The City of Bloomington is seeking input on how to redevelop the site of the current Bloomington Hospital, a 24-acre area that the city is buying from IU Health.

The committee that's working on this project got an update at an Oct. 28, 2019 meeting. Click here to see the slidedeck from that meeting. Erin Predmore, the Chamber's CEO, serves on the reuse committee.

Per terms of the agreement with IU Health, the city needs to make a decision by Nov. 21 about whether to keep the Kohr Administrative Building and/or the four-story parking garage, which was built in 1989 and has 480 spaces. The main hospital building  must be demolished. The site is located at West 2nd and Rogers.

​The site will be transferred to the city when the new IU Health Regional Academic Health Center opens in the fall of 2021 along the 45/46 Bypass. Options for residential, retail and office development are being considered.

For additional background about this project, check out the city's IU Health Hospital Redevelopment Site website.

Click here to take a survey about the site redevelopment.

The City of Bloomington is conducting a downtown employee transportation survey through Thursday October 31, 2019. Answers to this short survey will inform the City of Bloomington's transportation demand management (TDM) study. ​

Responses will help guide the City's plans to maximize transportation choices and encourage the use of non-single occupancy vehicle travel options, including public transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian paths, ridesharing, and other similar programs. Click here to learn more about the City's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) initiative.

The deadline to participate is Thursday, Oct. 31.

 The Indiana Sustainability Development Program (ISDP), part of Sustain IU, is accepting applications for the 2020 ISDP partner program. 2020 applications will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 13.

The ISDP connects students with businesses, nonprofits and local governments that want to implement sustainability-related projects. Through a partnership with IU’s Environmental Resilience Institute, this program offers the opportunity for local partners that have completed greenhouse gas inventories to develop a strategy to reduce emissions. The ISDP includes a "Resilience Cohort," which supports local governments as they set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop initiatives to meet that goal.

Click here for additional information about the ISDP program.

The City of Bloomington has hired RDG Consultants to conduct an in-depth housing study, examining the city's existing rental and owner-occupied housing stock, its location, price points and condition.  Based on this analysis, the city plans to complete an assessment of future housing needs.

As part of this effort, the city is holding "listening sessions" to get input on Bloomington's current and future housing needs. Sessions will be held Oct. 21 through Oct. 24. For details on specific times and to sign up to attend a session, please click here.

​Bloomington's housing study is building on the recent Indiana Uplands Regional Housing Study, which was also conducted by RDG Consultants and includes an assessment of Monroe County. Click here for more information on that effort.

The 2019 DC Fly-In included two days packed with briefings from federal staff at all levels and opportunities to advocate for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce's legislative agenda.

​Highlights included updates from:

• ​Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services
• Martha Legg Miller, Director of the Securities & Exchange Commission's Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation
• Anne Reinke, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of Transportation
• Ted McKinney, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade & Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
• Gerardo Lameda, Representative of the Trade & NAFTA Office for the Embassy of Mexico

This year, there are only two competitive races for Bloomington City Council. In District 2, Republican Andrew Guenther faces Democrat Sue Sgambelluri. In District 3’s three-way race, Democrat Ron Smith faces Nicholas Kappas and Marty Spechler, who are running as Independents. The election takes place on Nov. 5 and early voting starts Oct. 21. Check out Monroe County Election Central for details.

​All other candidates are unopposed in the Nov. 5 election. They will not appear on the ballot and are not included in this Keys to the Candidates Q&A.

​As the legislative body of the city, the Bloomington City Council is a link between the citizens of Bloomington and their government. By enacting legislation that fosters the health, safety, and welfare of the city, the Council works to represent the interests of residents while ensuring the delivery of municipal services. By statute, the Council is responsible for the control of the city’s property and finances, and the appropriation of money (Indiana Code § 36‐4‐6‐18).

The 2019 Keys to the Candidates is a collaborative effort between the League of Women Voters of Bloomington/Monroe County and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. This Q&A was originally published in the October issue of BizNet, a partnership between the Chamber and the Bloomington Herald-Times.

Andrew Guenther (Republican District 2 candidate): 

​In District 2, we are facing two main problems that I can identify – firstly, there is a lack of commercial investment in key areas where all of Bloomington would benefit. I cannot see any reason why we are not attempting to draw more food/commercial activity towards the IU stadiums and Millers-Showers Park. These areas seem ripe for commercial investment, particularly for common gathering areas such as coffee/tea shops, entertainment venues, etc.

