Originally published by the Peoria Historical Society
PEORIA, Ill. – Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of KDB development group Kim Blickenstaff is the recipient of the Peoria Historical Society’s Historic Preservation Award for 2020.
The award honors people, organizations, and businesses that demonstrate outstanding efforts to reclaim, rehabilitate and preserve the architecture, neighborhoods, and landscapes of the tri-county area.
“Historic preservation is more than just restoring older properties,” noted Peoria Historical Society Executive Director Colleen Johnson. “It is a mindset that these places are worthy of saving so that future generations can appreciate the significance of what our predecessors created and have a lasting, visible record of the people and the periods in which these places were built. There is a purposeful connection from the past to the Kim Blickenstaff present leading to the future.”
Those who restore, reclaim, and preserve properties not only preserve history, Johnson said, but show a deep respect for the original architects, builders and owners and consider restoration and preservation another form of citizenship. “We thank Kim Blickenstaff and KDB Group for being our partners in preservation,” Johnson said.
“I am both pleased and humbled to receive this award,” said Blickenstaff. “The Peoria Historical Society does great work. Central Illinois is rich in history and architecture, and we ought to be celebrating these wonderful legacies. To appreciate where we are going, it is critical to have a knowledge of where we have been. To the degree, I can help further that understanding, I’m happy to do so.”
KDB Group’s restoration projects include:
Scottish Rite Theatre (former Masonic Temple), 400 NE Perry Ave., Peoria, an entertainment and banquet center and continued headquarters for the local Freemason group
Peoria Armory, 523 NE Adams St., Peoria, use to be determined
Koinonia House, 1509 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria, future apartments or other use
Donation to the Peoria Women’s Club for improvements to its building at 301 NE Madison St., Peoria
The Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts, 1327 E. Kelly Ave., Peoria Heights
Pabst building, 4541 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, offices
The future boutique hotel (former Prospect Mall office complex), 4617 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights
Pump House (former village water department pump house), 1201 E. Kingman Ave., Peoria Heights, future home of Popcorn Works shop
The future Quonset Hut/Bradley University Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse replica (former Hurshel’s Upholstery), 4312 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, use to be determined
The future Al Fresco Park, 4600 N. Galena Road, Peoria Heights, nature park, and recreational center
Sankoty Lakes, 1583 Spring Bay Road, Spring Bay, fishing and camping resort
The Historic Preservation Award was created in 1988 to further the society’s mission to preserve, share and celebrate the stories of the Peoria area.