLE. ON-STREET PARKING WAS AVAILABLE. PARKING WAS ONE SEVERAL PARKING WAS ONE SEVERAL SUPPORTIVE EFFORTS BY THE CITY SUPPORTIVE EFFORTS BY THE CITY OF OMAHA. OF OMAHA. THE CITY HAS PROVIDED TAX THE CITY HAS PROVIDED TAX INCREMENT FINANCING OVER THE INCREMENT FINANCING OVER THE YEARS FOR MANY OF THE YEARS FOR MANY OF THE RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE OLD MARKET. PLACE IN THE OLD MARKET. OF COURSE, WE HAVE ALSO HELPED OF COURSE, WE HAVE ALSO HELPED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HISTORIC FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HISTORIC TAX CREDITS AND THE WORK THAT IS TAX CREDITS AND THE WORK THAT IS NEEDED TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. NEEDED TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. WITHOUT THOSE TOOLS, I DON'T WITHOUT THOSE TOOLS, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE SEEN IN AND AROUND THE OLD SEEN IN AND AROUND THE OLD MARKET. MARKET. >>THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING ARE >>THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING ARE WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL. THEY HAVE MADE A POINT TO STAY THEY HAVE MADE A POINT TO STAY AWAY FROM RENTING TO FRANCHISES, AWAY FROM RENTING TO FRANCHISES, AND BASICALLY WANT SMALL AND BASICALLY WANT SMALL BUSINESSES WITH THE OWNERS BUSINESSES WITH THE OWNERS PRESENT HERE. PRESENT HERE. >>IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE >>IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE OLD MARKET AND KEEP ITS' UNIQUE OLD MARKET AND KEEP ITS' UNIQUE CHARACTER, AND AT THE SAME TIME CHARACTER, AND AT THE SAME TIME MAKE SURE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MAKE SURE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REST OF DOWNTOWN COMPLIMENTS THE REST OF DOWNTOWN COMPLIMENTS THE OLD MARKET, BUT DOESN'T DETRACT OLD MARKET, BUT DOESN'T DETRACT FROM THE OLD MARKET. FROM THE OLD MARKET. >>I WAS SURPRISED HOW MANY >>I WAS SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE COME TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA, PEOPLE COME TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA, EVEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. EVEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. AND I GUESS WHEN THEY COME TO AND I GUESS WHEN THEY COME TO OMAHA, THIS IS WHERE THEY BRING OMAHA, THIS IS WHERE THEY BRING EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY. MUCH LIKE PEORIA, THERE ARE NEW MUCH LIKE PEORIA, THERE ARE NEW FACILITIES JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM FACILITIES JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE OLD MARKET TO HELP ATTRACT THE OLD MARKET TO HELP ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE AREA. PEOPLE TO THE AREA. THE QUEST CONVENTION CENTER AND THE QUEST CONVENTION CENTER AND THE TDAMERITRADE ARE WITHIN THE TDAMERITRADE ARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE OLD WALKING DISTANCE OF THE OLD MARKET AND WHAT ALL IT HAS TO MARKET AND WHAT ALL IT HAS TO OFFER. THE THE THE THE MUSICIANS ARE YET TO COME IN PEORIA! COME IN PEORIA! (LAUGHING) LET'S TALK ABOUT (LAUGHING) LET'S TALK ABOUT THINGS IN TERMS OF COMPARISONS. THINGS IN TERMS OF COMPARISONS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW WHEN WE ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW WHEN WE WERE THERE WAS THAT THE MERCER WERE THERE WAS THAT THE MERCER MANAGEMENT COMPANY SEEMS TO BE MANAGEMENT COMPANY SEEMS TO BE THE CHAMPION. THE CHAMPION. THEY HAVE A PASSION. THEY HAVE A PASSION. IS THERE A CHAMPION FOR THE IS THERE A CHAMPION FOR THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT? WAREHOUSE DISTRICT? >> I THINK YOU HAVE GOT MAYBE >> I THINK YOU HAVE GOT MAYBE ONE OF THEM RIGHT HERE. ONE OF THEM RIGHT HERE. I THINK PAT SULLIVAN HAS BEEN A I THINK PAT SULLIVAN HAS BEEN A PIONEER AND A CHAMPION IN THE PIONEER AND A CHAMPION IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT FOR A LONG WAREHOUSE DISTRICT FOR A LONG TIME. TIME. CERTAINLY, WITHOUT PAT, I DON'T CERTAINLY, WITHOUT PAT, I DON'T KNOW -- WE WOULD HAVE SOME OF KNOW -- WE WOULD HAVE