By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington aldermen were told Monday night that tax increment financing might be an option for developing vacant land in the 800 block of North Main Street.
Aldermen unanimously agreed to a memorandum of understanding with Illinois Wesleyan University to market the property that was the site of Mennonite Hospital and the headquarters for Electrolux.
The city’s community development director, Bob Mahrt said land the city purchased two years ago for one-point-four million dollars is considered blighted, one of the qualifications for a TIF district.
“We now recognize that is an option, but it is the option of last resort, and there maybe other options for economic development incentives that might need to be brought before the city council for consideration upon an active developer wanting to move forward on that,” said Mahrt.
TIF districts are now considered last resort in Bloomington after District 87 schools objected to losing revenue from rising land values.
The council unanimously agreed to spend $475,000 for the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau during the fiscal year.
“In the past, we’ve seen the (Convention and Visitors Bureau) really be focused on getting heads in beds, as many room nights booked as possible,” said Aldermen Scott Black.
“We’ve done a really good job of moving towards other models of philosophies — arms in bars, cheeks in seats, whatever metaphor you want to use. Maybe somebody’s here for a day trip,” Black said.
Aldermen, without discussion, also ratified union contracts with firefighters and police dispatchers.
Firefighters will receive a 2.25 percent raise the first year and 2.5 percent wage increases the following two years. The two year deal for telecommunicators includes two percent raises each year.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
