Bloomington, Indiana – Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson said the city does not have to choose between new downtown development and protecting affordable housing, as public discussion continues around a convention center hotel, College Square and the future of Seminary Pointe.
In a statement, Thomson said Bloomington can still seek “the right location” for a convention center hotel while staying committed to preserving housing that lower-income residents can afford. Those goals, she said, “are not mutually exclusive,” but both depend on willing partners and a public process.
The mayor again pointed to College Square as what she sees as an ideal site for the hotel. The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission has already opened a request-for-proposals process tied to the property, and Thomson said the RDC cannot consider offers made outside that process. She said she hopes the Capital Improvement Board, or its hotel development partner, will submit a proposal.
Such a proposal, she said, could include money, another form of value or even a possible property exchange. A land swap remains on the table as something worth reviewing, but Thomson stressed that the final call belongs to the RDC, which must decide whether any offer is a good deal for the public.
At the same time, the mayor said the city is “deeply concerned” about the possible loss of 29 occupied affordable housing units at Seminary Pointe. She made clear that a possible College Square land exchange would not automatically save those units.
For the apartments to be preserved, Thomson said, a qualified developer or property owner would need to acquire or retain Seminary Pointe and keep all 29 units affordable. The city would prioritize potential incentives for such a partner, or for a developer able to preserve or replace the units at another suitable site.
Thomson also thanked Homes for All for its advocacy and the Monroe County Apartment Association for contacting Seminary Pointe residents and offering help finding apartments in a similar price range. So far, one resident has secured housing through that assistance, and the service remains available to others.
“We will keep doing the practical, collaborative work required to move Bloomington forward while protecting the people who already call it home,” Thomson said.
