- Hello and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman. The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission met on
- July 20th and received two proposals to redevelop the College Square site downtown. Each proposal paired
- a new hotel with housing, but city officials say they need time to evaluate details before deciding
- what comes next. The first proposal comes from Concord Hospitality, while the other is from Dora Hospitality.
- The city's economic and sustainability director, Anna Killian Hanson, announced the first proposal.
- Our proposal recognizes the opportunity for both a hotel that meets the functional needs outlined in
- the offering sheet, including approximately 160 rooms, full service amenities, and support for convention
- center activity, and a complementary mixed use residential component that supports downtown vitality,
- integrates housing, including replacement
- of significantly affordable below market rate units and activates the district beyond event-driven demand.
- Killian Hansen described the competing proposal from Dora Hospitality. The proposal delivers
- two complimentary projects on a single site, a 135-room boutique upscale hotel on a southern portion
- of the project site along 3rd Street, and an approximately 100-unit market rate apartment community
- on the northern portion along 4th Street.
- connecting them as a landscaped promenade running through the interior of the block, a shared gathering
- space that activates the heart of the site and draws pedestrians from College Avenue to the beeline.
- She maintained that the commission is merely reviewing the proposals and not officially voting on any
- items. We will need to do a deep dive into what these actually say. City officials will now evaluate
- both proposals before bringing them back to the RDC for further discussion.
- The Redevelopment Commission will meet again on August 3rd. The Bloomington City Council met on July
- 22nd. The Council heard a resolution that would issue up to $100 million in bonds to purchase nearly
- 1,000 affordable housing units across five apartment complexes from Hometown Group. Executive Director
- for the Bloomington Housing Authority, Nathan Ferreira, detailed the properties included.
- The hometown group properties consist of five apartment complexes around town. Those are highlighted
- in the map. Woodland Springs, Basswood, Northcrest, Kingston Manor and Summit Point. Totally 924 units.
- Ferrer says he hopes to preserve affordable housing before it's redeveloped. We are excited about this
- project for a number of reasons. First and foremost,
- Preservation of workforce housing, of naturally occurring affordable rents is our primary goal here.
- He said that federal funding support has continued to decline, forcing the Housing Authority to find
- new revenue sources. Our revenue from HUD has become less dependable. We have faced cuts in the form
- of no inflationary increase this year.
- And a freeze on issuing any new vouchers. So that means when a voucher gets retired somebody doesn't
- need anymore We are not issuing new ones since last July. So we're we're stuck in a pretty difficult
- financial spot We estimate that bringing on these properties post construction will generate about a
- million dollars of revenue per year and in the next five to ten years, we would put
- hopefully at least one of these in five years through a light tech or a rat like conversion so that
- we can create deeper affordability. Bond attorney Chris Cashman from ICE Miller emphasized that taxpayers
- would not be responsible if the bonds are not successful. They're payable solely from project revenues
- and surplus funds of the BHA. They're not payable from taxes and they're not a general obligation of
- the city and issuing these bonds will have no effect
- sorry, effect on the constitutional debt limit or bank qualified limit of the city. Council member Isabel
- Piedmont-Smith asked why the request authorized up to $100 million. Cashman maintained the bond is expected
- to be lower than that. As it stands now, what we're modeling is assuming the existing debt and then
- a smaller bond issuance amount somewhere around, it depends on what the debt service requirements can
- handle, but somewhere around 32 million.
- of a bond issuance if we go the route where the existing debt is assumed. Council member Matt Flaherty
- asked what the biggest risk would be. Ferreira said that while he believes there is risk involved for
- the BHA, he sees the effort to develop and maintain affordable housing as worthwhile. What do you think
- are the most significant risks of this proposal? I mean, it's a pretty significant amount of debt. What
- could go wrong? How are you anticipating that? What are the downside risks here?
- Absolutely, there is risk here. To the BHA, these are general revenue pledge bonds. What that means
- is anything that's already not tied up in a commitment. So anything beyond what is owed to HUD or to
- our investors would be at risk here.
