Scott’s Blog Experience

The story in the Journal Star today about Steve Pierz rehabbing an older house on High Street is exactly why I am OUT of that business in Peoria. To much hassle from the City in which you are trying to make better. Poor Steve who bought this house to bring it back to life (and it needed) got the shaft from the historic preservation commission about Vinal Siding of all things.

“We’re appealing to the same board that turned us down,” Paulson said. “We don’t even have a right to go to the City Council.”

One has to wonder who is defining the word “perserve”. Perserving an older home with rot and decay makes perfect sense in our older nieghborhoods. However, I don’t see the Historic Preservation Commission passing out checks or “TIFs” in order for investors (local Peorians) to rehab the property to its original look. In this case Clapboard, instead of vinal siding.

I understand the need for it to look good and be fixed properly. We all want that. However, in this case, the house was an eye sore already. Where was the outcry? Vinal Siding compared to falling apart? Is that what we are comparing this house to? If the Council complains about perserving the house and putting on vinal siding instead of it’s original wood, come up with dollars.

My message to the Council and the Historic Preservation Commission; Start being part of the solution, instead of part of the problem. You would get more people to invest in older neighborhoods….Oh, and come up with an incentive. I’m sure Mr. Pierez is already thinking about his next project….NOT.