By: Diane Benjamin I’ve done many stories on Opticos and Missing Middle Housing. Review this story, it contains what the Council told staff they wanted back in July 2024 to solve the “housing crisis”: https://blnnews.com/2025/05/31/remember-when-i-told-you-staff-wouldnt-drop-it/ There is ZERO in those instructions about creating “walkable neighborhoods” or hiring a consultant from California. That didn’t stop Jeff […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night the Bloomington City Council is circling back to the May 27th discussion of Missing Middle Housing. In case you forgot, the City hired a California group called Opticos Design Inc. Some things you need to know: -The report is littered with the term “Best Practices”. That is a ridiculous term […]
By: Diane Benjamin Let’s review: The US Census Bureau claims the population of Bloomington-Normal decreased in 2023: https://blnnews.com/2024/05/20/losing-population/ The US Bureau of Labor Statistics claims local employment dropped just since November 2023 and the unemployment rate increased: https://blnnews.com/2024/05/20/stats-you-needs-to-see/ Patrick Hoban, CEO of the Economic Development Council, sang a different song last night. His comments are […]
