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Two of the city’s older retail centers will be getting a face-lift as development of the new downtown moves ahead.
Town Centre I and its counterpart Town Centre II, located catty-corner from each other at the busy intersection of Main and Washington streets, were built in 1983 and 1986 respectively. Their storefronts and overall appearance will have to be modernized in order to fit the design scheme of the downtown development.
“The improvements that occur there need to coordinate with the improvements that happen in downtown,” said Ty Livingston, East Peoria’s director of planning and community development. “There certainly is a plan to bring those two together.”
Those plazas are being targeted because of their close proximity to the new downtown. Town Centre II is specifically being eyed for enhancement because it’s considered an entry point to the downtown via Washington Street.
“We view that center as the gateway to the (new downtown) development. It’s tied to that because people don’t want to be on an island and don’t want to be alone,” said Rick Joseph, attorney for M&L Joseph Properties, the owner of the retail centers. “Any plans will be determined by the user, but I would envision, and what we’ve talked about as the downtown gets redeveloped, is a revitalization of Town Centre II with a facade upgrade and with stores facing West Washington as well as facing Main.”
The vacant 89,000-square-foot anchor store of Town Centre II, once occupied by ShopKo, is being marketed as part of the city’s new downtown development project. Not just any business will be allowed to take over the location. The ideal candidate is one that would complement the plans for the downtown.
Livingston said finding a business large enough to fill the entire space likely would be a challenge. The best use for the building might be to subdivide it, then orient it toward Washington Street, as a more active space.
Town Centre II is home to eight other stores and businesses, including Harbor Freight Tools and Co-Op Records. Goodyear Auto Service and Hardee’s also are a part of the center.
Blockbuster Video anchors Town Centre I. Directly across the parking lot from the video store is a seven-unit building. Three of the storefronts are empty, but a jewelry store, bar, H&R Block and Firstaff — a business services company — occupy the rest. While viewed as part of Town Centre I and tied to the development, the Kroger store is under separate ownership, the Kroger company.
Two of the city’s older retail centers will be getting a face-lift as development of the new downtown moves ahead.
Town Centre I and its counterpart Town Centre II, located catty-corner from each other at the busy intersection of Main and Washington streets, were built in 1983 and 1986 respectively. Their storefronts and overall appearance will have to be modernized in order to fit the design scheme of the downtown development.
“The improvements that occur there need to coordinate with the improvements that happen in downtown,” said Ty Livingston, East Peoria’s director of planning and community development. “There certainly is a plan to bring those two together.”
Those plazas are being targeted because of their close proximity to the new downtown. Town Centre II is specifically being eyed for enhancement because it’s considered an entry point to the downtown via Washington Street.
“We view that center as the gateway to the (new downtown) development. It’s tied to that because people don’t want to be on an island and don’t want to be alone,” said Rick Joseph, attorney for M&L Joseph Properties, the owner of the retail centers. “Any plans will be determined by the user, but I would envision, and what we’ve talked about as the downtown gets redeveloped, is a revitalization of Town Centre II with a facade upgrade and with stores facing West Washington as well as facing Main.”
The vacant 89,000-square-foot anchor store of Town Centre II, once occupied by ShopKo, is being marketed as part of the city’s new downtown development project. Not just any business will be allowed to take over the location. The ideal candidate is one that would complement the plans for the downtown.
Livingston said finding a business large enough to fill the entire space likely would be a challenge. The best use for the building might be to subdivide it, then orient it toward Washington Street, as a more active space.
Town Centre II is home to eight other stores and businesses, including Harbor Freight Tools and Co-Op Records. Goodyear Auto Service and Hardee’s also are a part of the center.
Blockbuster Video anchors Town Centre I. Directly across the parking lot from the video store is a seven-unit building. Three of the storefronts are empty, but a jewelry store, bar, H&R Block and Firstaff — a business services company — occupy the rest. While viewed as part of Town Centre I and tied to the development, the Kroger store is under separate ownership, the Kroger company.
Joseph said one of the vacant spots in the strip mall may be filled as negotiations continue with a tenant. He would not reveal the tenant’s identity.
Joseph hopes that as the downtown development occurs, it will spark new interest to the shopping centers, that prospective businesses will want to locate there and consumers will want to shop there.
“It makes our entire property more attractive,” said Joseph.
East Peoria’s new downtown development project aims to transform nearly 90 acres of empty land between West Washington and Camp streets once owned by Caterpillar Inc. into a retail and commercial center. The project is expected to revamp downtown by introducing new shops, restaurants, offices, civic buildings and more.