- We feel like developing affordable housing, preserving affordable housing, addressing our housing shortage
- is a statutory responsibility of the Housing Authority. So we see this risk as worthwhile. These types
- of deals have been done before, mostly in larger places, so we're a little new.
- in that we're a smaller housing authority, smaller community attempting this, but there's no reason
- in my mind that we shouldn't, we should not try this. Ferreira says the BHA selected these five apartment
- complexes because they are deteriorating and vulnerable to redevelopment. We know that at least a couple
- of these properties are in
- very poor condition. We actually conduct inspections because we have vouchers at several of these. And
- we've had to address many issues with the current landlord at several of these properties. We know that
- two, Kingston Manor and Summit Point are at locations that would be prime for redevelopment. Given their
- locations, we would assume those would be
- demoed and redeveloped as student housing like what you've seen around town. Our goal here in terms
- of preservation would be to do the needed fixes and then do a much larger rehab. Council member Kate
- Rosenberger asked whether Seminary Point could someday be part of a similar effort. Can you speak to
- why the Seminary Point properties most likely could not be considered for part of this purchase and bond?
- I don't know if I can speak to that, but on a side note, we have been part of the conversation about
- Seminary Point throughout, and that conversation is continuing. We have not contemplated attempting
- to sell bonds to purchase any other properties beyond this deal, which this deal we've been contemplating
- for about a year.
- There have been a couple other potential deals that have come up, but those both sold quickly. And this
- is the only one that's moving slowly enough that we could actually go through this process to potentially
- use bonds to purchase it. I absolutely think we would consider selling bonds to purchase other properties
- for the purpose of preserving or creating affordable housing. The timing of this is such that it just
- This has been on our focus with the bond sale. So it's not something we wouldn't rule out. During public
- comment, Mary Morgan, executive director of Heading Home, said she supports the project, saying it would
- fulfill a need for affordable housing in the community. You know, it's a gutsy move. It's an area that
- we have not explored before. It's a need.
- And even though initially these will be workforce housing units, that's gonna benefit our entire community.
- I look forward to the longer term plan to turn these through RAD process into more affordable units,
- but I think nonetheless it's needed. It's keeping these properties locally owned, which is huge.
- And I think we're just grateful that we have someone with Nate's experience leading this effort. I feel
- like it's a great opportunity for our community. Meanwhile, local resident Randy Cassidy raised concerns
- about the lack of financial due diligence and the need for risk assessment with the project. Understand
- the aspect of the work for housing and the fact of what BHA has done with the RAD and the thing. It's
- an admirable thing to do. The one only question I have on
- this particular thing because it is a pass through situation that BHA would be responsible is, is this
- going to end up being a tax exempt properties when this is done? Because my quick calculation and while
- trying to workforce housing, tax revenues and such, those five properties at the present moment are
- churning out about $830,943 a year in property taxes.
- So that's the only question that I would have in regards to it is how the replacement of that income
- might impact overall for the next few years in regards to it. The workforce housing is extremely needed.
- BHA is extremely good at managing accordingly. And under Nathan's leadership, they've done a great job.
- the revenue replacement is my only question. The council voted unanimously to approve the 100 million
- dollar bonding authority paving the way for the Bloomington Housing Authority to move ahead with the
- project. The City Council will meet for its next regular session on August 5th.
- The Monroe County Commissioners met on July 23rd. During department updates, County Attorney Jeff Cockerill
- informed the commissioners of deteriorating conditions at the Thompson homeless encampment and rising
- public safety concerns. It's becoming more dangerous and more of a cause of a public safety concern.
- We had some meetings and I think it would be important for you guys to know and if you agree to to go ahead and
- I bless this is that we think we're going to have to do something with that property. And we're working
- with, you know, the sheriff and all the providers that we can. We don't have a plan yet. We don't have
- a plan in place. But I think given the fact that you're not having a meeting the next two weeks, we
- may need to act and begin the process formally prior to your next meeting. So I make sure you're aware
- of that and that you're all right with us proceeding along those if necessary.