SOME OF THE VISION AND SOME OF THE THE VISION AND SOME OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE DOWN PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE DOWN THERE. THERE. BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS ALSO BECOMING A CHAMPION IN AND ALSO BECOMING A CHAMPION IN AND OF IT SELF, MAYBE LED BY PAT. OF IT SELF, MAYBE LED BY PAT. BUT THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE BUT THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS DEDICATED A LAST FEW YEARS HAS DEDICATED A LOT OF RESOURCES AND A LOT OF LOT OF RESOURCES AND A LOT OF EMPHASIS TO THE WAREHOUSE EMPHASIS TO THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. DISTRICT. THE RECENT STRATEGIC PLAN THE THE RECENT STRATEGIC PLAN THE COUNCIL JUST PASSED INCLUDED ONE COUNCIL JUST PASSED INCLUDED ONE OF JUST FIVE GOALS, 20% OF THE OF JUST FIVE GOALS, 20% OF THE GOALS INCLUDED A LIVELY DOWNTOWN GOALS INCLUDED A LIVELY DOWNTOWN AND WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. AND WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. I THINK YOU HAVE STARTED TO SEE I THINK YOU HAVE STARTED TO SEE OTHERS KIND OF TAKE UP THAT OTHERS KIND OF TAKE UP THAT MANTLE AND SAY "THIS IS A VERY MANTLE AND SAY "THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR AND AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FUTURE." FUTURE." THIS SURVEY SESSION THAT SUMAC THIS SURVEY SESSION THAT SUMAC CONDUCTED A LITTLE BIT AGO, THE CONDUCTED A LITTLE BIT AGO, THE TABLES WERE LISTING, AND TABLES WERE LISTING, AND WAREHOUSES CAME UP REPEATEDLY. WAREHOUSES CAME UP REPEATEDLY. THE COUNCIL SEES A PAT SULLIVAN THE COUNCIL SEES A PAT SULLIVAN AND SAYS "WE NEED TO ATTRACT AND SAYS "WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE." MORE." ARE WE ATTRACTING MORE? ARE WE ATTRACTING MORE? IS HE THE KEY. IS HE THE KEY. >>WE ARE. >>WE ARE. WORKING OFF THE MODELS PAT WORKING OFF THE MODELS PAT SULLIVAN HAS CREATED, WE SEE SULLIVAN HAS CREATED, WE SEE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WHEN YOU COMPARE THE WHEN YOU COMPARE THE SIMILARITIES TO PEORIA AND SIMILARITIES TO PEORIA AND OMAHA, FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW WE OMAHA, FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO AND ARE DOING MANY OF NEED TO DO AND ARE DOING MANY OF THE SAME THINGS THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE. DONE. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE CITY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PASSED A T.I.F. COUNCIL HAS PASSED A T.I.F. DISTRICT FOR THE WAREHOUSE AREA. DISTRICT FOR THE WAREHOUSE AREA. WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE FIRST WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE FIRST STATE OF ILLINOIS HISTORIC TAX STATE OF ILLINOIS HISTORIC TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. CREDIT PROGRAM. DIDN'T EXIST IN ILLINOIS BEFORE DIDN'T EXIST IN ILLINOIS BEFORE WE BEGAN WORK ON THIS PROJECT. WE BEGAN WORK ON THIS PROJECT. NOW IT IS AVAILABLE. NOW IT IS AVAILABLE. IT IS A TOOL TO ENCOURAGE IT IS A TOOL TO ENCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT OF THESE HISTORIC REDEVELOPMENT OF THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS. BUILDINGS. WE HAVE DELIVERED NOW AND WILL WE HAVE DELIVERED NOW AND WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR, BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR, $25 MILLION OF PUBLIC $25 MILLION OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. SO WE CHANGED THE SO WE CHANGED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE STREETS CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE STREETS FROM STATE SUPER HIGHWAYS INTO FROM STATE SUPER HIGHWAYS INTO THE MORE PEDESTRIAN FOCUSED, THE MORE PEDESTRIAN FOCUSED, SLOWLY TRAVELED STREETS THAT ARE SLOWLY TRAVELED STREETS THAT ARE REALLY RECEPTIVE AND CONDUCIVE REALLY RECEPTIVE AND CONDUCIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT JUST LIKE YOU FOR DEVELOPMENT JUST LIKE YOU SAW ON SOME OF THE STREET SAW ON SOME OF THE STREET CORNERS AND PEDESTRIAN AREAS IN CORNERS AND PEDESTRIAN AREAS IN OMAHA. OMAHA. >>WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN? >>WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN? >> WELL, THERE IS TWO DIFFERENT >> WELL, THERE IS TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS. PROJECTS. ONE IS THE WASHINGTON STREET ONE IS THE WASHINGTON STREET PROJECT, AND THAT IS IN THE PROJECT, AND THAT IS IN THE DESIGN PHASE RIGHT NOW. DESIGN PHASE RIGHT NOW. