By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – A local historian believes the City of Bloomington can play hard ball with State Farm Insurance to spare the company’s former headquarters from demolition.
The state legislature and city ordinances grant local governments the authority to protect historic structures, according to historian Greg Koos.
He’s a member of the recently-formed group called Save Our State Farm Building, which held its second organizational meeting on Wednesday. Koos also attended the first of two strategy and listening sessions organized by City Council member Jenn Carrillo. The State Farm building is in Carrillo’s ward.
Koos and Bloomington’s Historic Preservation Commission member Sherry Graehling each noted the commission can reject State Farm’s demolition permit request. Koos said that action would force State Farm to talk with city leaders about other options.
“Nobody in this room could afford to tear their house down because somebody couldn’t buy it. Our community can’t afford that approach either, and so we can use the laws we have on the books to give ourselves time to come up with a solution,” said Koos.
He’s urging people wanting to preserve the building to avoid thinking there are just two alternatives, a taxpayer-funded effort or demolition. Koos said saving the 90 year old high-rise can be a public-private endeavor.
“If we only talk about two options, then all we’re going to do is talk about whether it’s going to be torn down or not. We’re not going to use our creative energy and drive to come up with solutions,” Koos also said.
Koos said it’s important to invest in the central part of the city to maintain the tax base for District 87 schools.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
