The Bloomington City Council on Monday unanimously agreed to pursue negotiations with Champaign-based Royse and Brinkmeyer to develop two properties at 801 and 807 N. Main St., including new housing units.
At the council's last nonvoting Committee of the Whole meeting, Royse and Brinkmeyer CEO Colin Carlier proposed building about 140 to 160 units in some combination of studio, loft, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Royse and Brinkmeyer partnered with Catalyst Construction and Hewn Studio in developing the $38.5 million proposal. The property management company manages more than 1,000 apartments in Champaign.
Council member Mollie Ward amended the proposal to include language calling for the city to negotiate project labor agreements.
“It is essential that we support our local employees ... and give them the opportunities to, as much as possible, do work in our community,” she said.
Council member Sheila Montney was the only "no" vote on the amendment. She took issue with how the wording of the amendment seems opposed to city code.
“As proposed, this stands to substantially increase the construction cost,” she said.
Corporate Counsel Chris Spanos disagreed with Montney’s reading, and said the amendment would be legal.
The Franklin Park Foundation also presented a plan for the Main Street property. During public comment, foundation president Tim Maurer encouraged the council to negotiate with the foundation alongside Royse and Brinkmeyer, instead of moving forward with just one proposal.
