West Peoria Residents' Association

Rohmann Ave Reconstruction - Peoria County completed the third and final phase of the Rohmann Ave reconstruction.  Former Peoria County Board member, Sharon Kennedy, was extremely helpful in moving this project forward. Student Apartment Project - In the spring of 2008 Oxbow Development Corp. began exploring the possibility of developing a student apartment complex at the site of the former St. Joseph Home.  The proposed complex would be designed to attract students primarily from Bradley University.  The student housing project would be a 13-15 million dollar planned unit development (the largest development project ever for West Peoria). The preliminary details of the project were shared with the residents of West Peoria at a special meeting in late July.  The initial response from the residents was strong opposition to the project. The West Peoria City Council and staff has continued to work with the developer and key residents in an effort to provide the project full and fair consideration.  The opposition to the project grew to the extent that council meetings had to be relocated.  At one point Mayor Dillon commented, “I truly appreciate the public interest in West Peoria and its future.  The West Peoria City staff and I are always eager to discuss projects on their merits.” At this point, the proposed project is apparently on hold.  According to the developer’s attorney, Oxbow still has an option on the Heading Ave property.  The final outcome of the project is yet to be known. West Peoria Crime Reports and West Peoria Neighborhood Watch - In 2008 reports of crime for West Peoria continued to drop.  In twelve of the twenty-one crime categories, reports were down and two categories had no report.  Overall reports of crime were down significantly in 2008. The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch program, coordinated by Maggie Moore, continues to be successful in building a safer and better community. West Peoria Neighborhood Watch is a member of the National Association of Town Watch and participates in the annual NATIONAL NIGHT OUT to promote involvement in crime and drug prevention activities. West Peoria Welcome Wall – Gift From Gerard Fahnestock - The welcome wall at Heading and Western Avenues was completed in 2008 except for some landscaping.  The city of West Peoria received a gift of $30,006 from the Estate of Gerard Fahnestock that was used to cover the cost to construct the welcome wall.  We are very grateful to the Fahnestock family for their support of West Peoria. Plans for a New City Hall – Purchase of Property - The city of West Peoria has been planning to build a city hall for several years.  The plan is to build the new city hall next to the existing one. In 2008 the city purchased the property at 2514 W. Rohmann to accommodate the new city hall. The property at 2508 W. Rohmann was purchased in 2007. The plan is for the new building to be city hall for West Peoria and the West Peoria Township office. New City Garage - On December 1, 2006 a major snow storm destroyed the West Peoria Township office and the West Peoria City Garage.  In the fall of 2008 the new city garage was completed.  The garage is used to store trucks and equipment and as a polling place. We look forward to 2009 with great expectations.  Economic and community development will continue to be a central focus for 2009.