Peoria Heights says no to KDB Group proposal on historic building
A proposed sublease for the Peoria Heights pump house fell apart Tuesday just hours before the Village Board was supposed to vote on the matter.
Kim Blickenstaff's KDB Group was scheduled to bring a proposal to the board to sublease the pump house to a dessert shop. But around 4 p.m. Tuesday, KDB Group informed village officials the terms of the sublease were no more and asked the board to defer its vote two weeks.
Instead of deferring, the Village Board unanimously voted "no" on the KDB proposal, or rather, the lack of a proposal. It was a signal to KDB Group that the village is ready to hear offers from other people on the building, which KDB currently controls.
Ahead of the vote, board trustee Brandon Wisenburg said the board should vote no on the matter to "put it behind us."
Mayor Mike Phelan told the Journal Star that Tuesday night's vote opens the door for the village to explore other options to fill the pump house and that he would "somewhat prefer" that the next tenant not be KDB Group, which has had a tumultuous relationship with Peoria Heights.
"This will put the pump house back in the hands of the village," Phelan said.
Yet, KDB still has the keys to the pump house. Village attorney Mark Walton told the board it was his impression that KDB was ready to surrender the pump house but he wanted to see KDB deliver the keys back to the village in a "clear handover of possession."
More Peoria Heights news: 'Exciting changes' are planned for this former KDB building
KDB once had a significant footprint in Peoria Heights and had made promises to develop buildings that never came to fruition or fell apart when KDB Group abruptly put up many of its properties for sale earlier this year.
Phelan has been critical of a lack of communication from KDB on their plans for the buildings in the Heights. Phelan said the door is not completely shut on working with KDB, but as far as the pump house is concerned he would prefer the village work with a different developer.
"They've chosen not to communicate with me and Mark Walton for the most part," Phelan said. "Again, this just allows us to take a look at all proposals instead of an exclusive by them to bring us proposals on the property. This allows other potential businesses to make proposals to the village."
Abandoned and for sale: What we know about 13 properties connected to Kim Blickenstaff
In July, the Village Board voted to terminate the lease between the village and KDB Group on the pump house, a termination that was disputed by KDB Group, which wanted the lease to be restored.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Heights and KDB Group continue dispute over historic building
