Downtown Bloomington

As Bloomington plans a multimillion dollar redesign of downtown, some who work there say they don't feel safe parking their vehicle in certain places.

Bloomington's city manager said a search for a director of both the arena and the Center for the Performing Arts is taking longer than hoped, and it might be time for a new approach.

A divided Bloomington City Council argued over the time and cost needed for a conceptual plan to redesign downtown streets, but supporters successfully pushed it forward on a 5-4 vote Monday night.

A streetscape project discussed by the Bloomington City Council on Monday night aims to turn the downtown into a destination by improving walkability, sidewalks and lighting, among other things.

Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason estimates the price tag for a new downtown streetscape at $25-30 million. That's not to say anything like that has been decided, but now that the O'Neil Pool Project and the Bloomington Public Library expansion are under way, Gleason said it's time to pay a lot more attention to the city's core.

Downtown Bloomington hosted a parade to recognize people with developmental disabilities.

The Bloomington City Council voted Monday to take steps to improve two Main Street corridor properties — one helps downtown’s Red Raccoon Games expand, and the other is pinned to hopes of redeveloping the former Mennonite Hospital site near Illinois Wesleyan University.

The City of Bloomington will consider a development incentive package that would allow a game store to expand in downtown.

The discussion over a potential Connect Transit bus transfer center on the site of the current city-owned parking deck on Market Street opens a couple of possibilities for the city.

A lot of work has to happen quickly to determine whether the Market Street Parking Deck in downtown Bloomington will be a good fit for a Connect Transit bus transfer center.