BLOOMINGTON – Mayor Kerry Thomson today issued the following statement regarding the February 18, 2026, City Council meeting and Planned Unit Development (PUD) vote:
“At its core, last night’s vote was about whether Bloomington is ready to move from years of signaling and discussing its need for housing to building it. Hopewell South is the first major housing phase on the former IU Health hospital site. It is designed to create a homeownership-focused, mixed-income neighborhood with a range of housing types—small detached homes, duplexes, small multifamily buildings, and ADUs—in a walkable, connected layout that reflects Bloomington’s character.
“Under current zoning, these three blocks pencil out to about 28 homes, modeled at roughly $425,000 each. With the Hopewell South PUD, we’re looking at just under 100 homes, with modeled averages closer to $270,000. The difference comes down to smaller lots, shared infrastructure, and design flexibility that stretch dollars further and bring more attainable housing within reach.
“Hopewell is one of the most studied and discussed properties in Bloomington. Master planning for this site began in 2017. For nearly a decade, it has undergone extensive public engagement, professional planning review, evaluation by outside housing consultants, and two hearings before the Plan Commission. The Commission forwarded the PUD to Council with a unanimous positive recommendation. That recommendation reflects the work of professional planners, engineers, consultants, and accessibility advocates who evaluated the proposal on its merits before it ever reached Council.
“Last night, the ordinance was not introduced. The concerns raised were procedural.
“Process matters, but so does progress. Process is not an outcome.
“If a city-led project, on city-owned land, supported by top national housing experts, planners, and months of public review, cannot even be introduced for Council debate, we must consider what that signals to small, local builders trying to construct four or six homes in this city.
“Time and delay carry real financial consequences. Delay increases cost. Increased cost reduces attainability.
“If we say we are pro-housing, we must be willing to consider housing. If we say we need to move from studying to doing, then when doing arrives, we must not stand on procedural delays that do not improve the merit of the product. We are in a housing crisis, and the community should demand that its elected officials respond with urgency.
“My administration remains committed to getting this right and getting it built. The ordinance will return to Council on March 4 for first reading. I encourage residents and builders who care about expanding housing opportunities in our city to make their voices heard as this conversation continues.”
For more information, please contact the Office of the Mayor at 812-349-3406 or mayor@bloomington.in.gov.
