Local: ‘Bittersweet’ — yeah, that’s the word for the East Bluff

March 5, 2008
By Billy Dennis

I grew up in the Glen Oak School neighborhood. Hell, with the new configuration, there’s likely to be ang lot or a playground just across the street from my old home on the corner of Frye And Maryland.

I share the feelings expressed here. I’m NOT convinced that these spiffy super-sized campuses are the cure-all that Ken Hinton and some school board members think they are. But I know that the neighborhood would have collapsed had they taken the school out of the East Bluff, especially if they left the empty hulk there.

But mostly, I’m sad because of the memories. That’s one reason I haven’t written about. I almost went off on a rant about all the homes that are going to go away. I’ve eaten food out of that tiny diner that has been the home of more than a dozen different owners, from typical diner food, to tacos to BBQ.

But I survived emotionally when they closed Haddad’s Market. I survived with Green’s Drug Store turned to Carroll’s and then was torn down and a friggin’ rent-to-own place went in.

I’ll get over this.  In the end, this is good.

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2 Responses to “ Local: ‘Bittersweet’ — yeah, that’s the word for the East Bluff ”

  1. PEORIA on March 6, 2008 at 10:05 am

    God bless the, District 150, school board! At least THEY are trying to be the solution. Most, Everyone else, are complaining and criticizing! Neither Mr. Hinton, nor the rest of the District 150 board, is expecting THIS to be the ” cure-all ” for Peoria Public School improvements. Replacing antiquated structures, however, are PART of That solution!

    ANY school district could hire ALL ” the best and brightest ” teachers in the world. But They won’t succeed with, obsolete, resources. Peoria Public Schools ” cure ” has to come from within Our classrooms AND a, supportive, community! Peoria is blessed to, finally, have POSITIVE changes occurring in It’s dying, oldest, neighborhoods that have ONLY recently made headlines for murders and other crimes. Yet, SO , many are against It! Now, Why is That?

    Change, including in these neighborhoods, is inevitable! Peoria’s been spoiled, in a sense, because many ” big city ” neighborhoods have long experienced rapid redevelopment and re- gentrification over several decades. When was the LAST time, with the exception of the disappointing Campustown and Mid-town plazas, Peoria’s (older) neighborhoods experienced Any major redevelopments?

    Many Peorians have been complaining, for SO long, about the City and developers NOT reinvesting in Peoria’s, older, neighborhoods. Well, now (via the School and Park districts, Bradley University, and the medical interests) It’s underway! Can We stop, ALL, the whining and sentimentality about It?

    Peoria’s, neighborhood, changes are NOTHING by comparison to the rapid transformations of, progressive, cities like Seattle. Where, huge, mixed-use (residential/commercial) complexes are replacing single-family neighborhoods on the fringes of It’s downtown. The great news
    is THOSE (Seattle) neighborhoods are thriving AND contributing much-needed tax revenue to that city’s coffers. It can be the same Here, so long as Peoria welcomes and encourages It!

  2. Conrad on March 6, 2008 at 11:08 am

    I think it is sure a step in the right direction and I support it. I am curious as to why D150 thinks a suburban-style school is the right plan for this urban area. I’m sure there have been successful new schools built that are designed for urban areas in other cities. I’m curious why none of those other efforts have been looked at here.