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE CONCEPT THAT THE WASHINGTON THE CONCEPT THAT THE WASHINGTON STREET ADVISORY GROUP AND STREET ADVISORY GROUP AND ENGINEERING TEAM HAVE PUT ENGINEERING TEAM HAVE PUT TOGETHER. TOGETHER. SO THEY ARE NOW INTO THE NUTS SO THEY ARE NOW INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW HIGH THE CURVES AND BOLTS OF HOW HIGH THE CURVES ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THE ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THE RADIUSES ARE GOING TO BE. RADIUSES ARE GOING TO BE. THAT WILL ALL BE DONE BY THE THAT WILL ALL BE DONE BY THE WINTER, AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE WINTER, AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE CONTRACT BID OUT IN THE SPRING CONTRACT BID OUT IN THE SPRING AND FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE AND FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE SPRING BUILD, WE SHOULD START TO SPRING BUILD, WE SHOULD START TO SEE WORK HAPPENING FROM HARRISON SEE WORK HAPPENING FROM HARRISON STREET WHERE THE ROUNDABOUT WILL STREET WHERE THE ROUNDABOUT WILL BE ALL THE WAY DOWN TOWARDS BE ALL THE WAY DOWN TOWARDS MAPLE AND PERSIMMON AND THOSE MAPLE AND PERSIMMON AND THOSE AREAS. AREAS. THE OTHER STREETS, ADAMS AND THE OTHER STREETS, ADAMS AND JEFFERSON AND SOME OF THE CROSS JEFFERSON AND SOME OF THE CROSS STREETS, PLUS THE CREATION AFTER STREETS, PLUS THE CREATION AFTER NEW STREET, KIND OF RUNNING NEW STREET, KIND OF RUNNING BETWEEN WATER AND -- BETWEEN BETWEEN WATER AND -- BETWEEN WATER AND WASHINGTON FROM STATE WATER AND WASHINGTON FROM STATE ON DOWN, THAT WILL ALL START TO ON DOWN, THAT WILL ALL START TO HAPPEN TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT HAPPEN TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT SUMMER AND THEN THE FOLLOWING SUMMER AND THEN THE FOLLOWING SUMMER. SUMMER. SO THEY ARE KIND OF STAGGERED BY SO THEY ARE KIND OF STAGGERED BY ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OR SO. ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OR SO. BUT I THINK PEOPLE WILL START TO BUT I THINK PEOPLE WILL START TO SEE A TRANSFORMATION AS SOON AS SEE A TRANSFORMATION AS SOON AS APRIL AND MAY OF NEXT YEAR. APRIL AND MAY OF NEXT YEAR. >>TRUCK TRAFFIC IS A MAJOR >>TRUCK TRAFFIC IS A MAJOR CONCERN. CONCERN. WILL TRUCK TRAFFIC BE REDUCED? WILL TRUCK TRAFFIC BE REDUCED? >> TRUCK TRAFFIC WILL BE >> TRUCK TRAFFIC WILL BE DIFFERENT IN DOWNTOWN PEORIA. DIFFERENT IN DOWNTOWN PEORIA. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S SIGNIFICANT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. ISSUE. WE ARE PROJECTING WE CAN WE ARE PROJECTING WE CAN INTRODUCE 2,000 NEW RESIDENTIAL INTRODUCE 2,000 NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS TO DOWNTOWN AND THE UNITS TO DOWNTOWN AND THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT OVER THE NEXT WAREHOUSE DISTRICT OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. TEN YEARS. BUT ONE MAJOR ISSUE WITH THAT IS BUT ONE MAJOR ISSUE WITH THAT IS YOU DON'T CREATE A NEIGHBORHOOD YOU DON'T CREATE A NEIGHBORHOOD ADJACENT TO SOME OF THE MOST ADJACENT TO SOME OF THE MOST HEAVILY TRAFFICKED TRUCK ROUTES HEAVILY TRAFFICKED TRUCK ROUTES IN THE CITY OF PEORIA. IN THE CITY OF PEORIA. SO WE ARE WORKING -- WE ARE SO WE ARE WORKING -- WE ARE CHANGING THE STREETS, CHANGING THE STREETS, PARTICULARLY WASHINGTON STREET, PARTICULARLY WASHINGTON STREET, FROM SEVEN LANES AND FIVE LANES. FROM SEVEN LANES AND FIVE LANES. IT WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED, IT WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED, FEWER TRAVEL LANES, AND THERE FEWER TRAVEL LANES, AND THERE WILL BE OTHER AREAS WHERE TRUCKS WILL BE OTHER AREAS WHERE TRUCKS CAN