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Redevelopment Commission approves College Square offering amid calls to pause for CIB land-swap talks
Summary
The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission voted April 20 to publish a public offering for the College Square site, despite requests from the Capital Improvements Board and public commenters to pause 30 days to explore a land swap that could preserve affordable housing on nearby south parcels.
The City of Bloomington Redevelopment Commission voted unanimously on April 20 to issue a public offering for College Square, the vacant property at 200–226 South College Avenue, moving the offering publication to April 27 and setting responses to be collected through July 20.
Staff told commissioners the RDC has received two appraisals with an average that sets the statutory minimum offering price (presented as approximately $7.59 million) and warned of environmental conditions on the site that will require remediation work. Staff also noted the RDC’s legal authority allows it to evaluate proposals on project-quality criteria rather than selecting strictly by price.
The Capital Improvements Board (CIB) asked the RDC to pause for 30 days and open negotiations for a land exchange that would trade the College Square parcels for publicly owned parcels south of the convention center. Jim Whitlatch, attorney for the CIB, read a statement urging the pause so the two public bodies could evaluate whether a swap could jointly deliver a convention center hotel while preserving or advancing affordable housing goals downtown. Whitlatch said the CIB’s south parcels were purchased years earlier with occupancy-tax revenue and that a simple cash-for-cash swap may not capture broader public benefits.
Multiple speakers during public comment — including Councilmember Courtney Daly and residents who live near the south parcels — urged the RDC to accept the CIB’s 30-day pause request, arguing the swap could preserve roughly 30 “super-affordable” units at Seminary Point and create community stewardship or community land trust models for long-term affordability.
Several commissioners said they appreciated the public testimony and the CIB’s concerns but questioned whether 30 days would produce required appraisals and environmental reports; staff said appraisals typically take at least 30 days and recommended an offering period that runs through July 20 to allow time for full responses and supporting due diligence. One commissioner argued the RDC’s role is primarily to finish existing projects and to avoid long-term property ownership and that taking on more property risks diverting resources.
After debate, the RDC approved issuing the offering. Staff said the publication will not prevent the CIB from submitting a response; any land-swap proposal would be evaluated against other respondents using the RDC’s project criteria. The offering will be published and the commission will review submitted proposals after the July 20 opening and subsequent deliberations.
The RDC recorded the motion, second, and a unanimous vote to approve Resolution 26-26. The commission did not adopt a 30-day pause; commissioners said moving forward preserves time for responses and for other community partners to enter discussions about the south parcels.
Next steps: staff will publish the notice of offering on April 27 and accept proposals through the July 20 deadline; the RDC indicated it may continue engaging with the CIB and other stakeholders during the offering period.
