By: Diane Benjamin
The City of Bloomington owns many buildings that are deteriorating because maintenance is deferred. The can’t afford what they have now. Properties like the old Coachman Hotel could have been sold, but the City didn’t like the offer.
The following is listed under accomplishments in the Capital Improvements Fund – Book 2, page 72 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8223
That’s only partially true though.
If you aren’t familiar with the property, it’s located south of the library. It is an eyesore. Is it worth $250,000 when no buyers are looking at it except the City? Buildings would have to be torn down, more resources the City doesn’t have. Tari thinks it needs to be part of the City “campus”.
Here’s what really happened – August 11,2014 City Council meeting:
Since this happened last August, the seller obviously has not been able to get a remediation letter from the IEPA. Alderwoman Stearns spearheaded the remediation letter, May 1st she won’t be on the Council to protect citizens. This property could be heavily contaminated with hazardous materials that would put taxpayers on the hook for cleanup. (Millions?)
The vote to buy it was: (Schmidt was absent) http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7154 Page 6
Ayes: Aldermen Mwilambwe, Painter, Fazzini, Sage and Fruin.
Nays: Aldermen Stearns, Lower and Black
The taxpayers of Bloomington are constantly asked to pay for the sins of previous Councils.
Remember the multi-million dollar unused Fire Station on Six Points Road? Of course you remember the $$$ sucking Coliseum. How about the years of not adequately funding pensions?
What will be the legacy of the Renner Council? It depends on who is elected in April. This property could be Tari’s folly. If Painter, Hauman, and Buragas are elected, I’m sure Tari will want another vote to buy the property without conditions.
The budget proudly announces they bought it when they didn’t. How about electing Aldermen who work for you instead of Tari?
I guarantee a downtown hotel will be back after the election, the future is in the hands of those who show up and vote. The only way to stop crazy spending is to replace the people doing it.
First it was stupid to even offer to buy without even knowing about the amount of remediation that would be required. At $250,000 the taxpayers were getting soaked royally for a dump that should have been condemned. Their second mistake was not taking the property by eminent domain for the public good if the intent was to use it for government property. They probably would have paid less for it.
Not only is the hotel on the mayor’s radar but I almost bet that group who tried to get a tax increase for a new YMCA under the guise of a community building will be back at the trough. Oh heaven’s yes Tari wanted that close to the downtown too as I recall. They wanted to put it where the old Drive-In theatre used to be. I can’t think of the name of the business there now. As I recall Hundman owned that building at one time but it may be a group of the good ole boys from B/N looking to soak the taxpayers again. Such a deal!…. NOT
P.S. The local YMCA muffed up a number of years ago when they got that parcel of property out on Ireland Grove Rd. donated to them to build on in x number of years. The Director and board screwed up paying some dame from Ohio to help them get their act together and they ended up loosing the land. The rumor has it she really soaked them. The street word was the Y was close to going bankrupt too. They kept asking me for a donation and I refused. My sources tell me their finances are better now with a new Director.
There are quite a few locals probably chomping at the bit to get a place like over at Washington (Five Points) and LeRoy (Replex), IL recreation centers.