La Salle's synergy helps revitalize downtown
People talk about the growth and redevelopment of La Salle and this very good article gives us some of the clues. Yesterday we purchased gas in La Salle on our way to Ottawa and looking inside of Becks, I see the word COMMUNITY in large letters on their back wall and that pretty much says why the above is happening. When you have the community at your back, you are doing something right.
Again we were not able to attend either of the events this weekend but friends have told me it was well attended and enjoyable.
"Perhaps the biggest impact on the downtown in particular, though, is the efforts of the city, business owners and business groups as a whole,
24 comments:
Recently a blogger asked how could we get things done in Peru which is very difficult because the mayor has dissolved the Peru Downtown Redevelopment group and years back there used to be a Peru Business Mens Assn. Was this done because of lack of interest or some other reason, I don't know.
But all improvement needs to be a combination of business, organizations and the city. Always the city needs to be involved.
Yesterday being in Ottawa, I immediately saw banners downtown along with the horicultural displays. These banners looked a bit larger than ours, less in number and easier to read because less was printed on them. Regarding ours we can consider this a learning lesson and maybe next time have less for the eye try to read and see while driving.
2:34 And maybe more eye catching colors. Ours look old and faded already because of the dull colors chosen.
Who authored this posting as I read that they purchased, a identical product, gas from the Bek's gas station located in LaSalle rather than the Peru Bek's station. Being that both motor fuel tax and sales tax are paid to the city in which Bek's goods are purchased it would be thought that one would do business in their own home town.
It is loyal for the Bek family to promote their new station in LaSalle with the word Community on their wall but what have they done in the number of years and in the station which they have done a tremendous volume of business - the Peru station?
Those from Peru should question them as they sell a identical product at a identical price in Peru and LaSalle. You will find that they also will have a identical product and price and will fluctuate price with all other competition. If not illegal at the least very questionable.
This comment is not a attempt to discredit Bek's but to inform those from Peru who are now traveling to LaSalle to make a purchase of a product which is offered in Peru that you are cutting your own throat. Peru still needs the motor fuel tax, sales tax, jobs and all other benefits of purchases made in Peru.
Revitalization can only be accomplished by city leaders who possess the leadership and organizational skills to bring people together to make a plan and then see that plan through. Peru's elected officials clearly lack the skills as well as the work ethic necessary to bring revitalization to downtown Peru. Peru's elected officials from the top down don't are unwilling to put in the work that it takes to bring people and ideas together. Peru's officials are simply lazy and unmotivated. They provide absolutely no initiatives, ideas, suggestions, visions, or even hopes and dreams of what Peru can be. The lack of intellectual energy and initiative by Peru's officials must be caused by their misconception that creating phony administrative positions and paying huge salaries to other people to do all the thinking and planning is the way to go. It has been my observation that Peru's elected officials are totally oblivious to the need to maintain a vital downtown and evn if any of them are aware of that need, they are just too damn lazy to do anything about it. Showing up at meetings and casting a rubber-stamp vote for a pre-determined outcome is not what I consider qulity representation. Yet, that is the extent of what Peru's officials put forth. I challenge any of Peru's cheerleading squad to point out a single initiative by any current elected official designed to improve Peru. I'll hang up and wait for your answer, but I won't hold my breath.
9:33 A.M.
Almost all services Becks, Casey's, Shell and maybe another one have locations of service in both. I happen to live in an area where it is closer to buy gas in La Salle if I am leaving town and traveling east through La Salle. Beck's, Shell and Casey's are on my route on Route 6 and that is where I buy gas. If i am going to the Valley or Princeton or others places west, I will buy my gas in Peru at Casey's. It only makes sense to do that and I am betting that many people do and I am sure that many people living in La Salle buy their gas in Peru when the need arises. This is nonsense we are TWIN CITIES with an unseen dividing line and basically we exist as one city with the exception of the government and utilities.
We purchase our gas at whatever station is selling it the cheapest when we need to refuel. I don't consider there to be a boundary that I have to live or shop within. We are LaSalle-Peru not just Peru.
The city should be filing the paperwork to get the tax portion refunded.
9:56
The Peru revitalization program began in the 1990's and the city invested millions into the area. If you look at downtown Peru you will see a very small portion of vacant buildings and some very strong anchor stores. LaSalle thru private investment has a strong presence with restaurants and banks. It also has some very good long term services like banks, attorneys, studios. Much credit goes out to those in LaSalle that have invested in the downtown and the group of business people that made this renovation a priority.
Peru looks much better than most downtown areas and its improving. Look at Debos, a few renovated taverns, Vlastiniks, Peru Federal, Brandt law office, dental offices, eye doctors, dessert and many others renovating. I think your mad about some of the Peru representation and looking for ways to vent. Downtown is improving. And you have a new town hall! A Maude Powell center area and the areas best pizza place. Its looks like the Peru business climate is very good. What is it that you really are upset about?
