Mayor frames Hopewell as key to attainable housing; pledges humane encampment closures before SB285 deadline

Mayor Carrie Thompson used the March 31 State of the City to place the Hopewell redevelopment at the center of Bloomington’s housing strategy and to outline the city’s approach to encampment closures ahead of a new state law.

Thompson described Hopewell as “a once-in-a-generation neighborhood” and said the administration focused the first phase on homeownership at attainable market rates and stronger connections between residents and opportunities. The mayor called for easing local barriers to housing production by refining the Unified Development Ordinance and using planned-unit developments (PUDs) to create predictable paths to construction.

To reduce delay and uncertainty, the administration launched two permitting audits: one where the city acts as a zoning petitioner to identify friction points, and a comprehensive review of departmental permitting steps. “Builders and developers consistently report shifting interpretations, conflicting departmental guidance, and unpredictable review timelines,” Thompson said, adding that those issues increase housing costs and squeeze small projects.

Thompson also addressed homelessness and encampment policy. She said Bloomington had more than a dozen encampments on city property in January 2024 and now has “only one,” crediting sustained outreach and coordinated closures. The mayor noted the legislature passed SB285, which she said “prohibits public camping beginning July 1st,” and said the city will use that deadline to try to move people into housing and services while following humane closure protocols that include outreach, notice, and offers of services.

The mayor cited local enforcement of Title 16 housing standards, including removing permits and prohibiting a longtime owner from operating rental units for the next two decades after repeated life-and-safety violations across 31 properties.

Thompson emphasized regional coordination, asking other jurisdictions to avoid transferring people to Bloomington without a local connection or follow-up plan. She also thanked nonprofit partners and county colleagues for collaboration, and said reunification with family or support networks is a prioritized tool in the city’s approach.

The administration did not propose new ordinances during the address; instead, it outlined audits, code updates, and coordination steps to accelerate housing delivery and manage encampment closures humanely under the approaching SB285 deadline.