City of Bloomington makes offer on property adjoining to City Hall
The City of Bloomington has made an accepted offer to purchase 320 W. 8th Street, a 64,000 square-foot section of the Showers Building where City Hall is currently located. City ownership of this section of the historic building could allow the Police Department and the Fire Department administration offices to be housed together, centrally located downtown and as part of City Hall. After both departments suffered major flood damage last summer, this consolidation would allow for new and improved facilities, as well as enhanced collaboration with other components of City Hall.
Renovated in 1995, the 1910-era Showers Brothers Furniture complex currently is owned in three sections – the City, the County, and CFC Properties. The City is proposing to purchase the 64,000 square-foot CFC portion. The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission (RDC), with approval from the Common Council, would purchase the property for $9.25 million. Before a property purchase is accomplished, the RDC will conduct due diligence on the property including environmental assessment, building inspection, remodeling options, land survey, and review of existing leases and contracts. Closing of the deal is also contingent upon successfully procuring the financing for the project.
This purchase will meet a new physical space needed for the City fire and police departments. The flood event damage in 2021 made rehabbing existing buildings inadvisable, with costs exceeding value and with future flood risks. Earlier this year in connection with the new Economic Development Local Income Tax (ED-LIT) discussions, the City Council designated substantial new funding for public safety, specifically including for a new police department headquarters and additional fire administration improvements.
In addition to physically centralizing City departments, the City purchase of the CFC building allows for the continued preservation of an historic structure in Bloomington. Plans for the current police and fire buildings, at 220 E Third Street and 300 E 4th Street respectively, will be determined at a later date.
Indiana gas taxes expected to increase in August
Even though prices at the pump have experienced a momentary, slight decline over the past couple of weeks, Indiana’s share will soon be on the rise. Indiana’s Department of Revenue has announced an increase to the state gas tax. The taxes paid include a sales tax, which is calculated monthly, and an additional tax which is added to the Indiana Roads Project Fund. Hoosiers will soon pay a total of 62.4 cents for each gallon purchased, up 3/10 of a cent from the amount paid in July.
To combat the additional cost, Indiana Governor Holcomb is requesting that the Legislature approve a $225 rebate to all residents that filed tax returns last year. While some Legislators are requesting a reduction or suspension of the high gas taxes, Governor Holcomb insists on the rebate, as to not reduce the tax for out of state visitors.
Indiana Arts Commission announces new team members, staffing changes
The Indiana Arts Commission has added several key staff members, with other staff members stepping into new roles:
- Jordan Adams joined the Arts Commission in April as the Artist Services Program Manager. In this role, she oversees the agency’s programming for artists, including the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator and the Next Steps Creative Business Program.
- Téa Franco stepped into the role of Communications Manager in June. Téa joins the Arts Commission with a background in communication and writing, having worked previously with a Main Street America Project, a technology incubator, and the South Carolina Press Association.
- Suzette Hartsfield-Jones also joined the Arts Commission staff in June where she serves as the Contracting & Financial Operations Coordinator. In her role as the Contracting & Financial Operations Coordinator, Suzette will interface with grantees and assist with overall management of the Arts Commission’s grants and contracting process.
- André Zhang Sonera joined the Indiana Arts Commission in July as Deputy Director of Operations and Strategic Partnerships. Originally from San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, André received his Master of Public Affairs in Policy Analysis from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University (IUPUI) in 2021.
- Chapin Schnick was recently promoted to the Grants, Research, and Technology Manager position. Schnick has been with the Arts Commission since 2018 and previously served as the Contracts, Operations, and Information Technology Assistant.
- Connie Brahm was also recently promoted to the Marketing and Communications Director position. Brahm previously served as the Communications and Community Engagement Manager and joined the Arts Commission staff in 2021.
This Week in Hoosier History
1934 – John Dillinger was killed by FBI agents as he walked out of the Biograph Theater in Chicago. He was born in Indianapolis and later moved with his family to Mooresville. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover declared Dillinger to be “Public Enemy #1” based on his role in numerous bank robberies and jail breaks. (Pictured: Headline from the Greenfield Daily Reporter)
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