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Council approves six downtown improvement grants, including larger award for fire suppression
Summary
Council approved a package of six commercial building-improvement grants for Court and Derby Street properties; one award includes a larger $100,000 recommendation for a fire-suppression upgrade tied to bringing mixed occupancy space up to code.
The Pekin City Council voted July 27 to approve a package of six commercial building-improvement grants intended to spur downtown rehabilitation and re-use of older Court Street and Derby Street properties.
Staff described the grants as TIF-eligible incentives scored against program criteria. One of the larger recommended awards would provide up to $100,000 toward a building owner’s fire-suppression project so a mixed-occupancy space can meet code and obtain occupancy permits; the applicant had supplied two quotes for water service and suppression equipment. Economic development staff noted the owner has no tenant at present and would have a standard performance requirement to secure tenants within a six-month window under the grant agreement.
Council voted on the package after hearing individual project details and scoring justifications; the procedural motion to consolidate and approve the six items passed with one dissenting vote on record (procedural vote recorded 6–1). Staff will instruct attorneys to draft separate grant/redevelopment agreements that reflect the council-approved award amounts and the program’s performance covenants.
