BLOOMINGTON – As discussions continue about the convention center hotel, a potential land exchange involving College Square, and the future of Seminary Pointe, Mayor Kerry Thomson issued the following statement emphasizing that the City can pursue responsible development while also working to preserve affordable housing:
“Bloomington can pursue the right location for a convention center hotel while also remaining firmly committed to preserving affordable housing. Those goals are not mutually exclusive, and both require willing partners and a public process.
“I continue to believe College Square is an ideal location for the convention center hotel. The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission issued a request for proposals to establish a process for reaching a reasonable agreement involving the property. The RDC is unable to consider offers that are not submitted through that process, and it is my sincere hope that the Capital Improvement Board or its hotel development partner will bring forward a proposal.
“That proposal could include monetary consideration or another form of value, including a potential property exchange. A land exchange remains a possibility worth exploring, but the RDC is ultimately responsible for evaluating any proposal and determining whether it represents a sound deal for the community.
“At the same time, our team is deeply concerned about the potential loss of 29 affordable housing units currently occupied at Seminary Pointe. We want to be clear that a potential land exchange involving College Square is not, by itself, a preservation strategy for Seminary Pointe. Preserving units would require a qualified developer or property owner to acquire or retain the property and maintain all 29 units at affordable rents. The City would prioritize potential incentives for such a partner, or for a qualified developer to be able to preserve or replace those units at another suitable location.
“Preserving the affordable housing we already have, while creating more of it, is a clear priority for my administration. We advance that work in many ways, including direct City investment and partnerships with organizations and developers working to preserve and create affordable housing.
“We are grateful to Homes for All for its advocacy and for the care and persistence its members have brought to this conversation.
“We are also grateful to the Monroe County Apartment Association for stepping forward early, reaching out directly to Seminary Pointe residents, and offering to connect them with available apartments in a similar price range. To date, one resident has secured housing through the association’s services, and that assistance remains available to any other residents who choose to use it.
“We will keep doing the practical, collaborative work required to move Bloomington forward while protecting the people who already call it home.”
