Investing in Land

With the critically acclaimed television show about advertising, “Mad Men,” soon to start its new season, the industry’s perennial question, “Will it play in Peoria?” may be on the minds of many.

It ought to be, and not just for marketers who were taught that the Illinois city of 375,000 people is a perfect test market for new products.  It ought to be a question on the minds of people thinking about investing in land.

Peoria County officials have just released their Comprehensive Land Use plan with projections stretching out to 2050.  According to Planning and Zoning Director Matt Wahl in the Peoria Star-Journal, “This is unique. Quite honestly, there isn’t another county comprehensive plan within the Midwest that has this type of information in it.”

The plan takes a matrix approach to making educated projections.  Population growth, commercial demand with a focus on retail and public services (streets, water, schools) all play a role.

Clearly, it plays in Peoria.