- Okay. John Weichart. Yes. Okay, so that's approved. Item number three, Treasurer's Report, Mr. Silberstein.
- Sorry, no Treasurer's Report at this time. Okay, thank you. Item number five is the President's Report,
- and it's not bulleted. However, there are change orders that we need to look at today, one which will
- require your approval. And I don't know, do we have a slide for that?
- sent the information out to the members of the board so they've seen it. I just want to wait and make
- sure it's up here for the public to see as well. In the meantime, if anybody has a little ditty they'd
- like to sing for a moment. There we are. So we have several change orders that are under the $25,000 threshold
- which I have been authorized to approve. They are in order at electrical for a for tour bus. And you'll
- notice the codes that we've added codes for which of the three reasons
- for change orders, are these being made? Number one, unforeseen conditions. Number two, error or omission.
- Number three, owner requests. So adding electrical for the tour bus is an owner request. Cut concrete
- for air burial install was an error and omission. Add electrical to roof for maintenance equipment that
- had not been included. That was an owner's request. Adding steel reinforcement.
- was an error and omission. Replacing curb is an owner request. The curb, just quickly to say, the curb
- on the east side, some of it was going to be cut out, some of it was going to be left, so we were going
- to have new old, new old, and so we requested that we just put all new curbs in on that side. Millwork
- for stairs and corner guards, error and omission, and then one that I'm sure you'll be pleased to see,
- which is a credit back to us of $128,521,
- I'd like to change this to owner request. We asked for $128,000 back, but it's actually because of an
- unforeseen condition that we didn't need it. So those were the ones that I approved. Before we move
- on, are there any questions about my approvals since we've last met? All right. And then we have a request.
- for over $25,000, which is for unforeseen and below slab condi—wait a minute, where am I looking at
- the over 20—oh, I'm sorry, that's the one you have to approve. So you have to formally approve that
- you want $128,000 back. So is there a motion to approve—okay, so we have a motion. Is there a second?
- All right, so it's been moved and seconded. Does anybody want to argue that we want $128,000 back?
- Seeing no argument, that one is approved. So that takes care of the change orders. And then you can
- see this month what that amounts to. You can see contingency use to date, which is 28% of our original
- contingency, leaving a remaining contingency of $1.7 plus million. Mr. Baird. A question for Jason,
- if I may. Obviously, it's speculative, but given how
- We are on this project at 28% contingency expended. Do you have a thought on what that might grow to?
- It feels like we're in pretty good shape here. So I would, yes, I would agree with you that we're in
- pretty good shape that we've only that we've used almost a quarter less than a third of the contingency
- that's in place and we have six months left. Yeah, so I mean we're past the 50%
- This is usually the change orders that you run into. The contingencies are more of the unforeseen conditions.
- Yeah, and sometimes it's you might run into weather related things that cause increases. So knock on
- wood as long as you know we don't find anything else as the weather for you know behaves itself and
- you know there's not a whole lot more to ask for. We should be in really good shape.
- Before I'm going to come back to Mr. Bruce, I forgot to ask for a roll call vote on the over $50,000.
- So is there a motion? We have a motion. We have a second. So we need to vote on that. Jay Baer? Yes.
- Jim Soberstein? Yes. Joyce Poehling? Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Galen Cassidy? Yes. John Weichart? Yes. Thank you.
- Now, Mr. Bruce. Just to follow up on Mr. Baer's question, the contingency amount though, is that a total
- amount for the total project which includes the renovation portion of this building also? So that's,
- we'll want to keep an eye on it just because new projects tend to not draw as much, but a renovation
- you could certainly uncover some unknown, unforeseen circumstances. So we'll want to go into the renovation
- of this building with
- with a hefty contingency still, I would think. And I know, if I may, that we've talked about in particular
- that we approved new windows. And we're in an old building, and we begin to tear these old windows out.
- And we're not sure what unforeseen conditions we may find. So we do have to carefully monitor the contingency
- funds that we have left in the event we need them for those kinds of unforeseen conditions. Any other
- comments, questions?
- All right, construction update, Andrew Sherry from Weddell. Perfect, thank you, John. Share my screen
- here. Okay, so we'll get started on the construction progress and upcoming activities.
