Peoria's "Super Site"
The Peoria Journal Star posted a story online Saturday (and in print on Sunday) that caught my interest: Peoria gains a 'Super Site'.
The "Super Site" in question is the Medina Plains Corporate Park in northwest Peoria. The State of Illinois' Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity recently designated the park as one of 15 sites which
"...has undergone a qualification process that assures it is up to standards developers require for large industrial projects."
Originally called "Growth Cell 2," it was first touted for industrial development in 1995. The article describes its location
"The Peoria site is located between Radnor and Allen roads, off the west end of Townline Road near Walmart Supercenter and the North Branch of the Peoria Public Library. It's south of Illinois Route 6 and north of the Pioneer Industrial Railway tracks."
"The Peoria site is located between Radnor and Allen roads, off the west end of Townline Road near Walmart Supercenter and the North Branch of the Peoria Public Library. It's south of Illinois Route 6 and north of the Pioneer Industrial Railway tracks."
Criteria for a "Super Site" includes a minimum of 250 acres (Peoria's is 254), have industrial zoning, access to utilities, rail access and proximity to a four-lane highway.
The funny thing about this is that city officials touted 1,300 acres in "Growth Cell 2" as a plum to convince skeptics to support reconfiguring rail service to Pioneer Industrial Park so that the Kellar Branch could be freed up for trail use. That was in 1997. Five years later, developers were already beginning to promote sections for more commercial use, coining the name "Medina Plains Corporate Park" for 240 acres reserved for corporate offices, distribution centers and light industrial use. In 2008, when the Peoria Public Library's North Branch was approved, developers asked for commercial zoning.
I've created a three-part documentary on the Pioneer Industrial Railway and the successful efforts by the City of Peoria, Peoria Park District and local developers to remove the Kellar Branch. You can view these below.
The funny thing about this is that city officials touted 1,300 acres in "Growth Cell 2" as a plum to convince skeptics to support reconfiguring rail service to Pioneer Industrial Park so that the Kellar Branch could be freed up for trail use. That was in 1997. Five years later, developers were already beginning to promote sections for more commercial use, coining the name "Medina Plains Corporate Park" for 240 acres reserved for corporate offices, distribution centers and light industrial use. In 2008, when the Peoria Public Library's North Branch was approved, developers asked for commercial zoning.
I've created a three-part documentary on the Pioneer Industrial Railway and the successful efforts by the City of Peoria, Peoria Park District and local developers to remove the Kellar Branch. You can view these below.
To make a long story short, ensuring continued rail access to Pioneer Park enabled legal abandonment of the Kellar Branch, freeing it up for trail use. Once this happened, industrial development no longer mattered.
Now Peoria has a "Super Site" with rail access. Big deal. The article admits
"Medina Plains probably is too small for most heavy industry. But light manufacturing, assembly, distribution and warehousing might be among appropriate pursuits."
Even that is questionable. This is high-tax Illinois after all.
Now Peoria has a "Super Site" with rail access. Big deal. The article admits
"Medina Plains probably is too small for most heavy industry. But light manufacturing, assembly, distribution and warehousing might be among appropriate pursuits."
Even that is questionable. This is high-tax Illinois after all.
- David P. Jordan
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