The city of Bloomington has begun condemnation proceedings on the long-vacant Front N Center building downtown.
The former Montgomery Ward department store building has been deteriorating for decades and been a matter of concern during the administrations of the last three mayors.
"The reason the city has taken the action now is that it truly is in a state of disrepair. We have those concerns. The impact on our infrastructure and those surrounding buildings is not just to that building,” said Gleason in an interview on WGLT's Sound Ideas. “A clogged sewer system or water lines that aren't being maintained properly do have impacts on the surrounding properties. In the deterioration of that building, the steps that the city is taking are proper.”
Several attempts by the city to encourage, incentivize, or provoke redevelopment have guttered out.
"This is a highly visible property downtown. We have been trying to address the state of disrepair and the lack of occupancy since I started here six years ago, and I know it was even before then," said Gleason.
The last high-profile property the city moved to condemn, Gleason said, was the CII East building. That push resulted in a change in ownership and a redevelopment agreement that Gleason called a success story.
Gleason said the filing could turn into a years-long process if the Huff family that owns the property contests the issue in court.
He said the deterioration of the building can affect nearby structures as well.
Gleason said it's not uncommon in municipalities that after such processes, particularly involving old schools and churches, the property is turned over to the city and the city takes on demolition costs.
“It's not just on the compliance issues. It really is related to economic development, where we try to come alongside on this property and many others to try to assist as best we can, respecting that this is privately owned, but trying to move this and turn this into a property that is occupied and of better use to the city and the owners,” said Gleason.
He noted the building is catacorner to the city-owned arena, which Bloomington is showing signs of revival and increasing use, including more entertainment events and a new hockey team.
“We know that is a location that is ripe for opportunity. What comes? I don't know, but the city is open to conversation."
The possibility of a downtown boutique or upscale hotel has been talked about for more than a decade. Gleason said he does not know whether that is his top preference for redevelopment of the Front N Center building, but it is the one most mentioned.
“The city felt that was a great possibility, but not exclusively. We know there are other opportunities there," he said.
Grocery sales tax
Bloomington and Normal leaders are hoping the state will replace money that could be lost to Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal to end the sales tax on groceries. During his State of the State and budget message, Pritzker said the tax is regressive in that it disproportionately affects low- and moderate-income people because a larger percentage of their income goes for food than the share spent by more affluent households.
Elimination of the grocery tax would cost the city of Bloomington close to $3 million per year in revenue. Town of Normal Finance Director Andrew Huhn said Normal’s grocery sales tax receipts total about $2.6 million per year.
Those are significant revenue amounts. Gleason said the city and town pressed their case with the governor this week when Pritzker stopped in town.
"We're hoping if this is going to occur with the grocery tax that the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) is also looked at, possibly restoring older numbers which almost identically would replace that loss to the city," said Gleason.
That's state income tax sharing money lawmakers stopped sending to municipalities several years ago during tighter state budgets.
Huhn said the Town of Normal also supports restoration of the income tax sharing portion. And it has been an issue for Mayor Chris Koos for several years. The Illinois Municipal League has included restoration of the funds in its legislative program this year.
Gleason said Pritzker told Bloomington-Normal leaders that if cities and towns feel strongly about the loss of the grocery sales tax dollars, they have the power to pass a local tax on groceries.
Budget for personnel
Bloomington’s 2025 budget line for salaries is up 10%, or $4.7 million. Gleason said there has been a need for growth in public safety (fire and police), information technology, and economic and community development. He said some of the additions are restoration of functions cut during the 2008 recession.
“Some of that is catchup. Some of that is trying to meet the increased demands we're seeing from the growth in our community,” said Gleason.
He said just after the great recession the town employed perhaps 650 workers. The full-time headcount for the FY 2025 budget will be just shy of 710. He called that modest growth but proposed that the ratio of employees per million dollars in the budget shows a favorable picture.
“When I first came here, we were pushing 4.5 people per $1 million. Now with growth, and then also with an inflation component, we are below 4 per $1 million of the budgeted amount. It is proof that we are being more efficient with the employee headcount and the use of taxpayer dollars in our budget,” said Gleason.
