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Residents, builders, and community partners are invited to take a closer look at Hopewell and a broader conversation about what housing attainability can look like when development is designed to reflect Bloomington’s values.On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the City will host a free public learning event focused on Hopewell and the City’s evolving approach to development and development reform. The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bloomington City Hall, Council Chambers (Room 115), 401 N. Morton Street. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is first-come, first-served. Time will be reserved for questions and discussion. Registration is required.
Hopewell, located on the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital site, represents a significant opportunity for the City to test new approaches to neighborhood development at a scale and location rarely available so close to downtown. The City has identified small-scale, incremental development as one tool that can help reduce unnecessary barriers in the development process.
After declining conventional development proposals in June 2025, the City partnered with Flintlock LAB to explore an alternative development framework for Hopewell. That framework emphasizes:
-Pre-approved building designs to reduce permitting complexity and cost,
-Participation by local builders and vendors,
-A mix of attianble and market-rate housing, and
-Training pathways for small-scale developers, including residents.
The City is piloting this model at Hopewell with the intent of evaluating whether elements of the approach could be applied more broadly across Bloomington.
The February 12 lecture will be led by Eric Kronberg, an IncDev faculty member and principal of Kronberg Urbanists + Architects. Kronberg’s work focuses on navigating zoning and development regulations to support walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and incremental growth.
The presentation will cover:
-The principles behind small-scale and incremental development,
-How those principles are being applied at Hopewell, and
-How this development model could inform future housing and neighborhood efforts citywide.
The event is hosted in partnership with the Incremental Development Alliance, a national nonprofit dedicated to training and supporting small-scale developers who strengthen neighborhoods through incremental, community-focused projects. With workshops, boot camps, and ongoing support programs across 33 states, IncDev has trained over 10,000 alumni in the principles and practice of small-scale development.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
401 N. Morton St., Ste. 210, Bloomington, IN, United States, Indiana 47404
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