Page 37 - The Peorian, Vol 3 Issue 2
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Despite all the possible eco-
nomic benefits that could come
from this venture and all the
planning that has gone into it, the
city of Peoria does not consider
the sports complex to be a done
deal. This may be good news to
some who live in the Timber-
brook subdivision, which is right
next to the
center’s site
Nearby
residents
have brought
up numer-
ous concerns
regarding
the effect
the complex
will have on
the neigh-
borhood’s
quality of
life. Some
have voiced
trepidations
about the complex’s lighting and
sound system possibly disturbing
residents.
Cunningham was adamant that
the center’s lighting, coming from
the building and the parking lot,
would not extend to the Timber-
brook residences. The same goes
for the sound system, which is
designed to project the sound
into the stadium area and not out
of it, Cunningham says.
At a recent public meeting
held at the North Branch Library,
more points against the complex
were heard by the city and those
heading the project.
One resident was for the proj-
ect but did not think the ramp at
Interstate 474 and War Memorial
Drive will be able to support the
large numbers of people going to
and from the complex; two oth-
ers were worried about getting
heavy traffic through the subdivi-
sion, which they think could put
the homes and children at risk;
and another, who recently moved
into the neighborhood, was wor-
ried his property value would
decrease and he would have a
hard time selling his home in the
future.
Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis is not
too worried about the complex.
He is sure the
light, noise and
any alcohol
issues will be
addressed. He
also believes the
area near Grand
Prairie has devel-
oped a lot lately
and thinks it will
continue to do so.
“After the
Shoppes at Grand
Prairie were built
out there, I think
anybody that
expected that area to remain resi-
dential except for the Shoppes of
Grand Prairie was probably not…
maybe they just weren’t thinking
forward very far,” Ardis said.
“I don’t want to say it in a
negative way to those people, but
once the Shoppes came in, that
area was destined to be more of a
higher density use,” he added
While reaffirming the fact that
the project is not a done deal,
that it would go through all of
the appropriate channels before
approval and that all voiced con-
cerns would be addressed, Ardis
said he is confident the sports
complex is going to happen.
“It’s not going to be something
where everybody is going to be
supportive, but I think overall,
once people understand what
this project is and what it isn’t,
the community’s going to be very
supportive of it,” Ardis said.
Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis
