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RON JOHNSON/JOURNAL STAR
Marilyn Mosley, former president of the Spring Grove Neighborhood Assocaiation, is one of the members demanding better lighting in the subdivision. The project could be greenlit since it was deemed one of 15 projects listed as either “eligible” or “possibly eligible” that could be funded with money from the Southtown tax increment financing district.
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PEORIA
When Louis and Vanessa Farmer walk outside their South Peoria home, they notice a nearby street light isn't working.
"This one is blacked out," Louis Farmer said Wednesday, pointing to the light at Spring Aire Court and Spring Hollow Lane within Spring Grove subdivision. "It's too dark."
A new street lighting system for the subdivision could be coming since it was deemed one of 15 projects listed as either "eligible" or "possibly eligible" within a group of items that could be funded with money from the Southtown tax increment financing district.
The list, which was whittled down from 42 items suggested by residents during a town hall meeting Thursday, will be presented to the Peoria City Council on Tuesday.
"What we need to do as we go forward with that is really look at (the items) and what the scope is," City Manager Patrick Urich said.
Six items are "clearly eligible for TIF funding," and they include the Spring Grove lighting project, renovations to George Washington Carver Community Center, improving a section of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, fixing the MacArthur Highway bridge, upgrading fencing between Spring Grove and CityScape apartments and revamping sidewalks and alleys throughout the district.
"Clearly identifying the low-hanging fruit (should) be considered now and moved forward on," 1st District Councilman Clyde Gulley said, referring to work to Carver Center and the Spring Grove lights. "Those things are clearly fundable and should be considered."
Included on the list of projects possibly eligible for TIF money is extending Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. That project, identified in the city's long-term capital works plan, costs about $9 million.
Almost none of the projects has a financial estimate, and it's unknown how long some of them might take to complete.
Also, it's unclear whether some of the projects are needed. For instance, city Public Works officials said the MacArthur Highway bridge is deteriorating somewhat, but is not in dire need for repairs.
A committee will be formed to look over the list and prioritize it. Representatives from Spring Grove subdivision, Carver Center and the Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Development and other interested community groups will participate. The first meeting is scheduled for the week of Feb. 20.
Last week's town hall meeting and the city's subsequent analysis resulted from an outcry of residents who attended the council's Jan. 24 meeting protesting the use of Southtown TIF district money to reduce the city's obligation on the Marriott hotel project, which is located in an adjacent TIF district.
The Southtown TIF district closes in 2013, but projects could get funding through 2014. The city estimates about $9 million will be available for TIF-related projects.
TIF eligible?
The following is a list of issues that are 'clearly eligible' or 'possibly eligible' for Southtown TIF district money. A TIF eligible project includes, among other things, acquiring property, rehabilitating or renovating public buildings, constructing infrastructure (roads, sidewalks and streetlights) and providing job training within the district's boundaries.
Clearly eligible
1. Renovate George Washington Carver Community Center
2. Improve the lighting within Spring Grove subdivision
3. Complete Seventh Street (improving Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between Union hill and Richard Allen Drive)
4. Improve MacArthur Highway bridge
5. Improve fencing between Spring Grove subdivision and CityScape apartments
6. Improve sidewalks and alleys
Possibly eligible
1. Finish Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport
2. Job training programs
3. Build a heritage of Southtown (improve signage)
4. Build a neighborhood commercial center on Jefferson Avenue
5. Complete the MacArthur greenway
6. Repair the pool at John H. Gwynn Family Aquatic Center
7. Help Peoria Mineral Springs
8. Construct housing (TIF funds cannot be used for new construction, but can fund land acquisition and site preparation)
9. Construct parking lots and decks
Source: City of Peoria
John Sharp can be reached at 686-3282 or jsharp@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnSharp99.