Filling the hole in the ground in Uptown Normal may not be the only upcoming project for that district. The Council has approved $2.8 million in bonds to help construction. But, speaking on GLT's Sound Ideas, Mayor Chris Koos said the northeast and northwest quadrants are also in play. "We have two other development sites on the circle and all of a sudden we're starting to get activity. People are interested in that. They're looking at it. We've got multiple parties looking at those sites, and actively looking," he said.
Koos says construction on the remaining part of the Uptown hole in the ground will begin this spring. The non-student residential project with restaurant and retail on the bottom could
Koos also says he's not worried about the prospect of a hotel and conference center for downtown Bloomington cutting into the viability of the Marriot Hotel and Conference Center in Uptown Normal. The Mayor says the question is larger than just one facility.
"If that property were coming on line today there might be some concern because the hotel market is soft right now. But, these markets are always in flux. I've always said, all the people on the council agree, a strong vital downtown Bloomington helps the community as a whole. It helps Normal. I'm very supportive."
