Downtown Peoria

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.

Improvements, upgrades and new retail tenants are coming to the Westlake Shopping Center after the Peoria City Council approved changes to the property’s business development incentive.

A patch of land along the Illinois River between the Murray Baker Bridge and the Peoria RiverPlex is officially on track to become the location of an outdoor amphitheater.

With work underway on the Catholic Diocese of Peoria’s project to transform the former Spalding Institute into a new facility honoring the life and legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, current Bishop Louis Tylka is restoring the Sheen Foundation Advisory Board.

Developers plan to revitalize a prominent downtown Peoria block by expanding one restaurant and bar, and adding two more.

Bradley University President James Shadid touted the gateway and its potential impact at Thursday’s Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving Luncheon, a week after the university announced the project in an email to students, staff and alumni.