The City of Bloomington is opening a new chapter in its housing conversation by inviting residents, builders, and community partners to learn more about Hopewell and a different way of thinking about neighborhood development. City leaders say the effort is about more than a single site—it is about reexamining how housing can be created in ways that are attainable, locally driven, and aligned with Bloomington’s values.
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the City will host a free public learning event titled “Cultivating Neighborhoods & the Small-Scale Development Movement.” The event will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bloomington City Hall in the Council Chambers, Room 115, located at 401 N. Morton Street. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is required, and time has been set aside for questions and discussion at the end of the presentation.
City officials describe the event as an opportunity to better understand Hopewell, a major redevelopment site located on the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital property. Because of its size and proximity to downtown, the site offers a rare chance to test new ideas about how neighborhoods can grow without relying solely on large, conventional development models.
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“As Indiana’s most housing cost-burdened metro area, Bloomington needs more housing, of all shapes and sizes, for more people,” said Mayor Kerry Thomson. “Hopewell is our opportunity to rethink how neighborhoods grow in ways that are more attainable, more local, and more reflective of who we are as a community.”
Hopewell has been the focus of ongoing discussion since the City declined traditional development proposals for the site in June 2025. Rather than move forward with a familiar large-scale approach, the City chose to pause and explore alternatives that might better address housing affordability and community involvement. That decision led to a partnership with Flintlock LAB, which worked with the City to design a different development framework centered on small-scale and incremental growth.
Small-scale development is a model that emphasizes gradual change rather than sweeping transformation. Instead of one large developer building an entire neighborhood at once, the approach encourages participation by local builders, smaller firms, and even residents who want to become developers themselves. City leaders believe this model can reduce costs, lower barriers to entry, and create neighborhoods that feel more connected to their surroundings.
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At Hopewell, the City is piloting several specific ideas as part of this framework. One key element is the use of pre-approved building designs, which can streamline the permitting process and reduce both time and expense. Another is a focus on involving local builders and vendors, keeping more investment within the community. The plan also calls for a mix of attainable and market-rate housing, rather than separating the two into different areas.
Training and education are also central to the approach. The Hopewell model includes pathways for small-scale developers, including Bloomington residents who may not have prior development experience but are interested in learning. City officials say this could help broaden who gets to shape future neighborhoods.
Bloomington, Indiana – The February 12 event will explore these ideas in depth, with a lecture led by Eric Kronberg, a nationally recognized expert in incremental development. Kronberg is a faculty member with IncDev and the principal of Kronberg Urbanists + Architects. His work focuses on navigating zoning and development regulations to support walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that grow over time rather than all at once. He is widely known in planning circles as “The Zoning Whisperer.”
During the presentation, Kronberg will explain the principles behind small-scale and incremental development and how those ideas are being applied at Hopewell. He will also discuss how lessons from the site could inform future housing and neighborhood efforts across Bloomington, particularly as the City considers broader development reforms.
The event is hosted in partnership with the Incremental Development Alliance, a national nonprofit organization that supports small-scale developers through education and training. The organization operates workshops, boot camps, and ongoing support programs in 33 states and has trained more than 10,000 alumni. City leaders say this partnership brings national expertise to a local conversation that many residents care deeply about.
Bloomington officials emphasize that Hopewell is still a pilot project. The goal is to test whether this approach can deliver real results and then determine which elements might be applied more widely throughout the city. By inviting the public into the conversation early, the City hopes to build understanding and gather feedback before decisions are finalized.
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For residents concerned about housing costs, neighborhood character, or who gets to participate in development, the City says the event offers a chance to learn, ask questions, and engage directly with the ideas shaping Hopewell. City leaders describe the effort as a step toward a more inclusive and flexible approach to growth—one that reflects Bloomington’s challenges, priorities, and sense of community.
