Peoria County Makes The Block a Reality
“Let’s Build The Block!” That was the consensus of Peoria County voters on April 7.
The majority voted “yes” on the “public facility” referendum, approving a one-quarter of 1% sales tax for up to 20 years to help fund the Peoria Riverfront Museum. In doing so, voters took The Block from a nearly decade-long dream to a reality.
Museum Collaboration Group chairperson Brad McMillan praised the “strong grass roots effort” that made the victory possible, claiming the victory for “our kids and generations to come who will benefit from The Block.” Among The Block’s many offerings will be an IMAX Theatre, cutting-edge planetarium, IHSA Peak Performance Center, hands-on art, history, river and kids galleries, and the highly interactive Caterpillar Experience.
A Little History
In 2000, then Congressman Ray LaHood responded to requests for financial help from several local museum-related organizations by bringing them together and providing leadership to form the Museum Collaboration Group. That group, consisting of the Heartland Foundation, Illinois High School Association, Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, Peoria African American Hall of Fame Museum, Peoria Historical Society and Peoria Regional Museum Society, agreed to work together to create a single new museum.
Their goal? To maximize their collective ability to serve central Illinois with cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities. Now, after more than nine years of planning, public input and revisions, their goal is within reach.
“The Block will truly be our stage to the world,” said Lakeview Museum president Jim Richerson. “The unique partnership the Museum Collaboration Group has created with Caterpillar represents a cultural and corporate endeavor that will serve as an exciting new model in other communities.”
Getting To Work
The Block’s future home, the former Sears block overlooking the riverfront in downtown Peoria, has been vacant for more than 15 years. But in late 2009 or early 2010, local contractors and construction workers will change that when they begin work on the underground parking garage that will form The Block’s foundation.
The Block has been heralded as a home-grown economic stimulus project that will create up to 300 local construction jobs and $45 million in labor payroll during its 25-month construction. Through an unprecedented agreement among the Museum Collaboration Group, Caterpillar and the building trades, all labor for the project will be local. In addition, supervising architects PSA Dewberry are locally based.
Once completed, The Bock will provide enhanced educational opportunities for all ages, from state-of-the-art IMAX documentaries and planetarium shows to river science lab experiments and an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at Caterpillar’s people, products and services.
Funding Update
With the referendum’s approval, $40 million in Peoria County funds will join the $91 million in private and public funds already committed to The Block. Caterpillar is funding its $41 million Caterpillar Experience, as well as donating more than $13.5 million to the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
Less than $10 million is still to be raised for the museum, some of which may come from the federal stimulus package or a state capital bill. In addition, some private donors waiting for the referendum vote’s outcome are ready to commit to The Block’s capital campaign.