MOVE ABOUT MORE FREELY. CAN MOVE ABOUT MORE FREELY. CERTAINLY TRUCKS ARE THE ENGINE CERTAINLY TRUCKS ARE THE ENGINE OF BUSINESS, AND ALL THE OF BUSINESS, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT WE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN AND THE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN AND THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT CURRENTLY AND WAREHOUSE DISTRICT CURRENTLY AND THOSE REI WE WANT TO ATTRACT, THOSE REI WE WANT TO ATTRACT, WILL NEED TO RECEIVE DELIVERIES WILL NEED TO RECEIVE DELIVERIES AND NEED TO DO THEIR WORK. AND NEED TO DO THEIR WORK. BUT TRUCKS MAYBE JUST PASSING BUT TRUCKS MAYBE JUST PASSING THROUGH WILL LIKELY FIND OTHER THROUGH WILL LIKELY FIND OTHER ROUTES THAT ARE MORE FRIENDLY ROUTES THAT ARE MORE FRIENDLY FOR THEM IF THEY DON'T HAVE A FOR THEM IF THEY DON'T HAVE A TERMINAL DESTINATION WITHIN THE TERMINAL DESTINATION WITHIN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. THINGS LIKE THE ROUNDABOUT, LANE THINGS LIKE THE ROUNDABOUT, LANE REDUCTIONS AND HAVING INTERSTATE REDUCTIONS AND HAVING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO THE SOUTH OF OUR HIGHWAY TO THE SOUTH OF OUR CORPORATE LIMITS IN THE CITY CORPORATE LIMITS IN THE CITY REALLY SETS UP SOME BETTER REALLY SETS UP SOME BETTER ROUTES FOR THE FUTURE. ROUTES FOR THE FUTURE. WITH A THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO, WITH A THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO, WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN LIVING ALONG THESE INTERESTED IN LIVING ALONG THESE STREETS. STREETS. >>JUST TO FOLLOW UP QUICKLY ON >>JUST TO FOLLOW UP QUICKLY ON THAT, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THAT, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BUSINESSES. THE BUSINESSES. ADM IS A HUGE ~L AC SCEPTER OF ADM IS A HUGE ~L AC SCEPTER OF TRUCK TRAFFIC AND VERY VALUABLE TRUCK TRAFFIC AND VERY VALUABLE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON HOW THE STREET DESIGN RIGHT ON HOW THE STREET DESIGN RIGHT AROUND THERE WILL HELP TO AROUND THERE WILL HELP TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF IT THEIR IMPROVE THE FLOW OF IT THEIR TRUCKS. TRUCKS. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DOUBLING THEIR STAGING CAPACITY. DOUBLING THEIR STAGING CAPACITY. SO MORE TRUCKS CAN BE ON THEIR SO MORE TRUCKS CAN BE ON THEIR PROPERTY. PROPERTY. >>SO YOU WON'T HAVE A LINE OF >>SO YOU WON'T HAVE A LINE OF TRUCKS. TRUCKS. >>WE WON'T HAVE A LINE OF >>WE WON'T HAVE A LINE OF TRUCKS. TRUCKS. WE ARE WORKING ON THE TIMING OF WE ARE WORKING ON THE TIMING OF THE LIGHTS SO THE TRUCKS CAN THE LIGHTS SO THE TRUCKS CAN MAKE PROPER MOVEMENT AND NOT MAKE PROPER MOVEMENT AND NOT STACKED UP. STACKED UP. WE HAVE TRIED TO TAKE AS WE HAVE TRIED TO TAKE AS COMPREHENSIVE, AT LEAST ONE OR COMPREHENSIVE, AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THE GUYS FROM ADM WERE TWO OF THE GUYS FROM ADM WERE WASHINGTON STREET ADVISORY WASHINGTON STREET ADVISORY GROUP. GROUP. THEY WERE THERE SITTING NEXT TO THEY WERE THERE SITTING NEXT TO PAT SULLIVAN, AND SITTING NEXT PAT SULLIVAN, AND SITTING NEXT TO OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES AND STAKEHOLDERS SAYING "YES, THIS STAKEHOLDERS SAYING "YES, THIS WILL HELP US AND HELP OUR WILL HELP US AND HELP OUR DRIVERS." DRIVERS." >>IT IS LIKE MR. MERCER IN THIS >>IT IS LIKE MR. MERCER IN THIS SEGMENT, WE DON'T WANT SOME OF SEGMENT, WE DON'T WANT SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES TO GO AWAY. THESE BUSINESSES TO GO AWAY. THEY ARE JOBS. THEY ARE JOBS. LUCAS STEEL HAS BEEN HERE OVER LUCAS STEEL HAS BEEN HERE OVER 150 YEARS. 