The City of Bloomington is getting more money from the state of Illinois to refurbish and rehabilitate homes in the community.
In September 2025, Bloomington was given a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and used it to rehab around 10 homes.
Bloomington was actually the top grantee for the home repair and accessibility program in Illinois. As such, the state offered $200,000 more in grant funds, which the Community Impact and Enhancement Department [CIE] said will fund the rehabilitation of about three or four more homes.
The Bloomington City Council, meeting Monday, unanimously accepted the funds.
From May 1 to now, one housing demolition is in process. Two are under contract and three are under review by the city's Historic Preservation Commission. Ten homes have been rehabilitated, 10 more are in progress.
An ordinance regarding vacant and foreclosed homes is in the works, and could be put before the council in September, said CIE director Cordaryl Patrick.
"This ordinance is designed to make sure that folks are not leaving their bad properties in our neighborhood and then go away," he told the council.
Under the ordinance, owners of vacant properties would have to register those properties every six months and pay a registration fee. The fee money would be used to cover city legal fees and any cost associated with maintaining or demolishing those properties.
"That ordinance will designed only for those properties that are vacant and derelict. This is not for properties that are actively for sale or for rent," Patrick said. "[Ones] that are creating a hazard, they are a nuisance to the neighborhood."
Patrick estimated there are around 147 vacant homes in the area, but the number could be different because there has not been a recent count.
Later this year, the city will have to vote on a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build four new affordable housing units on Trailside Court, adjacent to each other. Each unit will cost the city around $40,000 to build.
If approved, construction could begin by the fall.
In previous years, the city has supported Habitat for Humanity home construction by using Community Block Development Grant money to set up sewer and utility services to the homes.
Another pilot program that will need council approval is a small home enhancement program that would provide money to homeowners in low-income census tracts to repair or improve their houses.
Homeowners could get up to $12,000. The city said the money is typically used for repairs like a new roof, a new HVAC system, gutter replacements, radon mitigation or to add ADA accessibility.
Patrick said the city hopes to fund about 10 such projects.
West Bloomington Quality of Life Roadmap
The study would build a demographic profile of the area, and a strategic plan for its future. The $99,700 study is accounted for in the FY2027 budget.
Council member Mollie Ward, who made the motion to table the issue, said there were questions about it. Ward said she wasn't opposed, but wanted more time for the city and public to learn about the proposed study.
Ahead of that vote, Deborah Halperin spoke to the board during the public comment period in support of the study. Halperin is a founding member and former president of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project [WBRP].
Community Development Block Grant
The council reviewed some of its Community Development Block Grant funding spending so far this fiscal year. The federal funds are dispersed to states, cities and counties through a formula to "develop viable urban communities," according to a city report.
From May 2025 through April 2026, about $600,000 were spent on mostly housing and neighborhood projects, like housing rehabilitation and sidewalk improvements.
In the past year, 13 affordable housing units were rehabilitated and repaired, including adding an accessibility ramp to one of the properties.
No more than 15% of the city's CBDG funds are given to non-profits. The WBRP received funds for community revitalization. Home Sweet Home Ministries was funded to continue its street outreach program, assisting 177 people, and Just over 150 were helped by the KTB Financial Services empowerment program.
Other business
- The city approved purchasing a Vactor truck, four police squad cars, and two mowers, totaling around $300,000. Two older mowers will be marked as surplus and sold through an online public auction.
- The city approved a $2.18 million construction contract with Stark Excavating, Inc. to build a booster station for the water system along Armory Drive at the Business 51 split; $3 million was set aside for the project in the FY2027 budget.
- Another water system project was approved. The city will retain Donahue & Associates, Inc., for about $5.2 million to oversee four construction projects expanding the city's water system. The city plans to pay around $4.6 million of the fees from the FY2027 budget, and cover the remaining $600,000 or so in the FY2028 budget.
- The city approved a contract with George Gildner, Inc. to repair concrete along Broad Creek Road, Moss Creek Road, Eagle Creek Drive and Greythorne Circle within the Eagle Creek and Golden Eagle South subdivisions; $1 million was set aside for the project in the FY2027 budget. It is expected to cost around $845,000.
- The council approved changing Kaybee Drive, which is between Woodbine Road and Leslie Drive, to Uma Drive. The street is in and aound the Hawthorne Commercial subdivision.
- The city will purchase the property at 719 S. Clayton St. for $145,000 and associated closing costs to eventually build a new stormwater basin in the area to ease pressure on the stormwater and sewer network.
