McLean County Times

Jenna Kearns, Ward 1 councilmember of the Bloomington City Council, recently noted that a vote of approval on a proposed redevelopment agreement would not be a loss for the city's need for affordable housing.

The main topic of interest at the June 12 Bloomington City Council meeting was the council's vote on a redevelopment agreement for 402 E. Washington St. Dozens of citizens came out to voice their opinions on the project, including a group of local laborers wearing orange to protest the lack of a prevailing wage agreement in the redevelopment project.

Several laborers spoke during the meeting to argue that local laborers should be guaranteed a share of the $18.5 million subsidized building project that will see luxury townhomes and apartments built on 402 E. Washington St., which currently sits vacant. Additionally, citizens argued that the absence of a labor agreement guaranteeing the use of local labor at the prevailing wage demonstrated the excessive greed of the building contractors.

Another concern raised by some citizens was that the proposed development consists of luxury housing that does not meet the affordable-housing needs of the community.

"A win for this project doesn't mean a loss for affordable housing," Kearns said in the meeting, responding to the citizens' concern. "Let's not mince words, this is a luxury development. That doesn't mean there can't be affordable developments."

On the other side of the vote, Councilmember Cody Hendricks voted against the project because of the concerns of his constituents.

"I hear those concerns for prevailing wage, local labor, and affordable housing and am compelled to represent my constituents on those concerns," he said in the meeting.

Despite Hendricks' 'no' vote, the ordinance approving a redevelopment agreement by and between the City of Bloomington and 402 E. Washington LLC was passed by a count of 5-3.