150 YEARS. THEY HAVE BEEN IN EVERY THEY HAVE BEEN IN EVERY DISCUSSION, EVERY COMMISSION, DISCUSSION, EVERY COMMISSION, BUT WE, AS A WAREHOUSE DISTRICT BUT WE, AS A WAREHOUSE DISTRICT HAVE AN ASSOCIATION AND WE GET HAVE AN ASSOCIATION AND WE GET TOGETHER AND TALK TO THE STEAT TOGETHER AND TALK TO THE STEAT CITY, AND WE TALK TO THE START, CITY, AND WE TALK TO THE START, AND WE TALK TO ALL THE AND WE TALK TO ALL THE BUSINESSES AND SAYING WE DON'T BUSINESSES AND SAYING WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO AWAY. WANT THEM TO GO AWAY. THERE WILL BE TRUCKS GOING THERE WILL BE TRUCKS GOING THROUGH HERE, BUT NOT AT THE THROUGH HERE, BUT NOT AT THE SPEEDS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH SPEEDS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH AND THEY WILL FIND A FASTER WAY, AND THEY WILL FIND A FASTER WAY, AS RYAN SAID, ON OUR HIGHWAYS AS RYAN SAID, ON OUR HIGHWAYS THAT WE BUILT FOR THEM. THAT WE BUILT FOR THEM. >>YOU MENTIONED KEEPING SOME OF >>YOU MENTIONED KEEPING SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES MARK MERCER IN THOSE BUSINESSES MARK MERCER IN THE VIDEO TALKED ABOUT CO THE VIDEO TALKED ABOUT CO EXISTING FOR MANY YEARS, IT HAS EXISTING FOR MANY YEARS, IT HAS KIND OF EVOLVED OVER TIME, HVAC, KIND OF EVOLVED OVER TIME, HVAC, AND ALL STATE FOR QUITE SOME AND ALL STATE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. TIME. >>WE WILL SEE THE SAME THING >>WE WILL SEE THE SAME THING HERE. HERE. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE IDEA OF AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE OUR IDEA OF AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE OUR WAREHOUSE DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE TRUE MIX USED OPPORTUNITIES WITH TRUE MIX USED OPPORTUNITIES WITH PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING WITHIN PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING WITHIN THIS DISTRICT IS A VERY POWERFUL THIS DISTRICT IS A VERY POWERFUL FORCE. FORCE. SO HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, SO HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, WHETHER THEY ARE IN SOME OF THE WHETHER THEY ARE IN SOME OF THE OLDER BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY OLDER BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY EXIST IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT EXIST IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT OR WHETHER THERE IS SO MANY OF OR WHETHER THERE IS SO MANY OF THE OFFICE JOBS THAT EXIST IN THE OFFICE JOBS THAT EXIST IN DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN. WHAT A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT WHAT A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT WILL CREATE THROUGH THIS WILL CREATE THROUGH THIS DISTRICT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE DISTRICT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLDER THAT ARE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLDER RESIDENTS THAT ARE LIVING IN RESIDENTS THAT ARE LIVING IN BUILDINGS. BUILDINGS. THEY ARE EATING IN THE THEY ARE EATING IN THE RESTAURANTS DOWN ON THE FIRST RESTAURANTS DOWN ON THE FIRST FLOOR. FLOOR. THEY ARE WALKING TO WORK IN THE THEY ARE WALKING TO WORK IN THE MORNING. MORNING. THEY ARE COMING BACK AT THE END THEY ARE COMING BACK AT THE END OF THE DAY, STOPPING AT THE OF THE DAY, STOPPING AT THE BALLPARK TO SEE ACHIEVE'S GAME. BALLPARK TO SEE ACHIEVE'S GAME. THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. LOOKING FOR. WHAT IT WILL DO IS BRING MORE WHAT IT WILL DO IS BRING MORE AND MORE BUSINESS TO OUR AND MORE BUSINESS TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR DOWNTOWN POPULATION IS DOWNTOWN POPULATION IS EFFECTIVELY AN 8-5 POPULATION. EFFECTIVELY AN 8-5 POPULATION. FOR BUSINESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN FOR BUSINESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS THIS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS SO MANY OF US WANT TO SEE, WE SO MANY OF US WANT TO SEE, WE WANT TO SEE THE DOWNTOWN AND WANT TO SEE THE DOWNTOWN AND WAREHOUSE DISTRICTS FLOURISH, WE WAREHOUSE DISTRICTS FLOURISH, WE NEED A MORE SIZABLE POPULATION NEED A MORE SIZABLE POPULATION THAT EXISTS HERE PERMANENTLY. THAT EXISTS HERE PERMANENTLY. WE KNOW THERE IS A TREMENDOUS WE KNOW THERE IS A TREMENDOUS MARKET DEMAND FOR PEOPLE THAT MARKET DEMAND FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN THIS WAREHOUSE WANT TO LIVE IN THIS WAREHOUSE ENVIRONMENT. ENVIRONMENT. >>AND I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE WHO >>AND I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE