New Bank in Pekin… How did it get built there?

This has been gnawing at me for weeks now… I keep driving by the new Southside bank in Pekin wondering how it ever got developed in its current location.  I checked the Pekin Times website for other people who might be thinking the same thing… But I must be alone on this one. 

So, I just dropped a letter to the paper.  We shall see if there are any responses to be made.

Here is the note:

…

I have a general question about how/why Southside Bank built their shiny new building across from Menards…  How did the city miss the opportunity make it worth Southside’s interest to renovate either of those two husks of retail that sit beside the new bank?  Specifically, the old Helig Meyers and Rex Appliances buildings.

 

It seems to me that every effort should be made to demolition those buildings, TIF district, or renovate them for future retail development.  At this point, they only seem to be good for selling Halloween costumes in October. 

 

Where is the logic in building next to these two blights on Veterans road?

 

Thanks,

 

Eric Stahl