Hoping to attract business growth, Peoria to spend millions on East Bluff corridor

A swath of Wisconsin Avenue on Peoria's East Bluff, considered to be "critical" to the city's overall vision for the neighborhood, is scheduled to undergo a $6.4 million construction project beginning in 2024.

The reconstruction between McClure Avenue and Nebraska Avenue is slated to include a new roadway for Wisconsin Avenue, the addition of a new sidewalk on one side of the street, and a multi-purpose path on the other.

Much of the funding for the project is coming from state and federal grant funds, which combined will deliver just over $4 million to Peoria for the work. Local motor fuel tax money will cover the remainder.

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City Councilmember Tim Riggenbach, whose 3rd District is home to the East Bluff, said the project is "critical" to the city's vision of a thriving Wisconsin Avenue business corridor.

Riggenbach hopes the revitalization of Wisconsin Avenue can spur business development in the vacant spaces in Wisconsin Plaza and the storefronts south of Republic Street.

"There's multiple buildings there available for commercial, retail and restaurant development that I think, seeing the investment the city is making in this, shows credibility on our part," Riggenbach said. "It's not just the councilman talking but the city putting up hard dollars to make it viable again."

City Manager Patrick Urich also said he hopes the Wisconsin Avenue road project can ignite investment from the business community in the area.

"We have a lot of commercial corridors in the city, and this is one that with this type of infrastructure investment, hopefully we'll see that there will be more investment from the business community back into the corridor," Urich said.

Construction work on the stretch of Wisconsin Avenue from McClure Avenue to Nebraska Avenue is scheduled to begin in 2024. Yet, another large construction project on Wisconsin Avenue, this one stemming from Forest Hill to McClure is slated to begin in 2026. That project is slated for $7.8 million of investment into the East Bluff.

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The East Bluff neighborhood has faced challenges with crime, poverty and housing. Riggenbach said the city is very aware of those issues, but he hopes investments like the Wisconsin Avenue project can help.

"I would like to think it gives (residents) the assurance that the city is serious about this," Riggenbach said. "... We can talk until we're blue in the face about what we want to do to it, but seeing this, a $12 million project when all is said and done, is a pretty significant investment, and I want my constituents and residents in the East Bluff to know the city is committed."

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria invests millions to make major road a thriving business locale