The old Washington School building in Peoria could be used as the city's first Buddhist temple. That’s the latest proposal for the facility.
East Peoria resident and restaurant owner Sam Mach came to the U.S. from Vietnam about 40 years ago. He says the nearest Buddhist temple for worshippers is in Galesburg or Chicago.
“A lot of people around here, they don’t have a temple to go. Now that people are able to see a temple for their own town, they don’t have to drive so far away.”
Mach shared specifics about his proposal at a city meeting that included members the Moss Bradley Residential Association. Some residents expressed concern about long-term donation funding to sustain a temple. The association deferred weighing-in on the proposal until it gets more information on Mach’s business plan. The City Council could weigh-in on the deal as early as next month depending on resolving details of the proposal.