By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The company that designed the entrance to Disney World will help design new welcome signs in Bloomington.

“The design firm that designed that huge entrance is the one we entered into a contract with last night to help come up with downtown wayfinding signs as well as what can we do to enhance the entrance corridors into the city,” Bloomington city manager David Hales said.

Hales told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, Pittsburgh-based KMA Design had a bid that was comparable with two other finalists that submitted bids. Nine companies submitted bids.

The preliminary design work will cost $62,000. Hales said there’s no timeline for when the signs will be installed.

Downtown Redevelopment

Bloomington’ redevelopment plan for a portion of downtown is now available online. Hales said you can see the blighted areas yourself.

“Some of those pictures of the interior of the Front ‘N’ Center (building) and some of the other buildings are just atrocious,” Hales said. “With the water damage, it makes me wonder whether or not from a redevelopment standout is there any structural damage through that and can they really rehabilitate the Front ‘N’ Center.”

The nearly 40-page document done by St. Louis-based consultant Peckham, Guyton, Albers and Viets (PGAV) shows interior images of the Front ‘N’ Center building which had been the centerpiece of a downtown hotel proposal that the city shelved.

The study is required by the state before an area can be converted into a tax increment financing district.

The City Council set a Oct. 10 public hearing on the TIF proposal.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].