New developments are in the planning stages for Bloomington's former eastside Kmart location.
Indiana-based developer Trinitas Ventures is working with the current landowners to come up with potential developments, according to a press release.
The company is proposing a multi-use building, which would include housing, retail, office space and restaurants.
Senior Vice President of Mixed-Use Development Aaron Bartels says the company has already entered into an agreement to lease the site. And he says they're hoping to get the community involved in developing the site through a week-long workshop this summer.
"It's meant to be very collaborative, very engaging," Bartels says, "considering all different viewpoints and opportunities for development."
Bartels says the company is also considering building hotels on the site because of the new Indiana University Health hospital being built off State Road 45/46.
"The fact that the hospital is being developed on the east side, we feel, gives strong credibility to the hospitality market and the opportunities to bring hotels to the sast side of Bloomington," Bartels says.
Bartels says they predict construction will begin in late summer or fall of 2019. Phase one of the project is scheduled to open in 2021.
Bloomington Communications Director Yael Ksander says the plans are still in a preliminary stage, and the city isn't involved yet.
But she says the proposal is in line with the city's vision for the area.
"In terms of mixed-use development, and some of the urbanist ideas that Trinitas is suggesting, those are the ideas that are guiding them," Ksander says.
Ksander says the plans may change before the official proposal to the city. And she says nothing is scheduled with the city at this point.
The East Third Street Kmart closed in the summer of 2016. The site also includes the east-side Bloomingfoods, which announced earlier this year it will relocate when its current lease ends.
Trinitas also owns two other developments in Bloomington: the Village at Mueller Park and the Dillon on Patterson Rd.