PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Mayor Rita Ali says that revitalizing Main Street is her top priority when it comes to revamping Downtown Peoria.
Ali says she has many goals for the area, including more student housing, residential housing, nonprofits, and encouraging people to walk from store to store.
Currently, Ali is a part of the Mayor’s Institute for City Design, where she selected Main Street as her first project for downtown development. She also says there are 89 active businesses and organizations out there, with 38 vacant buildings currently.
Ali tells 25 News the PNC Bank building is a pilot that she could see being redeveloped into housing units.
“The PNC is an opportunity for us,“ Ali says. ”We put out an RFQ (Quote request) and by this time next week, we’ll know who applied, which developers have applied to take on this project. One of them will be selected.”
Ali also says the Peoria City Council will vote Tuesday night on a housing development that will be market price, located at 315 Main Street.
The mayor also says she believes that the more populated downtown is with housing, there’s more of a possibility the area could get a grocery store or pharmacy.
Comments