Bloomington’s Near West Side neighborhood is one step closer to being designated a conservation district.
The effort started with neighborhood residents seeking a historic district designation. But after a neighborhood referendum, residents preferred a less restrictive approach to preserving the area.
City council members listened to the proposal from neighborhood residents at Wednesday night’s meeting at City Hall.
The 325-property neighborhood lies north of Kirkwood Avenue, but leaves out three areas already designated as historic.
Most of the homes were built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The area is known for the migration and segregation of African Americans. A 1884 fire on Bloomington’s east side destroyed the Showers Brothers company relocating the workforce.
Although a conservation district tends to only review major events such as demolition and new construction, some residents say they’re worried restrictive designations will push out low income residents.
Near West Side property owner Chris Bomba says council members should think about how the different zoning layers already in place could complicate the proposed designation, especially along Kirkwood Avenue.
"There’s actually one for sale across from the cemetery that’s been sitting. And you can get it for about $30,000. No one’s going to touch it, people I’ve talked to because of the work, you’ve got historic stuff, you’ve got different zoning, and keeping up with Kirkwood," says Bomba.
The neighborhood south of Kirkwood is already designated as a historic district. Much of these areas are part of the National Register Historic District.
Resident Michelle Henderson says neighborhood residents will collaborate on guidelines with the designation.
"There’s no reason we can’t have commercial buildings or even some multiplexes along Kirkwood, I think that’s a really great appropriate place to have different types of housing," says Henderson.
The city fined two homeowners for demolishing two buildings in the neighborhood without obtaining a permit a couple weeks ago.
City Council will meet December 4 to vote on the designation.
