@DennisinPeoria : and where will those young professionals live once they start having children? Compare the price of a 3-4 bedroom house in Peoria versus the same home in most parts of Washington, Morton, or Metamora. Once you add in taxes, fees, surcharges, etc. it's a no-brainer; much better investment to move 5-10 miles east.

I'll drive to downtown/riverfront. Living down there would make Walmart in EP my closest grocery (and other things) store. No thanks.

@Turnit10 : Agree and I'll add two keys items to this. Police and fire pensions being burdened all locally (other City workers are in the Statewide IMRF plan which is 100% funded) and erosion of Peoria D150 schools by Dunlap D323 siphoning off students and taxes from the northside. Both of these items need to be addressed by legal measures in Springfield.The Dunlap **** is nearly verbatim 1980s Kansas City Supreme Court ruling material (note: 1980s Supreme Court). In this case, they've circumvented Kansas City's disproportionate funding from within the District by white flighting to a "different", yet overlapping district in Peoria, all together. Dunlap, a village of 1,386 residents doesn't make for a school district of D323's size and stature.

What exists in Peoria with District 150 vs Dunlap #323 is quite common throughout Illinois. It is especially pernicious in Chicagoland. It used to be the case that municipal boundaries and school district boundaries were one and the same. Something changed in the late 70s early 80s.

@Mahkno : Alex, I'll take what is civil rights for $100.

The City of Peoria municipal boundaries also overlap:
Peoria Heights school district #325
Illinois Valley Central #321
Limestone HS #310The is also some unincorporated area (county) in District 150.

@mypeez : That is absolutely how it came about... to dodge desegregation. It is also why Chicago municipal boundaries ceased to grow and the constellation of suburbs emerged. Can't integrate accross municipal boundaries.... right? ... right?....

@DennisinPeoria :
The couples are either singles, empty nesters that have downsized or younger couples without children, saving up to buy a house. My guess is that the vast majority are probably singles, In other words, they don't have to worry about schools. Those demographics match up exactly like the demographics in the twin towers. Except in the twin towers percentage wise there are more seniors. The elevators are a major draw for them. In other urban areas that have loft apts in newly redeveloped neighborhoods the demographics are pretty much the same too, . When schools, backyards etc. become an issue for them they move,

I am very skeptical of the 1000 person figure. There are not nearly enough units for sale down there for that.I have also heard that the issue of short term rentals is hurting sales in a big way. Interested residents DO NOT want to live in buildings filled with STRs (or rentals in general). There are enough transients in that area already without the addition of more.

People that use Short Term Rentals are considered transients?

@CCubs : How long is short term?That term means different things to different people and places.

@billybob : I also wonder... many of those young professionals will eventually branch out and start their own offices/shops/firms after working in their chosen fields for a reasonabletime. I wonder how many of those will build their startups in Peoria, or will they build those outside the city as well. Is the city doing anything in the way of retaining this professional talent and its businesses?

I don't get the anti STR in that area. A friend of mine had a STR in 401 Water. $3K a month. People who can afford that type of $$ aren't "transients" and aren't going to degrade and devalue the area. I get it in a lower $$ area.

@CCubs : Yes. A transient is someone who doesn't live in one place long... travelers are transient too.

Would that make the Pere Marquette a transient center?