West Bloomington’s Trailside Court will soon be complete after Habitat for Humanity of McLean County and city leaders broke ground Wednesday on the final two homes on the block.
The City of Bloomington provided $80,000 to Habitat for the two homes through its ReBloom the Block Initiative. Excavation work is underway on plots at 20 and 21 Trailside Court.
Director of Community Impact and Enhancement Cordaryl Patrick said the city funds will accelerate Habitat’s building process.
The purpose of ReBloom the Block is to bring vacant lots back online with affordable housing.
“Not in a scattered sort of way, not a shotgun approach, but block by block how do we get one home, two homes, three homes at a time on the same block,” he said.
Habitat for Humanity of McLean County Executive Director Jolene Aldus said the families who will live in the homes have been selected, but they were still working through the paperwork. Habitat plans to hold a separate groundbreaking to celebrate the families at a later date.
“I truly welcome them, and pray that this will be a place they can truly call home,” said Ward 7 city council member Mollie Ward. Trailside Court is in Ward 7. Ward said the neighborhood has grown one house at a time, culminating in these final two developments.
Aldus shared how the site was once the home of the Beich Candy factory in the 1900s. The property was donated to Mid Central Community Action in 2001, but the building was destroyed in a fire in 2005.
Aldus said excavators discovered bricks and remnants of the factory while preparing the land.
“What was once an industrial property is now a home for families to put down roots,” she said.
Patrick said city data indicates the west side has a significant need for new homes. The city also is supporting rehabilitation initiatives for homeowners to keep people in the houses they have.
“Not only are we building new homes, but we’re making sure we can preserve the homes that are here,” he said.
Patrick said he is willing to discuss possibilities with any organization or developer curious about developing more housing to see if it fits into the ReBloom the Block initiative.
Two other Habitat homes are nearly constructed at plots next door to 20 and 21 Trailside; they are funded through a partnership with State Farm.
