On Monday, several proposals will be brought before the Bloomington City Council to deliberate the futures of several landmark parcels in downtown. The Front N Center building, the adjacent DUI Countermeasures building, and the former Elks building across Madison Street will be slated for demolition due to horrible mismanagement by the out of town HuffContinue reading "When the Wrecking Ball Comes…"
Pedestrian Safety in the Community
This post was Initially created for Lever & Ecker's Website Campaign for Pedestrian Safety. It was reposted here by their permission. Pedestrians are vulnerable road users with a high risk of catastrophic injury or death in motor vehicle accidents. Pedestrian safety is everyone’s responsibility. Drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws and use reasonable careContinue reading "Pedestrian Safety in the Community"
Adaptive Reuse: How to Build More Housing Fast
By: Quinlan Tisdale, Secretary Since the pandemic left office buildings empty all across the country, adaptive reuse has become a popular method for cities to increase housing stock quickly and cheaply. Instead of building houses from scratch, adaptive reuse renovates unused or underused buildings to serve a new purpose. The housing crisis is in fullContinue reading "Adaptive Reuse: How to Build More Housing Fast"
Downtown Tax Analysis: It’s All About Value Per Acre
After several meetings of the Downtown Survey Committee, we're ready to share some preliminary findings using publicly available data and our open source GIS software. The Downtown Survey was voted as one of our priority campaigns for 2024, so much of our efforts this summer was in collecting available data, sending in Freedom of InformationContinue reading "Downtown Tax Analysis: It’s All About Value Per Acre"
Welcome Our New Secretary!
At our October Executive Committee meeting, we welcomed our newest member Quinlan Tisdale! In order to continue to meet our goals as an organization, we have restructured our leadership positions to create the new position of Vice President, now filled by Joe McDonnell, and split the position of PR Officer into two roles of PublicContinue reading "Welcome Our New Secretary!"
The Power of Community: Cohousing
What is Cohousing? In order to help solve our growing local housing crisis, we must be willing to try new types of housing developments. The oversized McMansions that most builders prioritize today are too expensive and out of alignment for most homebuyers. The average household size has decreased significantly in the past twenty years. However,Continue reading "The Power of Community: Cohousing"
The Importance of Historical Markers in Neighborhood Revitalization
The Dimmitt's Grove Neighborhood Association has installed six new historical markers, with plans for ten more. Each sign details the home's history and was funded and created by the association itself. These markers serve as symbols of community pride and have inspired improvements in the neighborhood. This grassroots effort exemplifies the type of revitalization advocated by Strong Towns.
Building Better Communities: How to Start a Neighborhood Association Forum
The Bloomington Revivalists will host a panel discussion about neighborhood associations and the role such organizations play in the community on Sunday, September 29, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Bloomington Public Library. “Building Better Communities: How to Start a Neighborhood Association”will feature representatives from several existing neighborhood associations in Bloomington, who will shareContinue reading "Building Better Communities: How to Start a Neighborhood Association Forum"
Thinking Outside the Box Housing Forum
Please join us for a housing forum this Sunday, August 25th from 2-4 pm at Bloomington Public Library. I've said it once and I'll say it again: we have a housing "Poly-Crisis" on our hands. There are so many problems leading into so many facets of housing: overall supply, affordability, and the unhoused. Many ofContinue reading "Thinking Outside the Box Housing Forum"
PayPal Link is Working!
Ever since we have been granted federal 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, our treasurer Aza Verove has been working to establish proper channels for donations. No longer do you have to meet up with us in person with a cash or a check to submit your membership, we now have a PayPal! Click the linkContinue reading "PayPal Link is Working!"