City Leaders Attend Hopewell Neighborhood Groundbreaking in Bloomington, Indiana

Staff report

Bloomington, Ind. — July 21, 2023

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, along with members of the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission (RDC) and City of Bloomington Capital Improvements, Inc. (CBCI), joined community members on Friday, July 21, 2023, to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hopewell neighborhood infrastructure project.

The event, attended by several dozen community leaders and residents, was marked by speeches and photo opportunities featuring silver shovels. According to the City of Bloomington, the development aims to create a vibrant community hub from scratch, providing an enhanced living, working, and visiting experience for all residents and visitors to the city, while also diversifying and expanding affordable housing options.

Situated within the boundaries of 2nd Street to the north, 1st Street to the south, Morton Street to the east, and Rogers Street to the west, the infrastructure phase will involve the construction of a north-south extension of Madison Street from 1st to 2nd Street, as well as a new westerly portion of University Street, running east-west from Morton to Rogers Street. As part of the project, a linear park will be established along the north side of the new West University Street, featuring a wetland garden, tree grove, stage/lawn area, and other park amenities. This development will enable the creation of 15 parcels covering over 3.5 acres of developable land. The expected completion date for this phase is late 2024.

The ceremony included remarks from Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, Cindy Kinnarney, President of the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission, and Mick Renneisen, President of City of Bloomington Capital Improvements, Inc.

The Hopewell neighborhood derives its name from its historical significance, particularly its association with the site’s past. The site once hosted the Hopewell family’s 10-room house, which later transformed into the community’s first hospital known as the Hopewell House, serving residents for nearly six decades. The city of Bloomington has more information about the building’s history available at bloomington.in.gov/news/2022/02/04/5101.

The City of Bloomington entered into a purchase agreement with IU Health for the 24-acre hospital site back in May 2018. Following the decommissioning and demolition of the “legacy hospital” on West 2nd Street, IU Health Bloomington inaugurated its new multi-million dollar University Academic Health Center at 2651 East Discovery Parkway on December 5, 2021.

The Master Plan for the Hopewell neighborhood encompasses more than 1000 housing units, including multi-family units with non-residential first floors, single-family homes, and townhouses. At least 20% of the homes are designated to be affordable and workforce housing.

To build the project, the city created the City of Bloomington Capital Improvements, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit corporation, in January of this year.

A $13.4 million construction contract for the infrastructure phase of the project was awarded to Milestone Contractors, LP by the City Engineering Department following an open bidding process, according to the City of Bloomington. Funding approval by the Redevelopment Commission and contract approval by the Board of Public Works enabled construction activities to commence in July, with a notice to proceed issued in June.

IU Health is set to transfer the remaining approximately 9.2 acres to the City of Bloomington for additional development beyond the Phase I East area before the end of 2023. This final land transfer will include the existing parking garage and the historic Kohr Building.

As the project progresses through its various stages, the City plans to continue releasing updates and engaging with neighborhoods and community organizations. Those interested in staying informed about the project’s developments can sign up for updates at bton.in/j7wEN.