- Here is a picture as of this morning from the northeast entrance seeing the north elevation as you can
- kind of see here a lot of your glasses installed on the north side we are jumping to the other side
- of our feature wall on masonry columns and then we will have probably next week this northeast entrance
- the frames start to go in at those those areas so
- Steel progress, structural steel update. All of our supplemental steel is completed in the exhibit hall.
- We are scanning tomorrow for all of our partition walls so that those will be on order. We'll probably
- see those at the job site. Ready for install in eight weeks. We'll see where we're at as far as the
- overhead progress. Our stairs are in progress. These are the grand stairs right here in this picture.
- So the terrazzo treads and everything obviously are not there, but we're working on grand stairs, north
- patio egress and backup house access.
- And then the remainder of the work that we have for the iron workers are just miscellaneous accessories,
- handrails around the loading dock areas, things like that. Interior concrete, so our access slab is
- going to be completed within two weeks. Again, that's just the access that we had for the pump to finish
- out our north elevated deck. So north deck done, button up some underground at the restroom where we've
- been pulling trucks in and out, and then button that up and then we have
- 100% of our slabs completed. And then we're finishing on our west elevations as far as curtain wall
- systems. Exterior concrete, our east side site work has started. So this picture here is the southeast
- ramp, which is in progress. Our sidewalk subgrade is in progress. And then we are preparing for curb
- and sidewalk pours next week. So curves have been removed, the remainder of the concrete has been removed
- again, and then prepping the site for our exterior improvements.
- exterior progress. Our exterior column wraps are in progress on the north elevation. Granite and limestone
- is starting on the west elevation. Curtain wall frames and glass are in progress on west elevation.
- Our perimeter canopy vapor barrier is in progress to prep for our metal panels. So they're working on
- the metal panels right now on the bottom of the connector, buttoning up, and then they're going to jump
- over to the new expansion project and we'll start to see this eyebrow take shape. This picture here is on
- the southeast side of the project looking north towards the parking garage. Our south exterior CMU walls
- are in progress at the south loading dock area. The metal panels, I think we have a delivery today for
- the building. And then our roof is installed other than the tie-in at the perimeter and our connector.
- So our back of house roof is all dried in. We'll actually talk about it, but we have electrical gear
- that has landed on the job and they're starting hookup and everything.
- Here are some exterior photos. So this is our east elevation on the left-hand side. As you can see where
- this lift is, this is our sidewalk prep and then our northeast entrance. Again, prepping for hopefully
- next week to start setting frames at these corners at these entrances. Here is a photo. Both of these
- are from the north side. The bottom picture is trying to show the connector progress with our closure,
- the patio, and then the top picture is the northeast.
- Interior progress, the bulk of our interior walls are nearing completion. We have miscellaneous areas
- that are gonna be finalized. So around the exhibit hall, we've got 12 foot duct returns, things like
- that. As they install those risers, then we'll button up the framing and drywall around those. Mechanical,
- electrical and plumbing and fire protection rough ends are in progress. Our interior inspections are
- underway so that we can start drywall. We've inspected and passed the east corridor, south wall of the
- main exhibit hall.
- and the south mechanical space. So again, we've broke these areas out to get these approvals so that
- at the end of this month when we get temporary climate control in, we'll start finishing drywall and
- closing things in. Our back of house interior masonry walls are topping out. This photo right here on
- the right-hand side is the electrical room in the back of house and this is the electrical gear that
- they're working on. So this is what we're actually gonna use for our temporary climate control and then
- energize the building. With that said, we have equipment
- equipment deliveries that have started. Electrical gear is here. And then in August, we'll see plumbing
- equipment, mechanical equipment, things like that. Here's some interior photos. The top left is the
- backup house. So on the left-hand side, that is your South ramp to get to the loading dock area. And
- then the bottom right picture is the South exhibit hall wall. So fully insulated. You can see the duct
- work progress through here, things like that.
- Top left photo here is the main entrance to the exhibit hall, the three doors, and then the right picture
- is the east corridor. So again, we're getting very close. As soon as we get our building energized,
- put temporary climate control in there and really start our going, closing areas in with drywall, finishing
- drywall, and then prepping for paint. Upcoming activities, interior wall, drywall and insulation to
- progress. Prepare for painting activities.
- Fireproofing will be completed on the project. They started in our last main area, which is back of
- house. Interior stairs to be completed, setting electrical and mechanical equipment, the entirety of
- in-wall and overhead rough ends to continue, and then plan on completing our masonry scope, which again,
- the remainder of that is just the back of house area. Upcoming exterior work, exterior limestone and
- granite to be completed at the perimeter of the building.
