Visitors to a section of Peoria’s Warehouse District will find things a touch brighter now.
Twelve strands of string lights spanning the 800 block of SW Adams Street are in place and functional, completing a placemaking collaboration between the city, community development organizations and neighborhood property owners.
“This project is a great example of what can be accomplished when public and private partners work together toward a shared vision,” Mayor Rita Ali said in a news release. “Investments in placemaking, like these string lights, create a more inviting space and attract visitors and residents alike to support our local businesses.”
The String Lights Project included input from the Downtown Development Corporation of Peoria [DDC], the Greater Peoria Leadership Council [GPLC] and the Baldovin Development Group.
The canopy market lighting spans the corridor between Zion Coffee on Oak Street and the Sugar Wood-Fired Bistro at Elm Street. The initiative looks to build on other recent investments in the vicinity to establish a welcoming atmosphere and boost vibrancy.
“We are excited to complete this project which enhances an emerging retail and entertainment corridor in the Warehouse District neighborhood,” said DDC president Chris Waible. “This investment will create lasting benefits for residents, businesses and visitors while reinforcing the area’s appeal as a destination.”
Funding for the project came through contributions from the city and a GLPC Community Spirit Grant.
“The Warehouse District string lights reflect our commitment to investing in the spaces that make Greater Peoria a vibrant place to live, work and play," said retired Illinois Central College president Sheila Quirk-Bailey, who chairs the GPLC Grant Committee.
Baldovin Development Group President Casey Baldovin said the new string lights take the place of temporary lighting installed over the sidewalks last year as a first step toward a larger concept.
“The overhead string lights project advances our vision for this block and the continued evolution of the Warehouse District,” said Baldovin. “I am very happy to see that vision become a reality.”
