A new affordable housing project is beginning in Bloomington.
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton announced Wednesday that his administration would request approval of a 99-year lease at the cost of $1 for City-owned land, according to a City of Bloomington press release.
The land will be used for the development of 16 affordable housing units adjacent to Switchyard Park.
South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities — a nonprofit affiliate of the Bloomington Housing Authority – will develop the project.
“This project is part of a bigger scheme to activate the Switchyard Park area as a whole and including developing affordable housing to ensure a broad spectrum of housing opportunities exist around the park,” Hamilton said in the release. “I applaud the work our Parks and Housing and Neighborhood Development Departments alongside SCIHO have done to bring this proposal forward.”
Executive Director of SCIHO Deborah Myerson said in the release the units are both affordable and close to a bus line, the B-Line Trail, employment, groceries and educational resources.
“Switchyard Apartments rents would remain permanently affordable for low-income households, ranging from $550-$650 for one-bedroom units to $655-$850 for the 2-bedroom apartments,” Myerson said in the release.
Along with the housing units, Myerson said there will be a community room, laundry, parking and a courtyard with a community garden between the two buildings.
The design and build-out of the project is expected to take at least 18 months once all financing is confirmed.
“Great parks lead to great neighborhoods and this is a terrific start toward realizing that great neighborhood,” Hamilton said in the release.
Andrew Hussey
