RDC approves temporary storage agreement for convention center expansion after clarifying parking and operator coordination

The Bloomington City Redevelopment Commission approved an agreement Sept. 2 permitting Weddell Brothers Construction Company to use a portion of the Convention Center parking lot for temporary storage during the convention center expansion, after commissioners raised operational and parking-impact questions.

Jane Cooper Smith of Economic and Sustainable Development explained the map attachment identifying a blue-hatched area that includes land partly owned by the RDC and partly owned by the city; staff said a deed transfer for the RDC portion had been completed and would be recorded. Commissioners asked whether the Convention Center operator had been consulted and how many parking spaces the staging would remove.

Margie Rice, corporation counsel, confirmed the convention center operator (identified in discussion as Talisha Copic) had been included in communications and that Copic initiated the request because the project manager for Weddell Brothers needed a permit and an affidavit from the property owner. Rice said convention center staff supported staging on the indicated area and that the arrangement was intended to facilitate construction and minimize delays. Commissioners requested the agreement be amended to: correct the party name (add Weddell Brothers), change the date(s) to Sept. 2 where necessary in packet pages, and confirm operational impacts; staff brought the corrected agreement back to the commission and the motion to approve as amended passed on roll call.

The agreement includes a 30-day termination clause allowing the city to end usage in whole or in part and a requirement that Weddell Brothers return the property in the same or improved condition; any improvements must be approved by city staff. Commissioners asked staff to continue coordinating with the convention center operator to ensure staging does not conflict with scheduled events.

Why it matters: temporary staging close to the construction site reduces hauling costs and schedule risk but uses existing parking that convention center patrons and downtown businesses rely on. The commission asked staff to confirm operational mitigation and to document corrected parties and dates in the final agreement.

What’s next: staff will record the corrected agreement, coordinate with convention center operations on parking and staging logistics and monitor impacts during construction.