© 2025 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Long-vacant East Peoria nursing home now eyed for new condos

The former East Peoria Gardens Health Care Center at 1910 Springfield Road has stood vacant for well over a decade.
Google Maps
The former East Peoria Gardens Health Care Center at 1910 Springfield Road has stood vacant for well over a decade.

A long-vacant East Peoria nursing home will be converted into new condominiums.

The former East Peoria Gardens Health Care Center at 1910 Springfield Road was rezoned for multi-family residential living by the city council on Tuesday night. Williams Brothers Construction of Peoria Heights is leading the project.

East Peoria Commissioner Dan Decker said the property has long been an eyesore.

"I can't see how this can't be 100 plus percent better than what it has been. So I'm looking forward to it," Decker said. "It's been something that many people that live in that area have brought up to me over the years."

Commissioner Mark Hill noted the city had to step in after the previous owners abandoned the facility more than a decade ago.

"We, the city, and even the taxpayers of the city, have been paying some bills in order to keep the thing closed up from the vandals and address fallen limbs that have fallen across the driveway and such. So to me, this is a welcome thing here," he said.

Michael Williams of Williams Brothers Construction told the city zoning board of appeals earlier this month that his company has installed a new roof and plans to completely re-do the building's interior as it is converted into condos.

"It's going to be, you know, nice, brand new units rented to good, good people, and, you know, background checked. All that," he said.

The property's previous single-family zoning was apparently a technical oversight, as it's been used for multi-family residential purposes since at least the 1960s.

Earlier this year, WCBU reported the site was under consideration for a potential veteran's village project led by Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria.

Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.