- Loading dock area feature walls to follow exterior walls. So as we button up our south wall, they'll
- fall into the connector column enclosures, the south wall along college, the trash enclosure, things
- like that. Our roofing system to start tying into the perimeter metal panels. So we set these metal
- panels, they'll come in and detail that out. Exterior CMU brick to be completed on the north elevation.
- So all of our column wraps to allow for our curtain walls, glass and everything to be installed.
- And then we're also starting to prepare for our third street improvements. So the median changes, the
- new loop detectors, sidewalks, curbs, and remilling. Connector activities. So the photo right here on
- the right-hand side is looking towards the existing convention center. These are the metal panels and
- the lights installed. We have curtain wall frames nearing completion over College Avenue right now.
- I'll actually show some pictures. We have the majority of glazing in. We are going column to column
- across college so that we can reopen next Friday. Glazing systems are currently being installed, metal
- panels to be completed. And then again, we will open next Friday on the 24th. Here's a photo of the
- glass installed on the south side from the second floor. Again, they're putting these panels in so that
- either they'll hide the steel here and then put these filler panels in.
- and then here's a photo from the second floor on the north elevation. So personally think it looks really
- good, a lot of work. Crews have been working hard long days to get these installed and we are on track
- for our opening next Friday. Thank you. I wanted to ask with Mr. Turner's vacation, did anything fall
- behind or did we continue to make good progress? It was hard to not hear him for a week. Yeah, okay.
- Any questions about the report? And I didn't see any pictures of the tour that was taken by some of
- our board members and Mr. Askins. I know they toured the building and I didn't see any photos. I shared
- them on Facebook this morning. They're on Facebook. Okay, so if you want to look at Facebook, you can
- see them on Facebook. So, seeing no questions for Mr. Ferri. I've got just a quick one. Oh, a question.
- Mr. Silberstein. Yeah, the overhangs, the canopies, they're wrapped in metal. What sort of metal is that?
- Um, I would have to see what our metal panels are. Um, Eddie may be able to answer. Yeah. If you can
- go back to the photo of the bridge, that might be the thunder side. I'm talking about the canopy. Yeah,
- it's the same thing. It's the same thing. Is it aluminum or is it? It's aluminum. It's aluminum. Okay.
- Yeah. Just thinking about, yeah, it's totally exposed to the weather. Yeah. Aluminum's good. Okay. Anyone
- else? All right. Thank you.
- Moving on to working group updates, the first one is wayfinding. Mr. Layton, I believe, has some information
- he'd like to share with us. Yes. So we are at the point now where we have received bids and we're ready
- to get those approved. So I was going to kind of update the group on what we've been doing for the past
- month. So talk about the process we went through a little bit, the results and then the recommendation.
- So just the process, the schedule we followed.
- Basically, the project was out to bid in May. We received those bids last month on the 17th. We spent
- the last few weeks reviewing those bids so we could have our recommendation today. And just a reminder
- of where the costs we were looking at for these estimated cost before we bid the project was that the total
- A project including the design fees would be around $471,000, which if you took out the design fees
- for what the bid would be, you know, you're right around $398, something like that. So that's what we're
- expecting to do. We did receive four bids for the project.
- ranging in a cost from $213,000 up to $517,000. We reviewed the scope with the low bidder, apparent
- low bidder, which is Greenfield Signs. We discovered they did not include the $60,000 contingency within
- their bid, which, if you add that to their number, made them no longer the low bidder. So we moved on
- to the second low bid of Graphic House to inquire same thing. Thankfully, they said they were. They
- did have the
- That amount included. And so our recommendation was to award that to Graphic House. Happy to take questions.
- So we have that as a recommendation. Is there a motion to approve the recommendation? Is there a second?
- Second. Second. So it's been moved and seconded. So now, is there any discussion or questions or comments, Mr. Baer?
- Is this wayfinding package solely for this building or for both buildings, or for the new building or
- both buildings? Both buildings. Okay. Any other questions? All right, seeing none, Mr. Parrish, would
- you take the roll? Jay Baer? Yes. Jim Silberstein? Yes. Joyce Polling? Doug Bruce? Yes. Gaelen Cassidy?
