Back in the early nineties the city of Peru decided to redevelop the main business district at a great expense and it is still being paid for at this date, I might add. It is from the decisions made then that we have the Mirror bldg. and the Maud Powell Plaza. Originally the design called for extensive changes including not only an East Plaza but also a West Plaza with courtyards, fountains, outdoor furniture, kiosks and clocks. The east Plaza was Putnam Street and the location of the current Maud Powell Plaza. The west Plaza as designed by PGAV Urban Consulting was drawn up to close off Fulton Street and make that the West Plaza with Debo Hardware occupying the location of the current City Hall. (Until it was pointed out to them, that if Fulton was closed, there would be nowhere to turn north from Fourth St. until you reached Pike St.) Amazing that the urban developers did not come to that conclusion until local residents pointed it out to the city and that was the end of the West Plaza. Soon afterward Debo decided against a new building and that was the end of more changes and the gradual conclusion of the downtown redevelopment and to what we have today.
Included in the designing was adding a "shed-type awning with white or gold trim to provide theming and continuity and building freshness on Fourth Street throughout the area" (a quote from the Master Plan.) Primarily the building renovation proposed to upgrade the original brick, replace windows and doors as necessary, paint trimwork and building features in contrasting colors with the earth tone of brick. Numerous other plans that never even got off the ground.
The city soon adopted ordinances regarding the awnings which still exist today. Has the maroon awning done what the designers anticipated? Yet the city to this day and I mean this day enforces the maroon awning ordinance. Do you see it as a detriment to an interested party coming into downtown? I believe the Peru Downtown Redevelopment Committee is still in existence, not that we ever hear anything about what it does or plans.
Is it time for some new ideas and perhaps even eliminating the themes that have not worked to make the downtown area any more inviting to prospective businesses than it is now? Since the Master Plan was drawn up, we have lost businesses such as the bank, Letterkraft, Sears and the City Clerks office in its prior location. Downtown has become a one stop destination and usually in through the back door from the parking lots. We did not even run the 175th parade through our main street. Is it that dead there? Do you see any way we can make it a place people want to be? What would it take?
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12 comments:
Lois, said it once and will say it again, they need to start involving the community. Form committees that include the citizens. We have many good ideas. They should have formed a committee the moment the decision was made to close the pool.
What I am seeing now is nothing more than a continuation of past actions. I am seeing the same people on old committees, township board and on newly established committees. It is disappointing to say the least. They haven't reached out to the community for ideas and I know there are many capable residents of the city who would like to be invited to be a part of their city.
The reason this activity is Dead is because THERE IS NO MONEY. It is pretty simple . No money then and no money now . Stop the perpetual conversation . This issue is dead. Don't waste our time..
The Downtown Redevelopment Plan as originally written is probably dead, I agree. But you don't give up on improving the downtown or anything else in town because economic conditions are weak at present. There are ways of encouraging start-up small businesses and improvements for existing businesses in town. That is what this "revolving loan fund" and committee is designed to promote. They will have to find ways to convince or entice small business "entrepenuers" with low interest loans and other creative programs to get business in Peru moving and improving.
We can't afford not to keep trying.
But we need to take the noose off of the neck of some of the up and coming entrepenuers. We need to allow them some creativity in developing the personality of their businesses. As it stands now, we really don't mind what type of business you have as long as you "look" like we (the downtown redevelopment committee) want you to look.
Its like raising twins or other multiples. For awhile you can dress them as you want and looking alike but then they reach a point of wanting to be themselves. Don't expect all businesses to want the same color scheme as their neighbors. Within reason, allow their individuality to come out and you just might find people who will open the kind of businesses that actually draws customers. As it is now, never will it happen.
I think Mr.Mikyska made a very big mistake saying "I think it is very very important for a community of this size to have a swimming pool"
Hey Joe, what a about this community haveing some decent roads to ride on. Anyone coming to this community, would die at the condition our roads are in. Before we get a pool or bike path, please fix the roads. That should be Number one on the agenda.
I agree with Anon 5:49PM but I would add one very large issue to be addressed and that is JOBS.
We cannot support a swimming pool if people do not have a job. After all how many people would "transfer" to this community as Mr Mikyska states if there are no jobs in this area. Look around folks , I think Mikyska is NUTS to propose a swimming pool over any other infrastructure improvement or JOBS.
We cannot afford a new pool nor do we need a new pool because this past summer has proven the fact to the contrary.
Please remember that Ald. O'Beirne on his own contacted Burbach Aquatics to come to Peru and talk to us about the "new" pool. This was one of the companies which had given a presentation back in March and came in second (3-2) behind Williams Aquatics.
I don't know if a definite date was decided upon, but stay tuned we will hear more from some of the aldermen about having a pool.
A rather large hole appeared at the corner of Putnam and second and it sounded like the brick street caved in at the corner. Didn't get a chance to see it until this evening and whatever it was it was repaired and even better it was repaired with brick which is the same as the rest of the block. Even though it appears to be new brick, it is nice that the city did make the attempt to keep the street with as much original as possible.
Coming home tonight, we found ourselves stopping at Rock St to turn north and I found myself looking at the bakery and bagel shop we have here in Peru. Neat building and surely one of the most successful on Fourth Street but not within the bounds of the Peru Downtown Development Committee They happen to have awnings all around the front and since they can go what they want, they chose green and white stripes and it looks absolutely great and so inviting to stop in for a cup of coffee and a muffin. Continue on west through the downtown area and I don't think I need to say more where you see dusty and sometimes abandoned awnings from former businesses that have moved on. And later tonight going through First Street in LaSalle, I saw the diversity of businesses on one block bookended by the new Emporium on one end and Uptown on the other. Granted it is only one block but again you can tell something about the stores there and each has a different design and attractiveness to it.
But getting our town to wake up seems to be an almost impossible task. I somehow get the feeling that our residents and city officials do not care about it any longer so lets move on. And if that is true, let it be.
I'm beginning to think you might be right Lois that we possibly have the "I don't care attitude" and "Let it be". A great deal of time and effort was put into cleaning out the ditches along Progress Boulevard but, today they are being ignored and filling up again. It would have been a good job for the summer help to maintain them. Also, there was a big stink at one of the council meetings about signs popping up all over (especially those advertising alcoholic beverages) but today they're back and nothing is being done. We don't seem to be consistant and re-inforce issues.
I didn't know where to post this issue but does anyone know for sure when the Bike Path Committee is meeting and where? I see it here Lois on your blog but I don't see it listed anywhere on the city calendar of events or the committee meeting agenda list.
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