By: Diane Benjamin
A reader sent me this picture of Bloomington in 1971. It clearly shows where the private sector thinks money should be!
Mayors for decades have been trying to make downtown Bloomington a destination – using YOUR tax money. You got a lot of debt and a Coliseum eating a hole in the budget. TIF districts haven’t accomplished much, but Tari will want a new one for a downtown hotel. Tari thinks government creates economic activity. What really happens is your pockets are picked and given to somebody they think is more worthy – redistribution of wealth.
Why do you put up with this Bloomington? A business would run with their strengths, not chase rabbit holes like government does.
I can remember stores being in downtown Bloomington. Roland’s, Penny’s, Kresge’s and others. After Kmart opened it seemed like everyone was moving east.
I can even remember where Schnucks is at was farm ground and even where State Farm Corp. is at was farm ground.
The downtown soon became abandoned by businesses. Why stay there? Parking was bad and stores couldn’t expand. There was no reason to stay. Even Montgomery Wards took off and moved too. It was probably the largest store downtown as I recall.
In the late 70’s and early 80’s it seemed like someone was engaged in downtown renewal. Numerous buildings mysteriously burned. There were several furniture stores that burned as well as other buildings. The problem was whoever was doing it didn’t finish the job.
About the only store I recall that stayed was Miller’s Hardware. They moved to several places and they finally closed too.
If that city council thinks that downtown will be a Chicago Michigan Ave they have a lot to learn It isn’t going to happen, period! There is absolutely nothing there to attract anyone.
Truthfully I’m surprised that State Farm even keeps that building downtown. If for anything for historical reasons would be all I could think of. One has to wonder how long they will keep that. Wikipedia said it was built 1929-1947.
No doubt, they holler up the downtown because that’s where the slush funds are or can be created. The Coliseum is a gold-mine of unaudited concession sales and who knows what other kick-back bs. Of course, if it weren’t for that, it would definitely be something else. Bye bye, soon, though, scum-bag thieves. (You know who you are, and You’ll soon enough know me.) I do believe the natives’ tolerance level has been breached. We will no longer stand for anymore nonsense.