| Journal Star
PEORIA — Over the past decade, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure improvements have been made in the Peoria Warehouse District — wider sidewalks and paving bricks among them.
Patrons of Warehouse District restaurants and other businesses have been availing themselves of the upgrades. So has a growing cohort of Warehouse District residents, who occupy new apartments in rehabilitated old buildings.
But in medium-sized Midwestern cities, even if neighborhoods are made for walking, people still have to drive. That’s part of the reason a Warehouse District parking garage is warranted, according to Michael Freilinger, president and CEO of the Downtown Development Corporation of Peoria.
“I have developers come in, and the first question is, ‘Where are my residents going to park?'” Freilinger said. “There are projects I’ve pursued in the past that couldn’t move forward because they didn’t have parking.”
Thus, city officials are pursuing state funding for construction of a parking deck. Its capacity probably would be about 400 vehicles, Freilinger said.
About $10 million is desired for the deck, part of the annual wish list city and Peoria County officials prepare for local state legislators. An answer from the General Assembly might be forthcoming in May, City Manager Patrick Urich said.
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Where might this parking garage be located?
The proposed location for the garage is 813 SW Washington St., according to Urich. A city-owned building occupies that site. It houses some Public Works Department offices.
“It’s kind of the hole in the doughnut around where all the development is occurring,” Urich said.
Part of that development is renovation of the former Builders Warehouse facility at 812 SW Washington St. Phased residential leasing there is to begin next month, according to Freilinger.
“You’re seeing that there is this desire for apartment and loft living in that part of town,” Urich said. “Obviously, a parking structure helps to accommodate that.”
The Builders Warehouse project alone is to require about 180 parking spaces, Freilinger said, per an agreement between the developer and the city. Current capacity in that area is about 340 spaces, although some are on private property.
Warehouse District retail and residential parking needs are not the same, Freilinger suggested.
“If I’m going to the Warehouse District to eat, I don’t mind parking two or three blocks away and walking,” he said. “But if you’re a resident and living there, walking two blocks at night and hauling a couple of bags of groceries and you’re a single female, you’re not going to want to do that.
“We need parking closer to their ultimate destination.”
The Downtown Development Corporation owns an empty lot at 807 SW Washington St., next to the proposed parking garage site. During a meeting Monday night, the City Council is expected to approve exchange of a municipal-owned lot at Adams and State streets for the vacant Washington Street parcel.
City acquisition of the DDC property would better facilitate garage construction, according to Freilinger and Urich.
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How long would it take to build the garage?
If state funding is granted, it might take between 18 months and two years to complete the parking deck, Freilinger said. What form the structure might take is to be determined.
“We understand that with all the other capital needs and all the other needs we asked for, that this is a big ask and one that’s challenging for the legislators to be successful with,” Urich said.
Should success be achieved, the deck could serve as a template for future Warehouse District parking options, if growth is as projected.
At full build-out, the section of Washington Street between the Bob Michel Bridge and Persimmon Street might feature at least 400 residential units and require about 2,200 parking spaces, Freilinger said.
He also said that might take years to accomplish, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I don’t know when, but I do know eventually all those buildings are going to be purchased and redeveloped,” Freilinger said. “It’s going to look more like the central business district than the Warehouse District.”
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