PEORIA, Ill. – A non-profit foundation’s efforts toward construction of a 5,000 seat amphitheater are now focused on Peoria’s riverfront.
The Peoria City Council will consider Tuesday night a letter of intent from Jim Hengst of the Hengst Foundation.
The City Manager’s office, in a memo to the Council, said the foundation would donate $11 million to pay for the amphitheater. However, the City would be responsible for all infrastructure work.
That work would include water, sewer, gas, telephone and electricity lines as well as bike paths, walking trails and recreational areas “in and around the property.”
The foundation’s letter of intent said a portion of the total seating capacity “will consist of premium removable seating, with the remaining seating capacity to general admission (lawn) seating.
The City would also build “support structures” such as permanent restrooms, permanent concessions and off-street parking facilities.
The City would also pay the foundation on a semi-annual basis $1 per ticket sold for events and performances.
Construction is estimated to be completed within 12 to 18 months once it begins.
It is proposed that the site be named the Dee Hengst Amphitheater in honor of Hengst’s late wife. Although, it’s meant for the foundation to retain naming rights to the amphitheater during the “useful life” of the facility.
The Hengst Foundation had offered the City of Washington $12 million for a similar project, but withdrew its letter of intent in June.
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