- Yes. John Weichart? Yes. Thank you, Mr. Layton.
- Anything on furniture fixtures and equipment? I don't believe we have anything this month. No, things
- are out to bid. We'll have should have something at the next meeting. Okay, thank you. Art installations
- update. I don't believe we have anything for this month. So the next item is report on the demolition
- process and I believe JS held has information for us on that. I want to make sure I have my notes.
- Just a quick update. We are reviewing proposals from BRCJ for demo documents and from that environmental
- for face to review of the properties. And we'll make recommendations to Mr. President when completed.
- So that is our update at the moment. All right, thank you.
- Next item of business, number eight, report and recommendation from Hotel Evaluation Group.
- It says JS Held, but I'll go ahead and report back on what happened in our evaluation meeting yesterday.
- Introducing the recommendation from the Hotel Evaluation Group, let me provide some background information.
- It has been quite a journey to the recommendation we have today.
- our many attempts over the last two and a half years to complete our project goals by advancing a host
- hotel project from contributing assistance to the RDC process in the earlier unsuccessful attempt when
- we were asked to in October of 2025 and more recently in acquiring ownership of the land we needed so
- that this board could release its own RFP have been both exhaustive and at times exhausting. After April,
- Or in April, after gaining control of land to offer, we released a new RFP with three basic requirements.
- Build on our parcels, build a full service hotel to our requirements. Do not ask for any additional
- subsidies as a contingency. And there was always a fourth goal that was implied. Don't just meet the
- minimum requirements, inspire us with the unique design to show your commitment to our community.
- The Dora hospitality proposal not only met expectations for 200 guest rooms, restaurant and bar, fitness
- center and meeting space, but it exceeded expectations, including a plan for 200 parking spaces. Dora
- proposed an architectural design that is not only aesthetically and uniquely created for Bloomington,
- but one that allows us to vision a host hotel on South College that has the potential to anchor
- transformational Southward development of our community. Cindy, do we have that?
- Yeah. We've got some slides that we wanted to kind of run on a loop as we talk about this. We are already
- familiar with the team of Vince Dora, Russ Lauderback, and David Rausch. They came back to us having
- Adelwebel Brothers, ensuring the contribution of our own well-known construction team member to theirs
- with a local workforce that lives here and contributes to the economic benefit of our community. Wages
- paid here, wages staying here.
- Dora followed up after their interview last week to express appreciation for that opportunity, but also
- to communicate the following to us. And I'm going to read an email that was received last week from
- Mr. Louderback. John and Jim, Jim B and Jim Whitlatch, thank you for the opportunity to present to the
- CIV board last week.
- We genuinely enjoyed the conversation and left feeling even more energized about the project and what
- it can be for the city of Bloomington. We wanna take this opportunity to let you all know that the south
- parcels are our preferred site for the convention center hotel. And we are fully committed to building
- there. This is not a fallback position. It is where we want to build and we've been planning around
- it. The site works for the program,
- It works for the guest experience and it works for the long-term relationship between the hotel and
- the convention center. Russ and I are ready to move forward the moment the CIB is ready to move with
- us. We have the team, the capital relationships and the commitment to deliver a hotel that Bloomington
- will be proud of for generations. We appreciate everything you and the board have done to get this project
- to this point. And we look forward to the opportunity to finish what we started together. Vince Dora
- and Russell Lauderback.
- We released an RFP in April to get to where we are today. We have land, we have a hotelier who developed
- an outstanding proposal, and in them a hotel partner who wants to build on our land as their preferred
- site. So with that, I would like to offer a motion on behalf of the board, on behalf of the committee.
- I move that we accept the unanimous recommendation of the Hotel Evaluation Committee
- to select Dora Hospitality as the host hotel for the Bloomington Convention Center, to construct a hotel
- fully consistent with a proposal provided to this CIB on July 8th, 2026, and to work in an integrated
- fashion with the CIB, the Convention and Visitors Commission, and Visit Bloomington to promote, market,
- host, and sell conventions in Monroe County and Bloomington, and B, make available those south parcels
- to be identified and agreed upon for hotel construction,
- and C, direct Mr. Whitlatch to enter in discussions with Dora Hospitality to identify steps forward
- toward bringing a definitive agreement for the host hotel to this CIB. I offer that as a motion on behalf
- of the board. I would point out, I've mentioned them, the evaluation group was CI board members,
- Jay Baer, Doug Bruce, myself, attorney Jim Whitlatch and controller Jeff Underwood, Jason Larrison and
- Mary Kripinski of JS Held, Mike Campbell, the Convention and Visitors Commission,
- Mike McAfee, a visit Bloomington. And it was a unanimous conclusion of this evaluation group to bring
- this motion forward. So I bring that motion forward and it's been seconded. So it's been moved and seconded.
