Construction for a Holiday Inn Express & Suites is underway in East Peoria. City Council members and business leaders broke ground on the site adjacent to Bass Pro Wednesday.
The project’s developer Frontier Hospitality Group praised the way the city collaborated with the company.
“We’ve worked with a lot of mayors and city councils and city governments, but I don’t know that we’ve had an easier, more welcoming partner than the City of East Peoria,” Frontier CEO Dan Huber said.
The East Peoria City Council approved a deal to give $830,000 in property tax rebates to the developer in August. The money was directed at the cost of reinforcing the foundation on compromised soil. The site was once an ash pond.
The 95-room hotel will be situated across the parking lot from the Bass Pro Shop. Huber says the hope is the hotel will lure Bass Pro customers to extend their stay.
Mayor Dave Mingus says he predicts the new hotel will lead to further development across Farm Creek to Route 116.
“In my opinion that is the future development of East Peoria, and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites is a key component to ensure that occurs.”
The $8 million project is expected to be complete this time next year.