By Philip Haldiman, Independent Newsmedia

The re-branding of the P83 Entertainment District is complete.

Well, almost.

A dispute over the ownership of the two pylons located along the east side of Loop 101 south of Bell Road delayed the process.

The two 45-foot structures serve as the entertainment district’s main marquees for thousands of motorists who pass by every day.

Over the years, some residents have taken issue with the signs, which have displayed businesses that are no longer tenants at one of the city’s flagship destinations.

Economic Development Services Department director Scott Whyte said the branding proposal calls for the signs to be torn down and redone in the new vision of the brand. But Scottsdale-based Sun Signs, who built the pylons more than 10 years ago, claimed ownership interest in the signs, causing their demolition to be postponed.

The city has agreed to buy the signs for $200,000, allowing for the new signs to be built.

The Arrowhead Entertainment Center Property Owners Association, who manages the district, will contribute $25,000 and the city will contribute the remaining $175,000.00, according to the new licensing agreement. The cost to purchase the new two pylons will be paid by sales tax revenues. Subsequently, city officials said the existing signs will be demolished and replaced with P83-themed pylons, in order to have a cohesive brand and identity with the rest of the district, at a cost of $390,000.

The new licensing agreement between the city and Arrowhead Entertainment Center Property Owners Association provides for two 60-foot signs, following city approval of a zoning amendment. The city will maintain, operate, manage, and lease the signs, either directly, or through a third party vendor. After the city recovers 30 percent of the pylon construction costs, net income will be split 50 percent between the city and the property owners association, according to the agreement.

For more than a year, the Arrowhead Entertainment Center Property Owners Association and Sun Signs were in discussions regarding the purchase of the signs. However, Mr. Whyte said the parties recently terminated discussions due to an impasse, and negotiations were taken over by the city to avoid litigation.

“The POA and (Sun Signs) could not reach terms to settle the ownership dispute, so the city intervened to settle due to our interests in the new signs to promote the P83-area and all the city investment in P83 over the years,” Mr. Whyte said.

Sun Signs manager Robert Nuttall said the original developer of the property gave Sun Signs the right to build and own the signs. Mr. Nuttall said Arrowhead Entertainment Center Property Owners Association thought they owned the signs by virtue of running the center. On March 15, 2016, the property owners association and the city entered into a licensing agreement for the signs. But the association can’t license what it doesn’t own, Mr. Nuttall said.

“The owners association made an agreement to have the signs torn down and that is when dispute arose. They didn’t own the signs,” he said. “The genesis of it was that they thought they could co-opt the signs. Now the city can move forward and complete the branding.”

The city’s Economic Development Implementation Strategy (EDIS) includes the goal of revitalizing the P83 District, consistent with the Peoria Sports Complex Area Urban Design Plan.

In 2014, the city began making the phased public streetscape improvements, including identity creation, key intersection improvements, pedestrian connectivity, and sign improvements throughout P83.