The original one square mile of Peoria is full of history, with homes built in the early 1900s, a church that is the oldest running in the state, and storefronts that take you back in time. In 2009, city officials adopted the Old Town Peoria Revitalization Plan to help breathe life into the downtown area yet recognize its historical relevance. The target area is bounded by 85th Avenue to the west, Peoria Avenue to the north, Grand Avenue to the east, and Monroe Street to the south. One of the goals in the plan was to replace existing street signs with themed signage, creating a recognizable sense of place and to celebrate the historic character of Old Town Peoria.
A group of citizens helped design the new signs, which have white lettering on a brown background and a "sign topper" identifying Old Town Peoria. Last month, the city replaced 21 "ordinary" street name signs with these historically-themed signs. The entire project stayed local making it extremely cost-effective: A Peoria business designed and made the signs; some of the material used was already available through the city's maintenance shop; and city employees did the installation.
Other goals in the plan include upgrades to the appearance of the buildings and renovation of the community center. When visiting downtown, take a look around to notice these little changes that make a big difference. For more information about the plan visit www.peoriaaz.gov/planning or call Rob Gubser at 623-773-7405.