WHO LIVES IN EAST PEORIA WHO WAS LIVES IN EAST PEORIA WHO WAS COMPLIMENTING PEORIA ON ITS COMPLIMENTING PEORIA ON ITS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT BEFORE IT HAS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT BEFORE IT HAS EVEN REALLY GOTTEN OFF THE EVEN REALLY GOTTEN OFF THE GROUND. GROUND. BUT HE WENT TO A FIRST FRIDAY BUT HE WENT TO A FIRST FRIDAY INT AT THE MILL, AND THEN HE INT AT THE MILL, AND THEN HE CAME TO PAT'S PLACE, AND SAT CAME TO PAT'S PLACE, AND SAT OUTSIDE AND LISTENED TO MUSIC. OUTSIDE AND LISTENED TO MUSIC. THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON AT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON AT RHYTHM KITCHEN AND MARTINI'S RHYTHM KITCHEN AND MARTINI'S DOWN ON WATER STREET HAD A BAND. DOWN ON WATER STREET HAD A BAND. THERE WAS A BAND AT THE CEFCU THERE WAS A BAND AT THE CEFCU STAGE. STAGE. IDEA THAT HE WALKED FROM ONE IDEA THAT HE WALKED FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER IS EXACTLY -- PLACE TO THE OTHER IS EXACTLY -- AND YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING AND YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING BETTER IF HE THEN WENT HOME AND BETTER IF HE THEN WENT HOME AND WAS RIGHT THERE AND GOT UP THE WAS RIGHT THERE AND GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING AND WENT TO WORK! NEXT MORNING AND WENT TO WORK! YOU HEARD STEVE IN THE VIDEO YOU HEARD STEVE IN THE VIDEO FROM OMAHA, STEVE JENSEN SAID FROM OMAHA, STEVE JENSEN SAID THEIR PROCESS WAS SUCH THAT THEY THEIR PROCESS WAS SUCH THAT THEY CREATED A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT CREATED A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT WHICH ATTRACTED PEOPLE FROM WHICH ATTRACTED PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE TO COME. OUTSIDE TO COME. ONCE THAT UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT ONCE THAT UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT ESTABLISHED ITSELF, THEN PEOPLE ESTABLISHED ITSELF, THEN PEOPLE SAID "I WANT TO LIVE NEAR THAT SAID "I WANT TO LIVE NEAR THAT UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT." UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT." SO THE OLD MARKET WAS CREATED SO THE OLD MARKET WAS CREATED FIRST, NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF FIRST, NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF HOUSING, BUT WE NEED HOUSING HOUSING, BUT WE NEED HOUSING DOWNTOWN OR IN THE WAREHOUSE DOWNTOWN OR IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT? DISTRICT? >> NOT ONLY DO WE NEED IT, WE >> NOT ONLY DO WE NEED IT, WE KNOW PEOPLE WANT IT. KNOW PEOPLE WANT IT. IN 2008, WE COMMISSIONED A VERY IN 2008, WE COMMISSIONED A VERY REPUTABLE FIRM CALLED TRACY REPUTABLE FIRM CALLED TRACY CROSS TO DO A STUDY OF THE CROSS TO DO A STUDY OF THE APARTMENT OR OF THE HOUSING APARTMENT OR OF THE HOUSING NEEDS IN DOWNTOWN PEORIA, AND AT NEEDS IN DOWNTOWN PEORIA, AND AT THAT TIME THEY SAID "WELL, YOU THAT TIME THEY SAID "WELL, YOU KNOW WE SEE OVER THE NEXT TEN KNOW WE SEE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, YOU COULD ADD 200,000 YEARS, YOU COULD ADD 200,000 UNITS PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT TEN UNITS PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS." YEARS." THEY REALLY FELT THE NEED WAS THEY REALLY FELT THE NEED WAS FOR RENTAL. FOR RENTAL. WE DON'T HAVE MANY RENTAL UNITS WE DON'T HAVE MANY RENTAL UNITS IN DOWNTOWN PEORIA AS WE SHOULD IN DOWNTOWN PEORIA AS WE SHOULD AS ALL OF THEIR PROJECTIONS AS ALL OF THEIR PROJECTIONS SHOW. SHOW. 2008 WAS -- WE HAD DONE RIGHT 2008 WAS -- WE HAD DONE RIGHT BEFORE THE REAL RECESSION BEFORE THE REAL RECESSION HAPPENED HERE IN PEORIA. HAPPENED HERE IN PEORIA. SO IN 2009, AND THEN IN 2010, WE SO IN 2009, AND THEN IN 2010, WE WENT BACK TO TRACY CROSS AND WENT BACK TO TRACY CROSS AND SAID "NOBODY BELIEVES THESE SAID "NOBODY BELIEVES THESE NUMBERS FROM 2008. NUMBERS FROM 2008. COULD YOU RUN YOUR NUMBERS COULD YOU RUN YOUR NUMBERS AGAIN?" AGAIN?" BOTH TIMES THEY CAME BACK. BOTH TIMES THEY CAME BACK. MOST RECENT ONE WE HAVE FROM MOST RECENT ONE WE HAVE FROM JANUARY OF 