10 years later, Shoppes at Grand Prairie impact is huge

The Shoppes at Grand Prairie, the shopping center that some city fathers didn’t want and naysayers thought would hurt the local economy, was the catalyst for a near $40 million gain in Home Rule Tax receipts its first decade in existence, according to a Bradley University study.

The Center for Business and Economy Research at Bradley’s Foster College of Business said that from April 2003, when the Shoppes at Grand Prairie opened, through December 2013 the city of Peoria collected $38.97 million in sales taxes from the $2.6 billion in retail sales added by the Shoppes and numerous related developments in that time.

The CBER concluded that the City of Peoria collected an additional $38.97 million in HRT sales taxes from the $2.6 billion retail sales that were added by the presence of the Grand Prairie developments during that period. 

HRT taxable retail sales in the City of Peoria were 19 percent higher than expected from other economic factors, with new sales growth associated with the presence of these new Peoria regional shopping areas, the report said.

“The study finds that sales and sales tax receipts since the April 2003 opening of the Grand Prairie developments were significantly higher than would have been expected from the other variables studied. These other factors included: Midwest price inflation; the estimated volume of online sales; seasonal variations in local purchases; general growth in area retail sales; area economic growth; the national business cycle; and changes in the local sales tax structure,” said the report by Dr. Bernard Goitein, CBER director.  

The study evaluated the statistical impact of the Grand Prairie developments on retail purchases (excluding food, drugs and vehicles) in Peoria, and changes on City HRT sales tax receipts resulting from these purchases, controlling for other economic changes.

The six-month study tracked retail sales and sales tax receipts within the City. The study noted that HRT taxable retail sales had fallen during the five years prior to the 2003 opening of the Grand Prairie developments. These sales rose during 2003- 2007, until the effects were felt from the nation’s recession of December 2007- June 2009.   City of Peoria HRT taxable retail sales fell during the recession, with sales recovering subsequently, reaching about $15 billion in 2013.

“The Grand Prairie development has had a significant impact on Peoria’s retail landscape, generating new shopping opportunities and increased sales in the city, as well as new HRT sales tax receipts for the City,” Goitein said.

The Shoppes at Grand Prairie development wasn’t a slam dunk for developer Cullinan Properties Ltd. In fact, the city turned down the developer’s request for financial assistance for the infrastructure into the center when it first proposed a center even larger than the one built with three anchors, including Bergner’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

But Cullinan Properties persisted, getting financing from other sources and built the center.

How it has turned out has made the company proud, said Diane Oberhelman, chairman of Cullinan Properties. “We were confident from the start this would be successful. Our whole team knew what it was doing and all the reasons some people didn’t believe in it turned out incorrect,” she said.

Those reasons included that people didn’t think Peoria could support two malls, with Northwoods Mall just a few miles away.

But Cullinan Properties had studies showing additional retail would broaden the area that metropolitan Peoria draws from. At the time the draw was from mostly a 10-county area; it has grown to a 30-county area reaching 1.7 million people, Oberhelman said.

That was supported by surveys of Shoppes at Grand Prairie shoppers Cullinan Properties did a few years ago, she said. Shoppes at Grand Prairie is now managed by DMA Property LLC of Chicago.

“This is great for the entire city, not just the Shoppes or the related developments out there.  And we don’t claim it’s the only reason the radius has grown, what with the Civic Center and other top venues and the medical community. But we are proud of what has happened and satisfied,” she said.

Growth in the Grand Prairie area has been non-stop since the Shoppes opened. It includes much more retail, apartments and single family residential, medical complexes and hotels/motels. More is in the works, as well, including the Louisville Sluggers Sports Complex on Orange Prairie Road. “That region has many developers involved now and I wish them well. It will help the city and the entire region. It’s important we continue to look at that area on a regional basis,” Oberhelman said.

In his report Goitein said future CBER studies may evaluate the impacts the Grand Prairie developments have had on hotel, restaurant and amusement taxes as well as property taxes for the various units of government.

Looking ahead, Goitein said online sales to consumers likely will continue to grow, which could affect local taxable retail sales and sales tax receipts. “A strong City of Peoria retail mix should help the city to resist HRT sales tax losses to online sales,” he said.

Ginger Benz, operations manager at Cullinan Properties, agreed with that assessment. “That’s because people still prefer going out and shopping because of the overall experience. Studies have shown that. They make a day or evening of it; shopping, dinner, a movie. It makes for the kind or experience a lifestyle center like the Shoppes at Grand Prairie can provide,” she said.

“Online shopping is more targeted, looking for specific items. It just isn’t the same as getting out and shopping,” Benz added.

