Getting unanimous approval from Bloomington’s plan commission on Monday night was a site plan for the supportive housing and shelter facility that Beacon, Inc. is planning to build on 3rd Street south of Rose Hill Cemetery.
The 45,000-square-foot two-story building, which will include a day shelter, a 50-bed overnight shelter, 20 one-bedroom apartments, and 5 work-to-live units for on-site staff, was made legally possible by a conditional use approval for “supportive housing” that was granted by Bloomington’s board of zoning appeals (BZA) in October of 2023.
A $7 million grant that Beacon received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA will go some way towards covering the cost of the land purchase and the construction.
But after the approval on Monday night, Beacon CEO Forrest Gilmore indicated to The B Square that there is a big amount of fund raising left to do and nothing is a “done deal” until that is complete.
About the remaining fundraising, Gilmore said, “There’s still much to be done on that end as we prepare for our community appeal.”
Gilmore indicated that the nonprofit is hoping for a spring 2025 groundbreaking.
Beacon now operates a day shelter, the Shalom Center, which is on Walnut Street, south of Seminary Park. Beacon also operates an overnight shelter called Friends Place, at 919 S. Rogers Street, which is south of Dodds Street.
The concept for the new project is to co-locate Beacon’s existing day shelter and overnight shelter, which will be located on the first floor of the new two-story building. The first floor is planned to include a commercial kitchen, bathrooms, showers, laundry, and a mailroom.
The new program of supportive housing units will occupy the second floor of the new building. The second floor will include 20 one-bedroom apartments for supportive housing and another five apartments for staff, who will be able to live there as part of their compensation for working at the facility.
At Monday’s plan commission meeting, Gilmore described several partnerships planned for the new facility. HealthNet will have an onsite clinic, Gilmore said. Gilmore added that he believes it will be possible to have a recovery therapist and case managers from Centerstone working onsite.
Gilmore reported that Beacon is in conversation with the city of Bloomington police department to have a downtown resource officer (DRO) onsite. Glimore also described the possibility that the Monroe County probation department would have a regular office as a part of the facility.
Indiana Legal Services will have space for temporary visits about once a week, Gilmore said.
Gilmore also described the outreach that Beacon had done to nearby residents and businesses, which included one-on-one or small group meetings with over 60 residents, business owners, elected officials and city staff. Beacon also described how Beacon staff had walked door-to-door and spoken with 90 residents and businesses near the new property.
The community outreach had helped provide input to the site plan design that was in front of the plan commission that night, Gilmore said. No one spoke against the Beacon site plan during public comment.
The site plan won praise from plan commissioners. Plan commissioner Chris Smith said, “I’m just impressed with your community outreach and communication with all the neighborhoods with all the different groups.” Smith added, “To have no one here talking about this [in opposition] is just a testament to how much work you put in.”
Hopi Stosberg, who is the city council’s appointment to the plan commission, said, “I am just thrilled by this. I’m thrilled by the plans. And I’m thrilled by the different services that you guys already offer.” Stosberg added, “But being able to offer them all under one roof is just going to make everybody’s lives so much easier. And I’m just really happy for this development.”
Amazing effort by Beacon that will now pay off.