Bloomington, Indiana – After the City Council voted against a law related to the Hopewell South Planned Unit Development at its meeting on February 18, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson is advising the city to stop debating and start building.
Thomson said in a statement on Thursday that the vote brought up a bigger question: is Bloomington ready to do something about its long-known need for more housing? Hopewell South is the first big residential phase planned for the old IU Health hospital site.
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The plan is to build a neighborhood with people of different incomes, with a focus on homeownership. The plans include a mix of modest detached homes, duplexes, compact multifamily structures, and additional housing units. They will all be situated in a way that makes it easy to take a walk around and fits with the city’s existing character.
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Thomson compared what could be developed with the current zoning to what the PUD would enable. The three blocks are currently zoned for around 28 residences, each worth about $425,000. With the Hopewell South plan, that number would rise to just under 100 homes, with average costs closer to $270,000. She noted that reduced lot sizes, shared infrastructure, and flexible design standards make the change possible. These things lower the overall cost of building and open up more alternatives.
The mayor made it clear that the Hopewell site is not a new area. Planning for the site started in 2017 and has included years of public input, technical assessment, and guidance from housing experts outside the area. The Plan Commission looked over the PUD twice and sent it to the Council with a unanimous good recommendation.
Thomson says that planners, engineers, experts, and advocates for accessibility all looked over the concept very carefully before it reached elected officials.
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She said that the ordinance wasn’t brought up because of concerns about the process, not because people didn’t like the idea itself. Thomson agreed that process is important, but she also said that delays have effects. She warned that rising costs can soon make homes less affordable and harder to buy.
The mayor warned that if a city-led project on city-owned land can’t move forward to debate, it might send a bad message to smaller local builders trying to carry out small projects.
Thomson stated that the ordinance would come back to the Council for a first reading on March 4. She added that housing pressures were getting worse and that it was important to act quickly. She encouraged residents and builders who support expanding housing opportunities to stay engaged as the discussion continues.
