The Sterling Avenus property is far from a done deal. There is significant opposition on the city council to granting a special sales tax incentive called an SSA (Special Service Area) which, as proposed, would add an extra 1% sales tax that would only apply to the single small parcel of land owned by a developer who is working to bring Portillos to that site in Peoria. That means Portillos would add an extra 1% sales tax to everything sold there for as long as 30 years, the money would go to the city of Peoria, and then paid directly back into the pocket of the developer, just like a kickback reward.
It is a virtually unprecedented incentive directed at a single parcel of land and basically amounts to millions of dollars of reward money for the sole developer of a small parcel of land just to get a Portillos in the city. It seems ludicrous to me, especially since Portillos is almost certain to come to the Peoria area even if this SSA is not passed. They are already hiring and training management personnel locally, more evidence they intend to open a restaurant here anyway.
All the other restaurants and developers in the city, and every business in Peoria would have loved to get such a sweetheart deal like that.
There are many other concerns, including the traffic in the area, and the effects it will have on longtime, loyal restaurant owners in that area like Kouri's, Donnelly's Pub, 5 Guys, Sterling Family Restaurant, and others, who never got such a deal. The city will hold public hearings on this in November, and expect a lot of people to voice opinions, pro and con. Also, expect many other businesses, and developers to ask for the same kind of SSA perks.