Tim Shelley / Peoria Public Radio
The Pekin City Council approved the creation of a new Business Development District along the Court Street Corridor.
Council members didn t mince words Monday night, saying the city s previous reluctance to offer such incentives led to major retail developments heading instead to Peoria and East Peoria. This is an opportunity that hasn t come our way in a couple decades, said Pekin Mayor Mark Luft. And if we pass up this opportunity, we re either going to stay completely idle - where you see Pekin right now - or it s going to continue to move backwards. And that s just the reality of it.