Allegiant to add flights from Peoria to Orlando

Direct flights from Peoria to Orlando, Florida will soon be available again, according to officials from the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport.

Allegiant Air will begin flying to and from Orlando, home of Disney World, on Mondays and Fridays beginning Nov. 14, said Gene Olson, director of airports. The flights will depart Peoria at 12:30 p.m., he said, and arrive at Orlando Sanford about three hours later. “That makes it perfect for a week-long trip or a long weekend,” he added.

Attired in a Hawaiian-type camp shirt and shorts, Olson told a small crowd gathered at a news conference Tuesday that this is good news for all travelers, especially families, in central Illinois. “Now vacationers will have even more options when flying to Florida from Peoria. It is another connection from our wonderful town to another great place,” Olson said.

This will be Allegiant’s fifth destination from the Peoria airport, along with Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa, Tampa/St. Petersburg and Punta Gorda. It started with the Las Vegas flights in December 2006.

Allegiant now has two flights a week, on Sundays and Thursdays, from and to Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington. Before that, AirTran had flights from Bloomington to Orlando.

Allegiant had offered directed flights from Peoria to Orlando once before, but that service ended because it was unable to compete with the AirTran service from Bloomington, which started first.

“That didn’t work but we are confident this will and we are excited to offer it,” said Olson.

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis praised Olson and the Airport Authority for working diligently to increase destinations from Peoria while improving service at the airport. “They have done a great job putting Peoria back in the lead” for flights in and out of central Illinois, said Ardis, citing the fact the Peoria airport has set monthly records in five consecutive months for number of passengers served.

“These flights go both ways and it is always nice to have people fly in and visit our town,” Ardis said.

State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, noted the importance of a strong airport to successful economic development. “I don’t think there is a better-operated agency that is working for our community today that the Peoria Airport Authority,” Leitch said.

Peoria International Airport, which opened a new terminal in 2011, was named Airport of the Year this year by the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics. It currently has flights to 10 destinations with service by Allegiant, United (to Chicago and Denver), American (to Chicago and Dallas/Ft. Worth) and Delta (to Atlanta, Detroit and Minneapolis). 

'Spamalot' takes to the tent at Corn Stock

If you like Monty Python, get ready to laugh a lot with “Spamalot” at Corn Stock Theatre, starting Friday through Aug. 30 under the tent in Upper Bradley Park.

Based on the hit 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “Spamalot” makes it regional premiere at Corn Stock with a cast of well-known local theatre veterans who take the madcap antics to new heights. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students.

“One of the great things about the cast is that it is a remarkable blend of experience and newcomers,” said director Tim Wyman. “Some of the most talented veterans in community theatre are sharing their considerable talents and I think that’s a unique element of this show.”

Eric Ewan heads the cast as King Arthur with Karl Augspurger playing the king’s trusted companion, Patsy.

Eddie Urish, well known to local audiences from his successes on community stages as well as on local television, is on a Peoria stage for the first time since coming off a lengthy national professional tour of the Broadway hit “Memphis.” He portrays Sir Robin, along with other characters.

Tim Drew will portray Sir Lancelot and impress with his various accents in other roles while Lee Wenger, long a Peoria favorite, will don a blond wig while portraying the dashing Sir Galahad. Mark Bircher portrays Sir Bedevere, while Aaron Elwell portrays Not Dead Fred and Herbert.

Carmen McCarthy makes her Corn Stock debut in the role of Lady of the Lake. “Carmen sings like an angel. I can’t remember a better voice in recent years,” Wyman said. He also singled out Elwell, who joined the cast late because he was in the earlier Corn Stock production of “Guys and Dolls”, saying he “is a triple threat and audiences will adore him.”

 “Scripts like this don’t come around very often. All the songs are funny, toe-tapping and memorable. Given this is a dance-heavy show I knew I needed a good choreographer. I lucked into one who is way, way beyond good,” Wyman said, referring to Robin Hunt. “Robin’s ability to choreograph to the level of the ability of the dancer and make them look Broadway-worthy is one of her many gifts.”

John Davis is the music director, returning to the Corn Stock stage for the first time in many years. “I absolutely lucked into John Davis, who has worked professionally all his life in music. His talent, old-time dedication and commitment is more than welcome. The cohesiveness of the chorus, given their blend of ages, is wonderful,” Wyman said.

There are eight women and eight men in the chorus and they include veterans and newcomers.

“Spamalot” was written by Eric Idle, who provides the voice of God in the show, John DePrez and Neil Innes. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005.

Songs include “Always Look On The Bright of Life,” “I Am Not Dead Yet,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway,” “I’m All Alone” and “Twice In Every Show.”

To reserve tickets call the Corn Stock box office at 676-2196 or online at www.cornstocktheatre.com.

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