Monroe County hears from neighbors about proposed Bloomington jail site

The three officials in charge of finding a location to build a new Monroe County jail assured residents living near a proposed site a final choice hasn't been made.

"It's not a done deal," Monroe County commissioners president Penny Githens told 40 or so people sitting on bleachers in the Summit Elementary School gym Thursday night.

Most were unhappy about the possibility of the jail and related justice complex being constructed at the edge of their neighborhood, not far from the school, at the former Thomson factory site.

Commissioner Julie Thomas also promised, "it's not a done deal," later during the 90-minute meeting. But she emphasized there's no time to dally; the county must act and identify a suitable site so plans can proceed.

"It's beyond time," she said.

Where else could Monroe County build?

Another option being explored is the North Park property, about 400 privately owned acres between Ind. 46 and Arlington Road just west of the city. The county needs 25 acres for the justice complex.

The county had been looking at land off Fullerton Pike just inside the city limits as an ideal location. Bloomington officials nixed the plan when they said they wouldn't rezone the area. When the county inquired about the old Bloomington hospital location, "we were told no," Githens said.

The city already has a housing and retail plan, called the Hopewell community, in the works there.

The commissioners convened the "listening session" at the school so residents could learn more and ask questions about the jail location options.

They explained the county already owns more than 80 acres at the old Thomson site, which would greatly reduce the cost of the project.

There's a series of Habitat for Humanity homes nearby and also preliminary plans for affordable houses to be built in the vicinity over the next few years.

Housing on horizon? How Monroe County plans to use federal aid for affordable housing in Bloomington

Why not the old hospital site?

Several residents questioned why city officials refused to consider the hospital property, which is now a giant empty lot. They said the infrastructure is there and it's close to social service agencies, which city officials say is crucial for those leaving jail.

Thomas told the audience at Summit that when she met with four city council members at a work session in July, "I presented Hopewell as a good option." She said they all rejected the idea.

During another meeting, "they said this part of the city is growing and evolving and this (the jail complex) would be a good addition," Thomas said.

"Maybe you all can call your city council people," Githens suggested. She was hopeful a few city council members would attend a second planned listening session so they could hear directly from the southside residents.

One concern neighbors expressed is the inclination to build the jail in a part of the city where many citizens are working-class families who don't live in expensive houses on manicured lots.

"We all know it isn't going on the east side of town," one woman said as people nodded and voiced agreement.

"I wonder what the response would be if this were near Bryan Park?" another woman asked.

"We care about the neighborhood, not just the justice complex," Githens said. The Thomson site wasn't the commissioners' first choice for the jail, she said, and the location, "has not been definitively selected."

Thomas encouraged the residents to stay involved as the site selection process continues. "We're listening to you. The way I look at this site has changed because of you all, so let's keep this conversation going."

Several attending the meeting opposed not just the Thomson site, but any location, saying jails are unnecessary. Others said the old jail could be refurbished, an option deemed not feasible in a 2020 independent report on the facility.

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington residents push back on proposed Thomson jail site