The Bloomington Plan Commission voted unanimously to approve a project converting the hotel at 1722 N. Walnut to 85 studio apartments. No additional approval is required, and the conversion might be completed by the fall of 2021.

The hotel, currently called America's Best Value Inn, is located just south of the former Motel 6 site, where a new apartment complex is being built.

The Plan Commission's vote occurred at its April 12 meeting.

On a 5-4 vote, the Bloomington Plan Commission supported permitting duplexes in all residential zones. Voting in favor were Flavia Burrell, Chris Cockerham, Jillian Kinzie, Karin St. John and Brad Wisler. Voting against were Beth Cate, Andrew Cibor, Susan Sandberg and Israel Herrera.

Earlier in the meeting, commissioners rejected an amendment that would have prevented duplexes in all residential districts. That vote was 1-8, with support only from Susan Sandberg.

Commissioners also voted 6-3 to remove a requirement that would have prevented more than one duplex built within a 150-foot buffer for a two-year period.
 
The administration/planning staff had recommended duplexes as conditional uses in all residential districts. The recommendation for triplexes and quadplexes is conditional in only R-4, and that remains unchanged at this point.
 
This is part of the city’s UDO update. The next meeting is on Thursday, April 1, at 5:30 p.m. and Beth Cate has indicated that she’ll propose putting a cap on the number of duplexes allowed in each district.
 
After the Plan Commission finishes their updates, this will go to Bloomington Council for final approval. 

Watch the March 29 Plan Commission meeting here. More information about the UDO process is here.

Clear Creek Urban, a proposed five-building mixed-use project on South Rogers in Perry Township, was approved by Monroe County Plan Commission on March 23.

The vote was 6-3. It will now move to the three-member Monroe County Commissioners for final approval. Commissioner Julie Thomas, who also serves on the Plan Commission, voted against it.

Click here to watch the Plan Commission's deliberations on CATS.

A March panel discussion hosted by the United Way of Monroe County focused on evictions, housing security and local programs that address those issues. 

Moderated by Mark Fraley, panelists were Beacon Inc. Rapid Rehousing Coordinator Amy Harrison, Housing & Eviction Prevention Project Coordinator Tonda Radewan, and Monroe Circuit Court IV Judge Catherine Stafford.

Click here to watch a video of the panel discussion.

The City of Bloomington has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for development of the Kohr Building, as part of a broader redevelopment of the Bloomington Hospital site.

The RFI is for an affordable or mixed-income, multi-family residential project. Built in 1947, the 23,000-square-foot building was recently designated as a historic structure.

Responses are due by April 2 at 4 p.m. Click here for the complete RFI document. And learn more about the hospital site redevelopment project here.

Three Bloomington councilmembers are proposing an ordinance that would allow homeless residents to camp in public parks, under certain conditions. The proposal will have a 1st reading at the council's Feb. 17 meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. here.

Councilmembers Matt Flaherty, Isabel Piedmont-Smith and Kate Rosenbarger are sponsors. 

Click here to read the ordinance.

The City of Bloomington planning staff have released a final draft proposal for the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that will be heard by the city Plan Commission on March 8.

The draft revises some of the initially proposed changes. For example, it pulls back on a controversial plan to allow duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes in several neighborhoods that are predominantly single-family homes. Click here to learn more about the proposal.

The Plan Commission's March 8 public hearing on the UDO begins at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom via this link.

Ellettsville is poised to grow and putting in the infrastructure to support both residential and commercial development. That was one of the highlights of the Feb. 12 "State of the Town" event, hosted by the Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce.

​Mike Farmer, town manager, and Kevin Tolloty, planning director, gave updates on plans for development and annexation to the west and south of town. They also mentioned that Ellettsville will be starting a "revisioning" process soon.

Click here to watch the Feb. 12 event.

John Zody, former chair pf the Indiana Democratic Party, has been named as the new director for Bloomington's Housing & Neighborhood Development (HAND) department.  He was appointed by Mayor John Hamilton to replace outgoing director Doris Sims, who retired in January after 38 years with the city. 

​HAND oversees the city's residential rental inspection program, affordable housing initiatives, and code compliance for neighborhood preservation. A Bloomington resident, Zody will begin the job on April 5 with a salary of $100,555. In 2020 he ran for Indiana State Senator representing District 40, but was defeated by Shelli Yoder in the Democratic Party primary.

A new mixed-use development west of Bloomington was approved by Monroe County Commissioners at their Jan. 27 meeting.

​Called Westgate on 3rd, the 38-acre project at 4755 W. State Road 48 includes a mix of office, retail and residential space. The residential portion will consist of 330 apartment units.

The property, located in Van Buren Township, is near Ivy Tech, Cook Medical and Highland Elementary. It is currently vacant and has been part of the Daniels Farm for over 60 years.