Downtown Peoria

A nearly $7.3 million redevelopment project along the 500 block of Main Street in Downtown Peoria calls for three street-level eateries and a boutique hotel on the second floor.

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.

In late April, the Peoria City Council approved an ordinance formally proposing the Twin Towers Place Special Service Area. Tower residents petitioned the city to create the SSA to generate the estimated $2.5 million needed for repairs and renovations.

The Riverview Plaza tower in Downtown Peoria has been shuttered for more than two years, as the city pushes the building owner to fix the fire suppression, sprinkler and electrical systems. City Manager Patrick Urich said Peoria is doing everything within its power to see the building brought into code compliance.

The City of Peoria will spend about $500,000 a year to hire six civilian community service officers aimed at boosting the police department’s daytime security presence downtown.

Rik Edgar is stepping down as general manager of the Peoria Civic Center to pursue another job opportunity, the entertainment venue’s management company announced Friday.

City Manager Patrick Urich points out that no money has been allocated quite yet. Rather, the city may look to establish a special service area to generate the estimated $2.5 million in funding.

Weather permitting, the Jefferson Avenue switch to two-way traffic between Walnut and Fayette streets starts at 10 a.m. Tuesday. This follows the recent phased implementation of two-way traffic on Adams Street.

A portion of Adams Street in Peoria will shift to two-way traffic Wednesday morning as the multi-year conversion of two major downtown streets begins to take effect.

In the resumption of a regular interview series, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali discusses the desire to see more activity return to downtown, as well as ongoing efforts aimed at business development, crime reduction and addressing the city’s housing needs.