@tntrecycling :If you actually lived or work downtown, I could see the appeal in that. But I can't imagine it's going to bring in more outside traffic. Likewise for a diner (plenty of those elsewhere).Personally, the only reason I ever go downtown is if there is a festival or something along the river that peaks my interest. Otherwise I avoid it like the plague. The parking sucks, the driving sucks, even the walking sucks (you never know what type of people are getting off the bus).There are some nice hidden treasures if you know where to look, but I still haven't set foot in the museum or the stadium. I couldn't even tell you the last time I went to the civic center. I'm not about to go out of my way for groceries or dinner.I did frequent InPlay when it was an arcade, that place was fun. But I guess kids these days are more used to playing games at home.

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@cjsummers :It could be that you're just more accustomed to it than I am. I always find I need to have change for the meter or clear directions ahead of time, if I miss a turn I might find myself on a one-way road and have to double back. I didn't say walking wasn't easy, but rather you never know who you're going to run into which makes me uncomfortable as I've had several questionable experiences.

@tapeworm :I don't think I've ever been downtown and NOT been approached by someone asking for money. Even during the day, left the Hobnob Market at the Civic Center at 3pm and there was a guy standing right outside the doors stopping everyone. Chicago has more vagrants and homeless people but I don't find they approach you as much as they do here. Don't even get me started with the crew that hangs around and blocks the front door to the downtown library! I just say no sorry and keep walking but as a 5' tall female alone sometimes it's not the most comfortable feeling to wonder if they are following you to your car.

@lanestar7 Regarding the downtown library, don't get me started either. Except I will briefly say that when they did the renovation the sun room/reading room on the second floor overlooking Monroe St. was one of the , hidden in plain view , gems in Peoria. It was delightful. Over time the homeless found their way there for sleeping. They got a security guard to make very frequent checks to remove people who were sleeping. Over time the room became locked and is only accessible by appointment etc. with the librarian.What a shame. Meanwhile the canteen/lounge area on the canteen/lounge area on the first floor isn't much better. However, onetime when we were there a little girl was reading to her mother but she was clearly strugglng. Earlier in her career my wife was a reading teacher. She helped the girl for awhile and the girl and mother were really grateful. It was a heartwarming experience.

See I'm not the only one who thinks its not worth the time to go downtown. Have events that people want to come and stay over night at hotels also spend their money downtown. I know a lot of people travel them busses and when the stop down town what do they have to look forward to. Peoria wants people to spend money downtown yet give them something that attracts one to come.

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I think T would like to see downtown the way it was in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. With the big department stores.

Regarding the change for parking meters... Something I thought was pretty neat last time I had to go downtown was that you can now pay for your parking spot via smartphone app. It takes a few minutes to set up and install the first time (like any app I suppose) but now whenever you go down, you just log in and key in the parking spot number you took, and how long you want to stay. I believe it will beep when it's almost expired and offer to let you extend your stay.

Well gee, it's not like the place is a dump! You have to actually go down there to see what it has to offer.I would go down there just to get a break from the family and purposely take the bus with the rest of the "heathens". It was nice to be able to **GASP!** sit near the back next to a window and take in the view. People were actually **DOUBLE GASP!!** nice and chilled out. All the way down to the main hub. And outward bound too, during the week and on weekends. (How did I survive???!!!)Loved the food carts down there during the weekdays. And the school kids performing on the square in the spring. You'd be surprised what cool things you find if you just get out and walk around.Or give the bus a whirl with the other scum like me.

@JeepPilot Do all the spots have that? I've used it by the museum but didn't see the signs on Main but I could've missed them.

@QuispNQuake
One time were going to walk up Main St. but the sky looked likr it was about to pour rain, which it did, but not before a bus came. You described the experience perfectly. We met our friends and later continued our adventure on the University bus and back downtown. Some of the conversations are priceless.

@QuispNQuakeNot sure if that was directed at me, but I wasn't implying downtown is a dump or that all bus riders are heathens / scum. Before I could drive I took the bus to work every day for several years, and have taken the bus to and from Chicago multiple times to save gas and mileage. I love public transportation. Panhandlers that like to travel from town to town, not so much

A grocery store downtown? What would that do? People don't go to the grocery store and then hang around. They go grocery and go home.

Some breaking news is that the empty retail space in the Courtyard might be taken up by two national tenants.