Secondly, our district has a need for more connectivity, not just between District 2 and downtown, but also within District 2 itself. A lack of adequate sidewalks, public transit, and safe biking paths makes District 2 difficult to navigate without a vehicle. The Bypass and West 17th Street in particular are dangerous to pedestrians.​

Sue Sgambelluri (Democrat District 2 candidate): 

​INFRASTRUCTURE – Major arteries like North Dunn and North Kinzer do not have dedicated bike lanes or (in the case of North Dunn) walking paths. Sidewalks in other areas are crumbling.  Trees removed during Bypass construction were never replaced. We need strategic infrastructure investments that enrich these neighborhoods and enhance the City’s northern gateway.

​CONNECTEDNESS TO DOWNTOWN – Large swaths of District 2 are not served by public transit, and residents must drive if they wish to travel downtown or to major shopping areas. This reliance on cars (and the resulting traffic/parking challenges) increases our carbon footprint and makes it more expensive for residents to support a range of local businesses. Attention to these District issues will contribute to a healthy, sustainable local economy overall.​

Nick Kappas (Independent District 3 candidate): 

​Infrastructure repair and transit opportunities. District 3 is not adjacent to Downtown, which receives a majority of the attention by the public and elected officials. Because of this, topics such as sidewalk repair are not often discussed for my district. The sidewalks on the east side are crumbling which reduces the ability of residents to easily transport themselves to work or to engage in the community. While East/West connectivity has greatly enhanced over the years, a focused effort on the east side is warranted because of the new hospital location. These problems negatively affect the movement and livability of the east side more than other districts.​

Ron Smith (Democrat District 3 candidate): ​

​Walking around the neighborhoods in District 3, people are generally happy with District 3. The issues concerning people are the same as those facing the city. The top issue seems to be concern with the Farmer’s Market and what we can do to eliminate the problem. One person wondered if Schooner Creek should be asked to leave if they don’t violate the rules of the market, or perhaps change the rules of the market for next year to forbid those who adhere to hate group ideology. Another important issue mentioned was our public transportation system and the challenges for poor people to use it to get to the Department of Family Resources on Curry Pike or having to pay for it.

Marty Spechler (Independent District 3 candidate): 

​Better maintenance of our parks, streets, playgrounds, and tennis courts. After my daily walks, I would immediately report problems to the relevant departments.

We need to preserve free garage parking after 5 p.m. to accommodate downtown for restaurants and theaters. 

Collection of fall leaves by the City is important for our many older residents.  Easy emergency access to the new hospital must not be allowed to increase congestion. 

We should not be burdened by multi-story apartments without convenient transportation, especially in single-family areas. I would oppose tax abatements for these projects unless they bring new employment opportunities.

​Most of our voters would support realistic measures to cut greenhouse gases and to improve needed public facilities on the west side. I agree.

Andrew Guenther (Republican District 2 candidate): 

​As one of the great social equalizers, public transit offers us plentiful opportunities and benefits. The challenge, of course, falls in finding an adequate source of funding, specifically for the operation of the vehicles. Currently, we can use TIF funds to purchase new busses, for example, but we cannot use them to fund salaries or benefits for new drivers. As a member of Council, I would work with my fellow Republicans in Indianapolis to find common ground and compromises to identify funding opportunities.

​Additionally, as someone who does not drive and uses public transportation on a regular basis, I know the need for more reliable, direct routes. Finding funding sources for public transit operations will go to great lengths to solve these problems as well.​

Sue Sgambelluri (Democrat District 2 candidate): 

​Many areas of Bloomington are unserved or underserved by public transit.  While our award-winning public transit system does very well with existing resources, we still have many neighborhoods with no bus service at all and many more neighborhoods in which buses run too infrequently to be a practical, consistent travel option, particularly for families.

​At the same time, new routes, more frequent runs, and newer, more energyefficient vehicles will require significant financial investments.  I look forward to working with Bloomington Transit to identify and incentivize new and innovative sources of revenue including grant funding, investments by developers (much like that which was recently negotiated with developers of the North Walnut project), and partnerships with other local government entities.