Part of the new $25,000,000 to $50,000,000 Public Safety and Public Works complex that will soon be made up north will be a fuel farm. The city will no longer be buying gas from local gas stations. Unless they donate enough to "the fund" gas stations wont be getting any more city business. Now that can change depending on fund raising requirements.
You have less rubber stamp unanimous votes in Peru than any other city. According to our local press. Princeton may be the next city with limited unanimous voting.
Our city council just wants to get home in time to see Jeopardy.
12:42 P.M.
So you say that the local press does not report honestly. I see most votes in the last few months to be 8-0 or 7-1. That imho is a rubber state vote and I don't need anyone to tell me that. No longer any disession in Peru.
We have only 2 committees so that the mayor can make time to sit in on each. Some aldermen say little to nothing because of the presence of the mayor. then they come to to the council meeting and vote aye in agreement and the mayor is happy.
An original thought does not surface any longer, we must all agree to get along.
"dissension" in Peru
10;05 What is nonsense? Don't you realize that LaSalle gets its own motor fuel tax and sales tax and Peru does the same separated by plaques with each cities name on it? These plaques are not unseen but in sight of everyone. 9:33 is correct and has been for over 150 years, but than again she is stating fact not trying to convince herself that no matter what she does she is correct by excuse.
I don't see the point in bouncing around to buy gas. I guess I don't drive that much. I fill up once a week in the summer and twice a week in the winter. I drive to Ottawa everyday and I don't let it get much below a half tank in the winter. Anyway, I buy at the same gas station all the time. I used to use the one you are talking about, but I decided that my current station gives me better service and the coffee is good.
Just so everyone is clear, the motor fuel tax is collected by the State and distributed to cities based on population. A portion of sales tax goes to the city where a purchase is made but where you buy your fuel doesn't matter. 5:20pm is correct in that where you get good service and the product you want is where most people will always go.
10:48 What Peru are you speaking of, Indiana, New York or some other state? It surely is not Peru, Illinois. The Peru City Hall is the newest Building you have listed and it was built at least 8 years ago.
As for empty buildings you should start counting, and than look at the square footage which is empty and how long have buildings such as Amcore Bank been empty?
Peru business climate is so outstanding that it has a church downtown and Section 8 apartments,a smoke shop and a martial arts studio and the latest fad gaming parlors plus part time businesses.
Do you realize that the Mirror Building was sold by the city for approximately 1/3 of what it cost the city to build it and at that it still took creative financing?
Of course even for all of this it appears downtown Peru is better off than things in the Northern part of Peru. Downtown Peru has never been considered for a TIF but Northern Peru is in court for another. Didn't the motel that is in tonight's paper cost the city 1/2 million to buy being offered for $40K and demolition costs. Someone is winning and someone is losing big time here. This is more than 7 acres of land in high priced property. The city should be able to get more for this 7+ acres if they put it on a 50/50 raffle than $40K. This has to be payback or a even up call for a recent previous non action. Does anyone know what is happening here?
@8:03 Please explain your sentence "A portion of sales tax goes to the city where a purchase is made but where you buy your fuel doesn't matter".
Peru has two special "home rule" sales taxes that are applied to all sales - including gasoline. These one is turned over to the school district to pay the bonds on the new school. The other is used by Boss Harl to "butter bread" - aka the "infrastructure sales tax." Peru's portion of the "motor fuel tax" barely pays for the Alderman's favorite program - "the curb program."
10:28 pm
You need to get off the caffeine and get some sleep to be able to drive through Peru during the daylight. The hotel project according to my newspaper cost the city $40,000 in legal fees, nothing for the purchase. Currently, the city is looking for interested parties to take control and demolish the property. If you have some interest you should send in your request, the newspaper listed the requirements. Step up you have all the answers. The property is already in a TIF area!
It's obvious that you may have lost your real-estate license. The property is only worth what anyone will pay and with a old hotel it's not worth a whole lot!
Funny you should mention the curb program. I was walking down the street where I lived as a child the other day. I saw my name written in the curb from when it was originally made in 1974. I remember the curbs in that neighborhood used to be very tall. Now they are barely a bump. 41 years, no replacement - and the street level has been raised at lest 6 inches or the curbs have settled that far.
with gas being so cheep - how is this impacting all the infrastructure programs? The sales tax is a percentage. I think people around here buy more gas than anything else. Has our "take" gone down because the oil companies keep lowering the price?
Also, what is our government doing about this? Cant they make the oil companies pay for the difference? I think these low prices are seriously impacting the money the government gets.
I think we need a new gas tax otherwise the school won't get paid for and the streets are not going to get finished.
It has been a standard practice for all legalities to be listed in the classified section of the newspaper. Why was the property that the city is selling listed on a back page rather than the classified?
The oil companies are doing this on purpose. The City and State need to raise the tax on gas substantially! They need to do it NOW!
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