2011 WHEN THEY JANUARY OF 2011 WHEN THEY DELIVERED IT. DELIVERED IT. EACH TIME THEY SAID "NO, WE EACH TIME THEY SAID "NO, WE STILL STAND BY OUR ORIGINAL STILL STAND BY OUR ORIGINAL NUMBERS." NUMBERS." PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO LIVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO LIVE THERE. THERE. >>THOSE ARE PROJECTIONS. >>THOSE ARE PROJECTIONS. YOU HAVE REALITY. YOU HAVE REALITY. YOU ARE DEVELOPING BUSINESSES YOU ARE DEVELOPING BUSINESSES AND HOUSING STOCK AT THE SAME AND HOUSING STOCK AT THE SAME TIME. TIME. >>AND I HAVE A WAITING AWAITINGR >>AND I HAVE A WAITING AWAITINGR HOUSING. HOUSING. >>ON HOUSING? >>ON HOUSING? >> YES. >> YES. I HAVE TWO TO THREE PEOPLE I HAVE TWO TO THREE PEOPLE WAITING AND WANTING TO GET IN. WAITING AND WANTING TO GET IN. SOME OF THEM MOVE INTO SMALLER SOME OF THEM MOVE INTO SMALLER APARTMENTS TO GET INTO THE APARTMENTS TO GET INTO THE LARGER ONES AT A LATER DATE JUST LARGER ONES AT A LATER DATE JUST SO THEY CAN BE FIRST ON THE SO THEY CAN BE FIRST ON THE LIST. LIST. SO THAT'S EXCITING. SO THAT'S EXCITING. THE WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO THE WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO MORE CONDOS AND APARTMENTS. MORE CONDOS AND APARTMENTS. THE BANKING INDUSTRY AND THE THE BANKING INDUSTRY AND THE ECONOMICS IS SLOWING A FEW ECONOMICS IS SLOWING A FEW THINGS DOWN, BUT THERE IS STILL THINGS DOWN, BUT THERE IS STILL A WAITING LIST. A WAITING LIST. WE FEEL THAT THE TRACY CROSS WE FEEL THAT THE TRACY CROSS STUDY WAS HUGE COMING BACK WITH STUDY WAS HUGE COMING BACK WITH THEIR REASSESSMENT OF OUR THEIR REASSESSMENT OF OUR HOUSING STOCK AND WHAT WE NEED HOUSING STOCK AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO THIS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. TO DO THIS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. >>IF THAT'S THE CASE, RYAN, >>IF THAT'S THE CASE, RYAN, OUTSIDE DEVELOPERS, WE KNOW OUTSIDE DEVELOPERS, WE KNOW THERE IS SOME INTEREST. THERE IS SOME INTEREST. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF INTEREST WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF INTEREST FROM OUTSIDERS TO SAY "YES, THIS FROM OUTSIDERS TO SAY "YES, THIS IS RIPE. IS RIPE. IT IS TIME DESPITE THE ECONOMY." IT IS TIME DESPITE THE ECONOMY." >>RIGHT, THE TOOLS WE HAVE P PUT >>RIGHT, THE TOOLS WE HAVE P PUT IN PLACE REALLY SHOW US THAT IN PLACE REALLY SHOW US THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT TOOLS THEY HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT TOOLS BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE LOCAL DEVELOPERS LIKE PAT LOCAL DEVELOPERS LIKE PAT SULLIVAN THAT REALLY HAVE BEEN SULLIVAN THAT REALLY HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN THIS FOR DECADES INVESTED IN THIS FOR DECADES NOW, BUT YOU HAVE THESE OUTSIDE NOW, BUT YOU HAVE THESE OUTSIDE FIRMS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES FIRMS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT ARE NOW APPROACHING PEORIA, NOW APPROACHING PEORIA, ILLINOIS, SAYING WE LIKE WHAT ILLINOIS, SAYING WE LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE, AND WE WANT YOU ARE DOING HERE, AND WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED. TO BE INVOLVED. YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TOOLS YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TOOLS FROM THE HISTORIC TAX CREDITS, FROM THE HISTORIC TAX CREDITS, THE T.I.F. THE T.I.F. NOW, ALL OF THE MONEY BEING NOW, ALL OF THE MONEY BEING INVESTED IN THE STREETS SO THE INVESTED IN THE STREETS SO THE DEVELOPERS DON'T HAVE TO IMPROVE DEVELOPERS DON'T HAVE TO IMPROVE THE STREETS. THE STREETS. THEY CAN FOCUS ON WHAT THEY DO THEY CAN FOCUS ON WHAT THEY DO BEST, PRIVATE REDEVELOPMENT BEST, PRIVATE REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF THESE REALLY ACTIVITIES OF THESE REALLY FANTASTIC BUILDINGS. FANTASTIC BUILDINGS. IT IS OUR BUILDING STOCK, ALSO, IT IS OUR BUILDING STOCK, ALSO, THAT IS ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO THAT IS ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THIS COMMUNITY. SO THOSE DEVELOPERS