07-05-2025
East Peoria approves Center Street Crossing development
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A major East Peoria development will bring condos, restaurants and live outdoor entertainment to the Levee District in the next few years.
East Peoria City Council on Tuesday approved the third amendment to the Levee District Overlay plan, which includes Center Street Crossing, a mixed-used development that will extend from behind Costco, past CEFCU, ending near East Peoria City Hall.
'We're looking for more entertainment options. We have some of those great events already at the Levee District. This offers a lot more flexibility,' said Ty Livingston, the city's director of planning and community development.
Certain businesses won't be allowed at Center Street Crossing. This includes smoke shops, cannabis dispensaries, auto shops and light industrial uses. There are also specific rules for landscaping, down to the trees and plants allowed.
'There's uses we don't feel are complementary to the environment that have been created down here in the levee district. And so they're typically seen as detractors or maybe not as complementary to the overall retail and restaurant environment that we have here,' explained Livingston.
The approval of the new development comes as the 219-unit apartment complex Blutowne is set to open this summer.
'We're just incredibly excited because it's not dipping a toe in the water. It's a statement that this is a very significant development that's going to be make a big splash,' said Livingston.
The Levee District Overlay Plan also includes approval of 15-foot sidewalks to accommodate more outdoor dining and even beer gardens at the Levee District.
East Peoria City Council also approved a $538,000 bid from Aupperle Construction for the new splashpad at Levee Park. It's the same developer behind splashpads in Peoria and Chillicothe. Livingston said it could open as soon as August.
Livingston said its amazing to see the Levee District continue to grow and expand.
'It's very exciting. I love to show people, if you take a look at Google Maps and you look at the Street View back in 2007 over here by the library and the change, the transformation that's occurring here, we've had such great leadership over the years and to be able to see this come to fruition has been very exciting,' he said.
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