- Next, commissioners approved early cancellation of the county's contract with Flock, the automatic license
- plate reader vendor. Commissioner Jody Medeira explained that accepting the cost for removal was the
- correct choice. I think it is $3,000 well spent. I appreciate the advocacy of the citizens who spoke
- before the city on this issue. And I think that
- it would be worth paying that $3,000 as a county. And I'm concerned about the implications for this
- contract as a county. And so I would support terminating this contract. The commissioners ended the
- meeting by outlining their recent presentation to Bloomington city council, recommending a new justice
- center site on city owned property at the former hospital.
- Commissioner Julie Thomas described the trade-offs and said time and available space are driving the
- new proposal. Our priorities right now are time and space. In terms of space, it's not ideal,
- but it works. And there is some room to expand the facility if needed. So that's
- That's excellent. But we really can't go through a nine to 12 month plan commissioned city council approval
- process. That's just how long it takes. I mean, ours takes time too, because you have to put out notice.
- You have to have to have hearings. It's part of democracy. It takes time. So we gave them that caveat
- that we need to find
- If they're willing to do this, we need to find a quicker way to act. The next Monroe County Commissioner's
- regular meeting will be held on August 13th. The Richland Bean Blossom School Board met on July 21st.
- Board members reconsidered whether students should be allowed to use cell phones on school buses after
- hearing concerns from parents. The new state law requires students to keep personal communication devices
- turned off and inaccessible during the school day.
- Superintendent Dr. Jerry Sanders explained why he wants phones off of buses. I did take our policy a
- step further and my rationale for that, well, the step I took beyond the state law was to say that they
- should, that the keeping the cell phones inaccessible and turned off should also apply
- on the school bus to and from school. And the reason I wanted to add that is a bus driver's number one
- priority is keeping their eyes on the road and safety. But there's also a kind of a, to me, a hidden
- safety issue in terms of students having access to their cell phone while on the bus. There's nobody
- to monitor what they're looking at, who they're talking to, what they're sharing with other students.
- Dr. Sanders acknowledged the negative feedback that he received from parents about the law itself and
- RBB's stricter policies. We did get some pushback from some parents on that. As I look at announcements
- from school corporations, there's a lot of people who aren't happy with that law.
- And when I look at the comments of other communities, they often blame the school for that law. And
- quite frankly, my personal opinion is I like it. I think it'll help students to be more focused and
- engaged. We also know that social media often leads to
- some behavior issues. School board president Dana Kerr said the policy could prove difficult to enforce.
- In his view, it's a matter of fairness. Was this where only the students that would obey the rules anyway
- are the ones who won't have their cell phones out and the ones who always push the envelope are the
- ones that are, you know, gonna get by with it because they can't,
- You know, it's going to be hard to monitor. I mean, the seats are purposely high on buses for safety.
- And so it's very difficult to see and monitor. So, you know, it's kind of to me a perfect opportunity
- for good kids to be penalized for being good and allowing kids to push the envelope to get by with it
- with no recourse.
- And then I just worry about the equity in that. So that's something that bothers me. Another board member
- said while he wants to abide by the state law, he questioned whether the board should implement a policy
- that takes it a step further. I'm fine with going by the letter of the law, bell to bell. And as far
- as the buses are concerned, I'd be curious if you looked at the numbers, how many
- What percentage of our kids ride the bus to and from school every day? And those kids that aren't riding
- the bus with parents, they're on their cell phones just the same way. So you're concerned about having
- social drama can have from some kid riding the back of his mom and dad's station wagon to school, takes
- the subway and the station wagon behind him. We got enough problems to do with the school corporations
- for teachers to take on more headaches that's not governed by law. That's my thought process. I'm cool
- with waiting.
- and revisiting this in nine weeks, whatever. After the first nine weeks, that's fine. But I have a hard
- time going above and beyond that because there's so much gray area on the school bus travel from point
- A to point B. Sanders said the district will monitor the policy and revisit it during an upcoming meeting
- in the fall. For now, the cell phone ban on buses remains. The RBB School Board will meet again on August 18th.
- And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats and WFHB, I'm Annalise Poorman.