The Bloomington Convention Center expansion is starting to take shape as structural steel goes up. Long span trusses are expected to be installed in December.
But the process to bring in a companion hotel on for the former Bunger-Robertson property north of the current convention center seems to have stalled.
At Wednesday’s Capital Improvement Board meeting, city leaders said there’s a very large funding gap.
Dora Hospitality was chosen by the board more than a year ago to develop the site for a hotel that included 200 rooms, valet parking, an independent restaurant, and a roof-top lounge.
CIB President John Whikehart is asking for revisions to the hotel specs in the event Dora can’t move forward.
“A rooftop bar. Would that be a nice thing to have in a hotel? Yes, it would be. Is it something that should be absolutely required in a host hotel? I think not,” Whikehart said.
He said that along with not including a bridge or underground parking, and downsizing hotel meeting room size could save $15 million.
Redevelopment commissioner John West said they’ve tried to come up with funding mechanisms to move the project forward.
“Let’s work with us first, figure out what kind of funding we have available to us, and then we can pursue a plan that kind of matches the funding,” West said.
Dora may also show interest on properties south or west of the current convention center by next month’s meeting.
The board also approved contingency change orders of almost $288,000. The revisions include more foundation and rock removal than anticipated, electrical upgrades, and city utility change orders.
That takes total contingency fund use to 13 percent leaving $2 million for future use.
The CIB also received 180 applications after a call for artwork for the project. Fourteen are international, eight are from Bloomington. Leaders will narrow that down to five finalists by the end of the year.
