The City of Bloomington will unveil new plans for the proposed Fourth Street Parking Garage expansion this week.
The city is appealing two rulings by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Holly Harvey, who determined last month Bloomington could not take realtor Juan Carlos Carrasquel’s building through eminent domain because garage plans called for retail space on the first floor, which is not a public use.
READ MORE: Ruling: City Can't Take Carrasquel's Building To Expand Fourth Street Garage
In a news release, the city says it has “preserved its right to appeal the Judge’s decision” and “the new design anticipates the possibility of expansion should the City later have access to an enlarged footprint.”
The new design will have room for 500 vehicles, which is 150 more than the now demolished garage, and will be available for viewing on the city’s website “later this week.” It also leaves open the possibility for “potential public or commercial space on the ground floor.”
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton says the appeals process could take a couple years, and the city wants to keep the process moving.
"It's a little smaller, it may have to be a little taller, it's not quite what we want, but we'll make it work and we can still pursue the appeal and even expand that garage if we get the chance at the time," Hamilton says.
The city will present new plans for the garage to the Bloomington Plan Commission on Monday, March 9.
After the Plan Commission eventually approves the design plans, the city will take bids for the construction.
The city says construction will take about a year to complete.
Juan Carlos Carrasquel has not responded to a request for comment.
