UPDATE: HAND Director Anna Killion-Hanson has approved the request for a deadline extension, extending it to Aug. 14.
Five historic homes on Bloomington’s east side are safe from demolition, at least for now.
The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission voted Thursday to request a 30-day extension before it must decide whether to recommend demolition.
The extension was contingent upon approval by the director of Housing and Neighborhood Development, Anna Killion-Hanson.
She later approved the request, moving the deadline from July 15 to August 14.
Read more: Historic commission postpones vote on demolition of five historic homes
In the meantime, residents of Green Acres, the neighborhood where the homes are located, are working to protect the homes, which are in the 300 block of North Jefferson Street and the 2200 block of East Seventh Street.
To do so, they must hold three public meetings to gather feedback, produce a map, and propose a local historic district for the commission to vote on.
Historic Preservation Program Manager Noah Sandweiss presented maps with suggested boundaries at Thursday’s meeting.
A positive vote from the commission would move the district to the city council for consideration.
Alternatively, residents could also choose to pursue a conservation district, which would mean less review for modification to existing structures. Once established, conservation districts can later be elevated to a local historic district, according to Sandweiss.
Commission members said this resident-led process might be more effective than the commission recommending a historic district outright. They have cited the council’s rejection of its recommended local historic district for Lower Cascades Park as proof.
Read more: Bloomington Plan Commission OK’s 17-home subdivision, self-storage building
All five homes are listed as “ contributing” in the city’s map of historic sites, meaning they’ve been deemed to have enough historic integrity to be included in a local historic district.
The demolitions were requested by Sable Beyers with Beyers Realty. A potential purchase she is negotiating is contingent on the ability to demolish the buildings.
Beyers has said her prospective buyer is exploring plans for low-density student housing but added nothing has been finalized.
Read more: City hopes to put Indiana Avenue corridor project out for bid in 2025
The city says because of the way the buildings are zoned, development as tall as 5.5 stories and 10,000 square feet is possible. This is a far cry from the relatively small surrounding homes.
It would also be possible for a single development to replace the five buildings if they were demolished.
