Bloomington City Council

The City of Bloomington's Downtown for Everyone project is moving through the 500 block of North Main Street as scheduled and is still expected to cost $13.2 million. Residents and business owners are continuing to adapt through sometimes inconvenient construction work.

Redevelopment of one of Bloomington’s most prominent downtown buildings will occur in phases, with the initial phase beginning in July and targeted for completion by the middle of next year.

Ten of the 11 people who spoke during the public comments portion of Monday’s Bloomington City Council meeting voiced opposition to a perceived possibility of a data center development south of Central Illinois Regional Airport.

The Bloomington City Council is expected to vote Monday on changes to a redevelopment agreement for the former State Farm building downtown, including a $42 million Phase 1 that would bring a Starbucks to the property by July 2027.

A long list of upgrades, improvements and initiatives planned for the next fiscal year add up to nearly $112 million worth of capital projects included in the City of Bloomington’s proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year.

The City of Bloomington has deferred adoption of an Eid al-Fitr Day proclamation in part due to the conflict with Iran.

There are further signs of a thaw in the shared sales tax dispute between the City of Bloomington and Town of Normal on one side and McLean County government on the other. The county board has approved a three month suspension of paying sales tax money from the city and town.

In the agreement with Lifelong Access, Bloomington will purchase a lot immediately north of the building and build a new 77-space public lot. In turn, the city will lease a 43-space lot at the former Elks Lodge along Madison to Lifelong Access on a 99-year term.

The Bloomington City Council on Monday approved an agreement with Carle Health and Deneen Brothers Farms that paves the way for the regional medical campus on 35 acres within the Empire Business Park.

The City of Bloomington doesn't know what's happening to up to 3 million gallons of water per day — and it could be more during the summer. An aging treatment and distribution system is a root cause.