- Is there discussion? Are there questions? Is there conversation? Mr. Bruce. Thank you, President Blackheart.
- I have some points I'd like to make.
- to the committee here, to the board that came out from my notes from the interviews with the hoteliers
- and in the end with the selected hotelier, Dora Hospitality. So I will try to look through my own handwriting
- and get these to you. So a few things here about the process. So, you know,
- Upon selection of a hotelier, we submitted this initially at our first RFP to the RDC, and that's been
- over 18 months ago. Negotiations passed for the Bunger site to no avail of agreement. And the next,
- we were told the CIB by both the City Council and the Mayor in no uncertain terms would the Bunger site be given
- to the CIB, but would need to be purchased for at least $7 million. The interlocal agreement calls for
- the CIB to request transfer of parcels needed for this center and hotel and negotiate in good faith
- for them. The CIB has tried numerous times. I personally went with President Weichart to the RDC meeting
- to get the RDC to pause their RFP for 30 days
- so we can discuss possible parcel swaps or other ideas. Time is of the essence. So the CIB reissued
- a second RFP, as President Weickart mentioned back in April, for the parcels that the CIB actually owns
- and selected, again, the same hotelier. And this hotelier, if they started today, this hotel as a host
- hotel would not be open
- until sometime in 2029. The hotelier that we selected has spent a great deal of time and money in their
- RFP submittals and now have stated in our interviews that the South parcels are there and after there
- I'll say increase scrutiny because they've had two RFPs to look at this is a better and preferred location
- for their hotel. This hotel
- has utilized three parcels, which leaves the potential of development for the remaining south parcels.
- Finally, the interlocal agreement states that the CID is to expand the convention center and select
- sites for related amenities, i.e. hotel. We have held public hearings and two RFPs for a hotelier, and
- now have a hotelier with an exciting proposal in architecture, parking, location,
- and on a site they prefer. Those are my comments, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you. Other comments?
- Other comments, Mr. Baer? I would just acknowledge that other members of the community, the city council,
- the mayor and others have suggested that this body submit a request
- to continue the land swap negotiations as part of the RDC's RFP. While that would possibly make sense
- in some context, and certainly historical context, at this point, both the CIB at large and certainly
- our preferred hotelier have suggested that the south parcel is actually a preferred site for the hotel
- as opposed to the north side site.
- which sort of invalidates any need from our perspective to do LA Unspoken. As mentioned a couple of
- times, there's a lot of reasons why it is a superior site. It is connected to the Convention Center
- on the same street. So guests of the hotel don't have to cross a very, very busy intersection to get
- to the Convention Center. It's also right next to an existing hotel, which is the courtyard across the
- street. So there's some hotel contiguity, you know, continuousness in the region.
- So there are some compelling reasons, and I just reiterate what Mr. Bruce indicated. As you can see
- from the slides that are playing here in the room, the proposed site plan from Dora Hospitality Group
- is just the portion of those cell parcels that are closest to the convention center. Obviously, close
- walking distance is important to convention hotel guests, but it does not take up the entire parcel.
- So there may, in fact, at some point,
- be able to do something else with those parcels, convections and related or something else. And I'll
- just finally say that how much I personally understand and appreciate the enthusiasm of members of this
- community to preserve or attain affordable housing in this community. We all live in this community.
- That's why we're on this board. There's a sign in the room right now that says homes, not hotels. But
- I think that's a false equivalency. Our role is not to solve affordable housing for Bloomington or Monroe County.
- We certainly believe that affordable housing is a massive priority in this community, but there are
- many other places and frankly, more appropriate bodies to solve that problem than the CIB. And just
- speaking personally, I certainly hope that those issues and initiatives are undertaken. Thank you. Any
- other comments from board members? I just want to thank the DORA group for being willing to pivot
- and take a look at these south properties and help us discover that they're actually a superior location
- for our project. So I'm grateful for that. Any other comments from board members? So we have a motion
- and a second. And Mr. Paris, would you take the roll? Jay Baer? Yes. Jim Silverstein? Yes. Joyce Pauling?
- Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes.
- Yes. John Weichert. Yes. So the motion passes. I want to, Mr. Lauderback is with us. Mr. Lauderback,
- I want to offer you an opportunity, if you'd like, if you care to share any comments, you're certainly
- welcome to. And if you don't mind, if you'd use a podium where there's a microphone so we can pick you
- up for recording purposes. I just want to say how appreciative we are that we didn't have to go through
- this a third time.
- but we have very appreciative of this. We look forward to it. We will stand by our commitments. We are
- going to build a sustainable project. We're gonna, we're using Weddle Brothers. We're gonna be at least
- 70% union. We care very much about the local community. All of us are part of this local community as
- part of this development team. So we're gonna do our very best, provide you the very best
- host hotel that we can. And we do like this site very much. And thank you very much for voting for us.
- Thank you. All right, next item of business is old business. Is there any old business to be brought
- before the board? Any new business to be brought before the board? Comments from board members? Any
- additional comments that you didn't make otherwise and would care to make now?
- Comments from the public and we offer the public an opportunity. We have a 10 minute period. Individuals
- may use up to two minutes to make public comments if they so wish. So if there are any members, any
- community members present who would like to comment, you're most welcome to. If you are online and would
- like to comment, if you'll, I guess use that hand emoji and put it up in the air, we'll get
- to you eventually. So Mr. Green, I see you're first at the microphone. Welcome back. Oh yeah, wouldn't
- happen any other way.
- Yeah, so I'm Bryce Green and I'm with Bloomington Homes for All. We've been the organization that's
- been advocating for the preservation of Seminary Point and more acutely, the land swap deal that was
- just alluded to by some of the members here. So we see that the CIB has moved forward with choosing
- the spots just north of Seminary Point as the location for the hotel.
- It is my hope that even despite maybe the reduced need or the reduced desire for a land swap for a hotelier
- to build on the College Square site, we still believe that the land swap is still something worth pursuing
- just because it is one of the only ways that we can see that we'll be able to save the Seminary Point
- housing from being demolished. And as it has been made public, the value of the properties is not as
- big of an issue
- The relative value of the properties is not as big of an issue as it was earlier. And the immense public
- support for preserving Seminary Point, while it is not the role of this body, I think it is still something
- that this body has the ability to act on and has, you know, it's my hope that this body will.
- Thank you. Thank you. You can identify yourself for the record, please. Matthew Joseph.
- Okay, so I guess the biggest thing right now is what is the plan for Seminary Point? I mean, we're talking
- about people's homes and people's businesses. This is a core question that I think the entire community
- is thinking about.
- And so this is a place where business owners and residential tenants are holding on for their lives
- to some extent until the August 1st deadline. What is the plan for Dale, the owner of Blue Tip, that
- doesn't have another affordable option in Bloomington as he's been looking for two years for another,
- anything that's even similarly priced and hasn't found one? What about residential tenants that haven't
- seemed to find any other option for super affordable rent that's accessible to them other than a seminary
- point? What's the plan for the land?
- What do you plan on doing with the Bloomington Homes for All proposal that outlines a plan for Seminary
- Point that can make the necessary renovations and can maintain the affordability of Seminary Point?
- What's the plan on what's going to happen with the RDC, who has made legal efforts to communicate that
- they would like you to hold off on picking a hotelier?
- I mean, all the signs are saying that they would like to negotiate and in six days from now, we can
- have a formal negotiation process between the RDC and the CIB for College Square. And this is where
- those formal negotiation processes can happen.
- I mean, so the question is like, will you join the community, the advocates, the RDC, the city council,
- the mayor's office, and our care for maintaining Seminary Point as a home for commercial and residential
- tenants at an affordable rate? The community is watching and we wanna see what that plan is. And we
- ask that you engage with the advocates and the necessary bodies to come up with a good plan because
- that plan,
- I don't think we want you to sell the land and use it for the Capital Improvement Board, because how
- does that help with affordable housing? Thank you. Thank you. Hi, I'm Amber Core with Bloomington Homes
- for All. This first part is for the public record. The CIB needs to submit an RFP to the RDC on building
- the Convention Center Host Hotel at College Square.
