Peoria’s Warehouse District is moving forward. Local, state and federal officials gathered in downtown Peoria for a symbolic ground-breaking. The event kicks off the Warehouse District and Washington Street improvement projects. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined Mayor Jim Ardis, former Mayor Dick Carver and others to kick-off the $30 million effort. LaHood says the projects are the result of cooperation between different community groups and levels of government:
“In Peoria we have people that have a vision, people here whether its the mayor or city council or county board, or others are always trying to take Peoria to the next level. That’s the great thing about this community. We’re not standing still, we’re not resting on our laurels,” LaHood says.
Peoria received $10 million in federal funds to boost pedestrian accessibility and aesthetics in the Warehouse district. It also received more than $10 million from the state to make improvements to Washington Street and add a roundabout at the Harrison Street intersection. Construction is expected to take about two years.