Bloomington council backs land swap to preserve Seminary Point affordable housing; activists push for protection

The Bloomington City Council on June 3 approved a letter to the Redevelopment Commission supporting a proposed land swap between College Square and Seminary Point, a move council members said could preserve or add affordable housing and promote downtown residency for households that otherwise could not afford it.

Council member Isabelle Pedmont Smith said the land swap could be leveraged in multiple ways: developing affordable housing on the site, exchanging property for nearby county-owned land to preserve existing affordable units, or selling at market rate and reinvesting proceeds into affordable housing.

Council member Matt Flity said he supports the letter in principle but voiced reservations about using public subsidies tied to the convention center project, noting uncertainty about property market values and concern about setting subsidy precedents. Council member Dave Rolo said he would leave negotiation specifics to the Redevelopment Commission and hoped for a middle-ground outcome that preserved Seminary Point for affordability.

During public comment, local activist Bryce Green of Bloomington Homes for All called the land swap "unprecedented" and urged careful consideration; resident Barry Herbers thanked officials for engaging with activists. Sarah Wolford, housing solutions director for Habitat for Humanity, announced that Bloomington Homes for All will present on June 20 to outline plans for preserving Seminary Point and invited decision-makers and the public.

The council passed the letter 8–0.