Nick Kappas (Independent District 3 candidate): 

​Challenges include accessibility and a negative perception associated with routes that prioritize students over permanent residents. It will be incredibly difficult to build out a sustainable mass transit system when our bus system is focused on one-quarter of the square mileage of Bloomington. Furthermore, current funding for public transit is achieved based on increased ridership of IU students, not permanent residents. Opportunities include providing new express options along Walnut/College and 3rd street to increase access for permanent residential areas. On City Council, I will favor additional funding for Bloomington Transit and encourage efforts to make the system more inclusive for non-student residents.​

Ron Smith (Democrat District 3 candidate): 

​The challenge for the public transit system is to optimize the routes so more people will find it useful and ridership will increase. In response, the transportation transit system is in the process of adjusting routes, making routes more frequent. On council, I would support this continued fine tuning of the routes. I would work with other Council Members to ask the transit corporation to ensure routes serve public service agencies for poor people and to look at the cost for the working poor. 
​

Marty Spechler (Independent District 3 candidate): 

​New bus lines from the west side to the new hospital are essential. Extending bus service to the west and south would allow people to combine rural living with urban employment. More frequent bus service on the main artery lines (Walnut and Third Street) would encourage apartment building on those streets without adding to vehicle congestion. Gradual introduction of electric buses will reduce smoke and noise.

​I would reduce or disallow scooter use on sidewalks throughout the center of the city. IU must cooperate in limiting scooter use on campus. Scooters are dangerous and unnecessary here.

Andrew Guenther (Republican District 2 candidate): 

​Affordable housing is a problem near and dear to my heart. Not only have I previously managed apartments and a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood, but I am familiar with the need for affordable rental housing as well. As the only candidate for Council that is a renter instead of a homeowner, I know the struggle many in our community are facing – ever increasing rent with ever worse housing conditions.

​In order to preserve older apartment housing, I have offered a plan of targeted tax abatements for older complexes, with the agreement between the City and the apartments’ owners that they will use the savings for capital improvement and keep rent down. Otherwise, older complexes will continue to fail and be replaced by luxury student high-rises.

Sue Sgambelluri (Democrat District 2 candidate): 

​AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND – Continue to grow this Fund and to identify new projects, particularly with the recently-purchased hospital site and the recently-acquired land bordering Switchyard Park.

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL AGENCIES FOCUSED ON HOUSING – Continue and, when possible, increase support for South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities, Habitat for Humanity and/or other organizations with demonstrated success in responding to homelessness, reducing evictions, and providing affordable housing solutions for working families. 

​CDFI-FRIENDLY BLOOMINGTON – Seed funds are in place for this 501(c)3, giving us the ability to incentivize new investments by Community Development Financial Institutions.  We must now move forward with strategic, consistent outreach to CDFIs that can help us realize our affordable housing goals with more projects like Switchyard Apartments, B-Line Heights, and others.

Nick Kappas (Independent District 3 candidate): 

​​I support duplexes by-right in all zoning districts and tri- and quad-plexes by-right in zoning districts which allow a structure of its size, governed by the new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). I also support by-right Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). We need to employ every development tool we have to better serve the housing needs of our community. Apartments are a necessity to house the ever-growing IU population, but apartments don’t offer permanent residents an opportunity to invest in themselves and begin to build equity. Duplexes, and the like, make property ownership more accessible for people under 35, single parents, and other vital Bloomingtonians.

Ron Smith (Democrat District 3 candidate): 

​I support an expansion of subsidy programs such as HUD and other lowincome housing programs as a partial solution for dealing with the community housing needs. I also support Mayor Hamilton’s Housing Fund to encourage developers to build low-income properties. The City of Bloomington should also collaborate with Indiana University to discuss how the university can build more student housing to decrease the student factor in driving up the cost of housing for families and people who make Bloomington their permanent home.

Marty Spechler (Independent District 3 candidate): 

​Easier approval for market-rate housing will increase competition and thus lower net rental rates for older apartments everywhere in the city. Totally new housing cannot be affordable if it conforms to normal standards and environmental requirements, though older apartments can be rehabilitated with outside support. The City should consider rent subsidies to needy people who work in Bloomington. Lower income residents should be free and encouraged to choose their own locations throughout the city to reduce social segregation.

Andrew Guenther (Republican District 2 candidate): 

​I have had the distinct honor of serving both at the County and Citylevel on boards and commissions. During the debacle that has been the Monroe County Convention Center, I have been outspoken about my belief that the City needs to work more openly with the County, and that the interests of County residents ought to be considered as well. When elected, I intend on working with the County Councilmembers I have had the pleasure of working with in the past – Marty Hawk, Kate Wiltz, Eric Spoonmore and Geoff McKim – to address the tension between the City and County on this project. As someone who would not owe allegiance to the Mayor, I would be able to serve as an independent voice on City Council.

