The five properties in Green Acres that a developer requested for demolition earlier this year have changed hands. Their future is still uncertain.
Three of the properties owned by Doorman Enterprises were sold to Sacksteder Properties LLC on October 8:
- 2201 East 7th Street
- 310 North Jefferson Street
- 314 North Jefferson Street
The other two properties, also previously owned by Doorman Enterprises, were transferred to Bloomington Builders LLC the same day:
- 318 North Jefferson Street
- 324 North Jefferson Street
Since the five properties changed hands, the City of Bloomington received additional applications for development in the Green Acres neighborhood.
One is to demolish a home on 326 North Jefferson Street and build a duplex. Doorman Enterprises previously owned the property and sold it to Bloomington Builders LLC this month.
The other asks to build a duplex on the vacant lot at North Jefferson Street between 2201 East 7th Street and 310 North Jefferson Street. Doorman Enterprises also previously owned this property and sold it Sacksteder Properties LLC.
The city confirmed it received the two applications for duplex development but hasn’t assigned a planner to review them.
The five abutting lots sold on Oct. 8 were the subject of community meetings and controversy in the last several months.
In May, representatives of Doorman Enterprises submitted requests to demolish homes on the five lots on East Seventh Street and North Jefferson Streets. A potential purchase of the lots was contingent on the homes’ demolition. The representative for Doorman told the city it was exploring plans for low-density student housing.
In response, a group of residents in the Green Acres petitioned the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission to grant their neighborhood conservation status. The status would have slowed actions like demolition in the area, adding additional requirements and layers of approval to develop in the area.
Resident feedback was mixed during an August meeting with The Historic Preservation Commission. Some residents wanted conservation status to prevent potential apartment buildings. Other property owners were against potential constraints conservation status might create.
Read more: Green Acres neighbors seek historic protections amid proposed home demolitions
In early October, the city’s common council declined to designate Green Acres a conservation neighborhood after Green Acres residents rescinded their petition for conservation status.
That lifted a demolition delay that had been in place for the properties since August. The City of Bloomington Planning and Transportation Department issued five certificates of zoning compliance for the properties, which will be valid for a year.
The city says demolition can proceed as long as it’s started by October 2, 2025, according to Bloomington zoning planner, Gabriel Holbrow.
But the Monroe County Building Department has not issued demolition permits for the properties, which is another necessary step. Jennifer Kalkanoff with the Building Department says permit fees are still due for the applications. If the fees are paid, the permits will be issued.
