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Redevelopment commissioners debate $218,000 1st Street parking proposal, sewer repairs and $422,184 in connection fees for Hopewell South
Summary
The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission discussed adding 21 parking spaces on 1st Street at an estimated $218,000, a crushed sewer line that must be repaired regardless of parking, and a proposed $4,308 per‑unit water/sewer connection fee (98 units = $422,184) that staff may ask the RDC to subsidize.
The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission discussed whether to add a lane of parallel parking along 1st Street for the Hopewell South development and heard staff warn that a damaged sanitary sewer under the street will require repair regardless of that decision.
Kendall Kenoke, engineering staff, told commissioners that a consultant estimated installing parking along the block would cost “about $218,000” to move trees and lights, rebuild pavement and shift the sidewalk, creating roughly 21 spaces. Kenoke said those changes could later be made subject to council direction on limits or permit programs, but the work would be disruptive because the street already will be disturbed for utility connections.
The discussion mattered because commissioners asked whether the RDC should spend to add public parking now or consider alternatives. One commissioner noted the math: at the consultant estimate the commission “would essentially [be] talking $10,380 per space for 21 spaces.” Other members suggested alternatives, including using nearby vacant lots or investing in the downtown parking garage, though staff and commissioners agreed the garage needs a larger, costly refurbishment.
A separate infrastructure problem complicated the choice: staff reported a sanitary sewer line under 1st Street was crushed during construction. The city is reviewing responsibility and may seek contractor remedy, but staff said the sewer “has to be fixed no matter what,” and that repairs mean the road will be disturbed whether or not parking is added.
Commissioners asked staff for additional data before a financial commitment. “I want something more specific, some data to say, okay. This is what we have. This is what we need,” the chair said, pressing for a parking‑demand analysis and clearer counts of existing spaces and predicted demand.
Staff also flagged other costs that may come before the commission: engineering said water and sewer connection fees are $4,308 per unit. For the 98 units planned in Hopewell South, that would total $422,184; staff said a formal resolution asking the RDC to consider covering those fees could come back in a future meeting.
What’s next: staff offered to return with more detailed cost estimates, the results of available parking/supply information and updated options for how the city might limit or manage the new parking. Commissioners suggested staff return in roughly two weeks with additional specifics to guide any future request for funding.
