PEORIA — Despite no one being allowed in for more than two years, people have been living inside of Downtown Peoria’s shuttered Riverview Plaza Building, according to testimony delivered in court on Thursday.
Not only have people been living inside of the building while it was supposed to be shut down, a new, fully functional and utilized gym was installed in the building, as well, during the period of time when no one was supposed to be allowed inside.
Those shocking revelations were delivered during testimony given by city of Peoria building safety manager Rich Storm on Thursday in Peoria County court. Storm testified that as recently as last week, he observed beds, a newly installed shower, a functioning gym and operating laundry services inside the Riverview Plaza building, 411 Hamilton Blvd., which was shut down by the city in February 2024.
Storm’s testimony painted a picture in court of a building owner, MJ Illinois LLC, which has not been in compliance with a city order that the building remain closed until repairs are made to its fire suppression, fire sprinkler, electrical and HVAC systems.
During an inspection of the building on June 19, Storm said he observed three beds surrounded by sundries, alcohol bottles, shoes and other items in the basement of the 20-story high-rise in Downtown Peoria. Storm also said there was a new shower installed in the basement in a space that used to be an office area and also there were groceries and a cooking area present.
There was standing water and exposed wires in the area the people were living in, Storm said.
Storm also said the building’s owner Paul Kim, a Korean businessman, told him when asked that he had authorized people to live inside of the building.
Perhaps the most alarming piece of Storm’s testimony, evidence that seemed to catch the attention of Judge Alicia Washington as well, was the installation of a new gym inside of the building, despite the building being shut down for occupancy. Storm testified that a gym that appeared to have been used recently was placed inside the building, despite the city ruling that no one was allowed in. Why or how a new gym was installed was confounding.
Storm’s descriptions of the current state of the building were also alarming. He described severe water damage throughout the structure as well as choppy and unauthorized electrical work. Water damage had permeated key parts of the building, including concrete, and even led to stalagmites growing inside of the building, Storm testified.
Storm said he also observed unauthorized and unlicensed contractors doing work on the building on multiple occasions.
Working against the case of MJ Illinois, which is trying to fight against paying the city millions of dollars in fines imposed against them, was the testimony of contractors hired to do work in the building.
Ryan Koener, of Koener Electric, testified in court on Thursday that his company was hired to do about $660,000 worth of electrical work on the building but stopped working because they were not being paid. Koener said about 70% of the building was not able to receive power at this time.
Andy Thomas, who works for PIPCO, also testified in court on Thursday that his company was hired to work in the building but had concerns about their ability to complete that work. Thomas said that ownership asked PIPCO to flood the building’s fire suppression system with water, but the company declined to do so until the building had functioning heat so that pipes would not freeze and burst again in the winter.
Thomas said in court he was “absolutely not confident” the building would have functioning heat by the wintertime and therefore, his company was not comfortable putting water back into the fire suppression system.
Thursday’s hearing in court was cut short because of time constraints, but another hearing, where witnesses from the Peoria Fire Department will be called, is scheduled for July 17.
The judge ordered Paul Kim, the building’s owner, to be present at the next hearing. He has not been in Peoria court for any hearings on the building thus far.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Witness says people have been living in closed Downtown Peoria high rise
Reporting by JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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By JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
