Thomson releases 5-point housing plan
Backed by more than 30 years of experience building homes for families, today Democratic candidate for Mayor Kerry Thomson outlined a 5-point housing plan to make living in Bloomington more affordable and accessible.
“Our neighbors are hurting because they can’t afford to live where they work,” Thomson said. “Housing is too scarce and too expensive, and the status quo simply isn’t working.”
Thomson served 20 years as the CEO for Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County and 30 years total with Habitat. “It’s time to stop seeking cookie cutter ideas from other communities. We need new ideas, new leadership and a new community-centered approach that protects our quality of life while responsibly growing the stock of attainable housing in Bloomington.”
While at Habitat for Humanity, Thomson took charge of an organization in debt and developed a six-million-dollar mortgage portfolio with hundreds of thousands in philanthropic pledges annually. To date, the organization has built more than 220 homes and three neighborhoods.
“We can’t stick our heads in the sand and just let development happen. We can use the power of City Hall and the voices of our citizens to shape Bloomington’s future, to make smart decisions, and to add real value to our community,” added Thomson. “I believe that the decisions we make over the next four years will determine how Bloomington looks over the next forty. That’s why I am running for Mayor – to ensure we take a balanced approach that includes the input of every stakeholder.”
Thomson’s 5-point plan calls for:
Implementing the Bloomington Housing Study. In her first 90 days as Mayor, Thomson will begin to implement recommendations from Bloomington’s 2020 Housing Study. The 100-plus page report is a comprehensive analysis that was created from public input but has been sitting on a shelf since its creation. Thomson believes that with the right leadership, the study can serve as a guide to create more housing throughout the city over the next decade.
Supporting Existing Neighborhoods. As Mayor, Thomson will create a neighborhood asset mapping and enhancement program that will work with neighborhoods to initiate a resident-driven vision for the area. The program’s goal will be to lift and accentuate existing assets, explore public arts, placemaking, and gathering spaces, and develop an understanding of how each neighborhood might welcome new and diverse residents.
Auditing Bloomington’s Housing Ecosystem. Thomson will appoint a citizen task force to review all aspects of the city’s housing ecosystem, including permitting and approval processes, tax abatements, ways to increase transparency and public input surrounding housing projects, apartment inspections, tenant rights, and fines for irresponsible landlords. The goal of this task force will be to increase efficiency while developing safeguards for the community, renters, and residents.
Increasing Partnerships to Create Housing. Rather than going it alone or demonizing other parts of government, a Thomson Administration will work to renew partnerships to create more housing options. As Mayor, Thomson will work hand-in-hand with state and county government, Indiana University and public and private organizations to retain, restore and build attainable housing stock so more of Bloomington’s workforce can afford to live here and unhoused residents can find appropriate shelter.
Leverage Existing Assets to House Residents. Ensuring the city is maximizing its resources to attract the housing that is needed throughout the city will also be a priority for Thomson. Her administration will examine the current use of federal dollars to provide infrastructure and other partnership incentives to create new and retain existing affordable housing. This includes reviewing existing and proposed first-floor commercial properties for potential housing or desirable amenity retrofits, including childcare and food sources that are needed proximate to residential areas.
“Bloomington is like no place else, and I am committed to working with our community to find common ground, form new and innovative partnerships, and make this city we are all so lucky to call home more affordable to live in and enjoy,” added Thomson. “We can and will do that, together.”