LOOK AT ALL SO THOSE DEVELOPERS LOOK AT ALL THE TOOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN THE TOOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN PEORIA, AND OUR NATURAL PEORIA, AND OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND ADJACENT ENVIRONMENT AND ADJACENT LOCATION NEXT TO THE RIVERFRONT LOCATION NEXT TO THE RIVERFRONT AND SAY THIS IS THE PLATES WE AND SAY THIS IS THE PLATES WE WANT TO DO. WANT TO DO. >>WE TALKED ABOUT PAT SULLIVAN, >>WE TALKED ABOUT PAT SULLIVAN, AND OUTSIDE INTEREST. AND OUTSIDE INTEREST. PAT SULLIVAN ISN'T THE ONLY PAT SULLIVAN ISN'T THE ONLY DEVELOP NER PEORIA WHO OWNS DEVELOP NER PEORIA WHO OWNS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. WHAT ABOUT KIRK HUBER. WHAT ABOUT KIRK HUBER. >>SURE. >>SURE. KIRK HUBER DID GREAT WORK AT KIRK HUBER DID GREAT WORK AT FULLER A AND JUST RENOVATED A FULLER A AND JUST RENOVATED A BUILDING AND PUT ENGINEERING BUILDING AND PUT ENGINEERING FIRM IN 412 SOUTHWEST FIRM IN 412 SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON. THERE IS A GUIDELINE DENNIS THERE IS A GUIDELINE DENNIS SLATE WHO OWNS A SMALL BUILDING. SLATE WHO OWNS A SMALL BUILDING. >>820 SOUTH ADAMS. >>820 SOUTH ADAMS. >>RIGHT. >>RIGHT. AND WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE AND AND WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE AND HAS DONE GREAT THINGS WITH HIS HAS DONE GREAT THINGS WITH HIS BUILDING. BUILDING. I THINK WE HAVE A LOST FOLKS I THINK WE HAVE A LOST FOLKS HERE IN PEORIA WHO ARE VERY HERE IN PEORIA WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED THIS DOING THE WORK, INTERESTED THIS DOING THE WORK, BUT I THINK PAT WOULD BE THE BUT I THINK PAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TO AGREE, THERE IS PLENTY FIRST TO AGREE, THERE IS PLENTY OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY. OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY. SHORT OF SOMEBODY WINNING THE SHORT OF SOMEBODY WINNING THE LOTTERY, THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY LOTTERY, THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT CAN BE INVESTED IN THIS THAT CAN BE INVESTED IN THIS AREA TO MAKE IT IT BE WHAT WE AREA TO MAKE IT IT BE WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE. WANT IT TO BE. I THINK IT WILL REQUIRE BOTH I THINK IT WILL REQUIRE BOTH LOCAL GUYS WHO KNOW WHAT THE LOCAL GUYS WHO KNOW WHAT THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT IS AND HAVE EN LOCAL ENVIRONMENT IS AND HAVE EN INVESTORS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND INVESTORS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND MIKE TAKE SOME OUTSIDE FOLKS WHO MIKE TAKE SOME OUTSIDE FOLKS WHO REALLY SEE THIS AS AN REALLY SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY. >>MR. HUNT,. >>MR. HUNT,. >>JOHN HUNT AND I, WE HAVE >>JOHN HUNT AND I, WE HAVE OPENED OUR ARMS TO EVERY OPENED OUR ARMS TO EVERY DEVELOPER FROM OUTSIDE BECAUSE DEVELOPER FROM OUTSIDE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT ALL. WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT ALL. >>WE KNOW ON-STREET PARKING IS >>WE KNOW ON-STREET PARKING IS CRITICAL. CRITICAL. THAT'S WHY THE RENOVATION OF THAT'S WHY THE RENOVATION OF WASHINGTON STREET. WASHINGTON STREET. WITH THAT, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF WITH THAT, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME. TIME. WE KNOW OMAHA TOOK 40 YEARS TO WE KNOW OMAHA TOOK 40 YEARS TO GET TO THE POINT THEY ARE AT. GET TO THE POINT THEY ARE AT. WE HAVE SOME TIME YET, BUT WE WE HAVE SOME TIME YET, BUT WE NEED TO SEE SOME ACTIVITY. NEED TO SEE SOME ACTIVITY. >>I AM LOSING IT! >>I AM LOSING IT! (LAUGHING). (LAUGHING). >>WITH THAT, THANK TO YOU PAT >>WITH THAT, THANK TO YOU PAT SULLIVAN. SULLIVAN. WE APPRECIATE YOU, TO CHRIS WE APPRECIATE YOU, TO CHRIS SETTI, LES PEORIA CITY MANAGER, SETTI, LES PEORIA CITY MANAGER, AND RYAN SPAIN, MANY PEORIA AND RYAN SPAIN, MANY PEORIA COUNCILMAN. WE HOPE YOU WILL COUNCILMAN. WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US NEXT. JOIN US NEXT. WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION. ANOTHER EDITION. >>