Sue Sgambelluri (Democrat District 2 candidate): 

Bloomington is at its best when we have broad participation by informed citizens and close, consistent collaboration among local government entities.  Such cooperation requires mutual respect and trust, and that kind of environment is developed (or diminished) one interaction at a time. I will work toward clear, consistent communication with my colleagues in the City and County, and I will approach any negotiations with the goal of finding mutually beneficial solutions. In the next 3-5 years, two issues in particular will require this kind of collaboration: (1) the Convention Center expansion, and (2) the expansion of public transit. I look forward to working with City and County Council members and County Commissioners to identify the needed resources for these important projects.

Nick Kappas (Independent District 3 candidate): 

In my experience on the City Plan Commission and City Representative on the County Plan Commission, I have noticed a willingness for county and city staff to work together, but I cannot say the same for the appointed individuals. It will take a member of City Council to take lead and manage the relationship with the county on matters that affect both governments such as future developments, taxes, and land acquisitions. I will be that council member. It is critical that we reestablish the communication link between Monroe County and City Council so that decisions of one group do not negatively impact the other. The City and the County must work together to help build the community jointly.​

Ron Smith (Democrat District 3 candidate): 

The Convention Center is a good example of why the county and city should foster their partnership. Disagreements have stalled progress on the project and it is unclear who is at fault for the impasse. As a City Council member, first I would sponsor several informal meetings over coffee or dinner in order for the parties to develop trust, mutual respect and common ground.  Secondly, with the participants, I would work to identify areas of disagreements and agreements, barriers for resolving the disagreements and seek agreement on implementable steps toward resolving the impasse. Additionally, as a member of the City Council, I would propose regular quarterly meetings with County Council to keep each other informed of co-existing initiatives that may have overlapping interests. 

Marty Spechler (Independent District 3 candidate): 

​More early consultation between the City bureaucracy and Monroe County officials and our active township boards will be necessary to plan expansion of the convention center and to provide better fire protection in areas like the southwest and the I-69 corridor which lack it.  Innovative arrangements may be necessary to do that in view of County financial stringency—the effects of which affect us all.
​

Changes planned for the former Dixie Market on the square – now the location of Samira restaurant – will bring more residential housing to downtown and improve the appearance at that prominent intersection.

The building at 100 W. 6th – the northwest corner of 6th and Walnut – recently received approval from the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission to replace three windows facing the square, replace two windows facing Walnut, and install nine new windows along Walnut that are currently boarded up.

The building is owned by Anwar Naderpoor, who is renovating the interior to add five efficiency apartments on the second floor.

The Bloomington City Council has scheduled a series of meetings to work on the draft Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), a major overhaul of the city's zoning code. A new page on the city's website will track all council action on the UDO.

All meetings will begin at 6 p.m. at city hall council chambers, 401 N. Morton, and will include opportunity for public comment. Click here for the memo outlining the council's UDO process.

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019
Staff presentation on Chapter 1 (Ordinance Foundation) and Chapter 2 (Zoning Districts)

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019
Staff presentation on Chapter 3 (Use Regulations). This section includes regulations related to duplex/triplex/quadplex development and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in core neighborhoods.

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019
Staff presentation on Chapter 4 (Development Standards & Incentives) and Chapter 5 (Subdivision Regulations). Chapter 4 includes regulations related to the affordable housing payment-in-lieu process.

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019
Staff presentation on Chapter 6 (Administration & Procedures) and Chapter 7 (Definitions)

Monday, Nov. 4, 2019 at noon
First deadline for council to submit amendments

Council will consider proposed amendments at meetings on the following dates:
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019

Second deadline for council to submit amendments: Monday, Nov. 25 at noon.

Additional UDO meetings might take place on the following dates:
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019  
Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019  
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019  
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019

The Chamber's Advocacy Team has been tracking this process since it began in early 2018. Our current advocacy efforts are focused on zoning that eliminates barriers to address this community's residential housing shortage. We're also advocating for greater transparency and clarity in the city's affordable housing payment-in-lieu process. 

An 11-county study of workforce housing needs has been released this week, assessing the regional housing market and proposing strategies for addressing challenges.

The 339-page Indiana Uplands Regional Housing Study includes the Bloomington/Monroe County community. Reports for individual counties also can be downloaded on the housing study's website.

Six main strategies are identified by the report (pp 318-337): 
​

1. Elevate the quality of existing housing.
2. Deal with undervaluations.
3. Develop more buildable lots.
4. Create more below-market-rate housing.
5. Work on greater code enforcement and implementation.
6. Invest in quality-of-life features.

ROI is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, and is funded through a $25.87 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.