The city manager of Bloomington says after more than a decade of inaction by the owners of the vacant Front N Center building downtown, there are signs of movement.
Last winter, the City of Bloomington filed condemnation proceedings on the Front N Center building. City Manager Jeff Jurgens now says the city has held up condemnation proceedings because the owners have come to the table for talks.
“Truly, the property owner has been engaging with us and we've been trying to figure out different ways to get that property redeveloped. That takes time. So, we wanted to put a pause on that, a short pause, while we see if there is something that can be done with that property," said Jurgens.
The owner’s willingness to talk about the future of the property is relatively new.
At one point in 2016, former Mayor Tari Renner said there were about five potential developers interested in the property for a potential hotel and conference center. Nothing came of it. Renner grew so frustrated about the decay of the building that in 2019 he threatened to use the city's eminent domain powers to facilitate any redevelopment project. Five years ago, city leaders were unsure whether the building could be used and rehabbed. Jurgens said asbestos contamination and decades of neglect now give that issue at least some clarity.
"Unfortunately, I do not believe that building is going to be able to be saved. There are limited opportunities there, but we want to see if we can't figure out what the best option would be for that property," said Jurgens.
The multi-story structure that was once a Montgomery Ward department store does not have a common wall with a bank building and legal office next to it, but Jurgens said it is close enough to make some parts of demolition complicated.
Jurgens said the location, though, is desirable.
"That area of the downtown is a key area. Obviously, we're right across catacorner from the arena. We've got a lot of exciting things going on already with our downtown," said Jurgens.
Jurgens said the court proceedings on the structure remain up for review on a "short clock," adding the city would welcome a variety of ideas on redevelopment. The city hopes to know within a couple months whether the condemnation action will go forward in court, said Jurgens.