Bloomington, Indiana – What should Bloomington’s Gateway North area look like in ten years? The city is putting that question to the people who know it through their daily routines, inviting them to help shape a long-term plan for its future.
A community conversation on Thursday, Nov. 19, will pair a pizza dinner with informal discussions about the area. Residents, business owners and other community members can share what matters to them, drawing on how they live, work and spend time there.
The gathering runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street. Planning & Transportation staff will take part in the conversations, hearing about people’s experiences and the changes they would like to see in the years ahead.
Those discussions will help inform Gateway North, the project name for a proposed amendment to Bloomington’s Comprehensive Plan. The planning effort will establish a long-term vision, goals and strategies for the area’s physical, social and economic development.
The focus area extends approximately between North Rogers Street and North Dunn Street, and from 14th Street north to the Indiana State Road 45/46 Bypass. The city is seeking community perspectives to guide recommendations for that area.
“In order to establish project goals and develop recommendations, we have to learn from our community about their lived experience in the area and what they want to see in ten years,” said Anne Crecelius, Long Range Planner.
The invitation connects two parts of the planning process: understanding the area as people experience it today and deciding what its future should hold. Participants can discuss their current routines alongside their priorities for the coming decade, giving staff local perspectives as the project’s goals take shape.
The Nov. 19 gathering is one way to contribute. Community members can also complete an online survey to share their views. More information about Gateway North, focus area maps and the survey are available through the city’s project information page.
