(BLOOMINGTON) – The City of Bloomington invites residents to participate in the third public forum of the master planning process for redevelopment of the current IU Health Bloomington Hospital site on Tuesday, October 6, at 6 p.m. Participants may join from computer or mobile by registering in advance at this link.
After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The forum also will be streamed live on the City’s Facebook page and at CATS. Forum materials will be available to review in advance at the project website on Friday, October 2.
The City purchased the 24-acre site at Second and Rogers from IU Health in 2018 in order to pursue redevelopment options upon the hospital’s relocation to help meet community goals for affordable housing, sustainable development, equity and inclusion. In early 2020, the City, through its Redevelopment Commission, contracted with the architecture and urban planning firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to oversee the process of developing a master plan for the site, including intensive community engagement and site design options.
At the October 6 event, the master plan consultants will present a refined site plan, and attendees can participate in three 25-minute workshops featuring interactive discussions about the refined plan. The workshop topics will be Access + Connections, Open Space, and Land Use + Neighborhood Character. The refined plan incorporates feedback received from the community during the August public forum and through a recent survey that asked for input on the planning principles for the site, framework plan options, and public realm preferences. Over 300 survey responses were received, yielding, among others, the following results:
- Seventy-five percent of respondents said that they agree with the principles that have been identified for redevelopment of the site.
- A majority of respondents ranked ‘The Greenway’ as the proposed framework concept they liked the best, noting among its strengths interconnectedness and flow, connection to the B-Line Trail, stormwater management, and space for street fairs.
- Respondents suggested strengthening north/south connectivity, leveraging Building Trades Park greenspace, and enhancing Second and Rogers Streets as ideas to consider as the framework concept is refined.
- For public spaces, respondents preferred a natural look, less hardscaping, integration of housing and retail with greenspace, and areas to walk, bike, explore, and engage in small group activities.
The next public forum will occur in December, when the master planning consultant is scheduled to present the finalized plan. Over 300 participants have attended the public forums to date. The master planning team is also working with the Hospital Reuse Committee, a group of more than 30 community members who have been involved with the City on this project since 2015. Community members may visit the project website at www.bloomingtonhospitalsite.com for additional information, updates, and input opportunities.
IU Health Bloomington Hospital, an anchor in downtown Bloomington for over a century, will vacate the property when the new IU Health Regional Academic Health Center opens on the city’s east side in 2021.