- That plan should include land swapping, the CIB's own Seminary Point for the city-owned College Square,
- one for one, currently both publicly indicated to be valued at roughly seven million. Once the city
- is in possession of Seminary Point, the land should be transferred to Avalon Community Land Trust at
- no cost for the mission of sustainable, affordable housing. This part is for everyday people.
- current rent in Bloomington is upwards of $1,600 a month. In order for someone to pay no more than 30%
- of their income, that means they would need to make $31 an hour. The CIB claims that there will be 500
- new jobs created from the convention center,
- Will you be willing to pay these employees $31 an hour? Our homes will be able to house the people at
- the rate you're willing to pay them. Seminary Point, where there are two historically contributing buildings,
- were originally built as worker housing, which is the exact kind of housing that Homes for All is fighting
- to preserve.
- It's very sad that demolition is scheduled for Seminary Point, another communal neighborhood space to
- be destroyed on the South Side, just like players pub.
- rhinos and the original chocolate mousse. The CIB has already maneuvered a potential $7 million land
- subsidy for the hotel. I'm not sure what more could come from the negotiations. The city should not
- have to pay for additional fees like the underground parking, sky bridge or rooftop or any other fees
- that should be covered by the hotel. Thank you very much. Thank you.
- Sarah Wolford. I'm the Housing Solutions Director at Habitat for Humanity. I grew up in Bloomington
- and I've heard stories of some of you growing up from my parents, Jane St. John and Bob Wolford, and
- also from my aunts and uncles and grandparents. You are leaders in our community and have made a lasting
- positive impact on Bloomington.
- However, I cannot find reason or mercy in your decision to move forward with the demolition of Seminary
- Point. The CIB has made no formal proposal, although you have reached out. I don't understand why you
- wouldn't make an official proposal to the RDC for a land swap. Seminary Point could be a beautiful addition
- to the space around Hopewell and the Convention Center. These are not mutually exclusive ideas.
- It could be an anchor to the south side of downtown, an area that has already lost so much community
- space like Player's Pub and should not also have to lose gems like Blue Tip and Friendly Beasts. I work
- at Habitat and while there, I have to see the horrors that people are facing today and the inexcusable
- conditions of some of the homes people are living in. The housing crisis cannot afford the loss of 29 units.
- Inaction and silence are individual choices that have real world consequences. The idea that a conversation
- would delay constructible
- The idea that a conversation would delay construction is laughable to anyone in the business. You still
- have to complete phase two environmentals, go through IDEM approval and bid out the project. You have
- the opportunity to be a savior of affordable housing while also serving the purpose the CIB was called
- to do. Having a community space near the convention center is a mutually beneficial situation. I would
- be interested in what
- cib plans for the hotel or for the land that the hotel is not taking Thank you. Thank you very much.
- Appreciate it. Thank you I think this is our last speaker in our 10-minute limit That's 10 minutes listen
- Yes, hello, my name is audrey smith My first request would be that you extend the 10 minutes so that
- everyone who came to this meeting is able to give their comments um
- As you reviewed the proposals that were submitted for the Convention Center Host Hotel, I'm sure you
- were all considering how each will impact the Bloomington community for years to come. I want to highlight
- an opportunity you still have, the opportunity to leave not just the best location for convention goers,
- but an opportunity to secure affordable housing in the process. I know supporting affordable housing
- is not within your mandate on the CIB. As members of this community,
- I hope you understand that the lack of affordable housing is a matter that concerns everyone and that
- many parts of our community must come together to solve. Maintaining affordable housing may not always
- be the easiest path, but for a little extra work, there is a lot of reward. So many members of our community
- have rallied around Seminary Point Apartments because of the iconic businesses and organizations that
- are based there,
- and because of the desperate need for affordable housing downtown. Members of our community are ready
- to step in to manage these properties and ensure affordable and vibrant and good neighbors for the Convention
- Center and Hopewell and a great place to visit. You just have to get the ball rolling with a proposal
- to the RDC. Then when people look at the Convention Center, the story will be,
- Did you know that it also saved affordable housing and created additional community space just down
- the B line? Not conversation about doubts about whether we gained more than we lost in the process.
- Thank you. Thank you. Well, that concludes our public period for comments. So we move on to the next
- item on the agenda, which is our next board meeting, which is August 19th, 2026 at 3 PM. We are now
- You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.