The City of Bloomington wants an exemption from zoning codes, in order to allow Habitat for Humanity to develop a high density neighborhood in the last remaining woods near downtown.

Citizens have been told that the choice is either
1. Save the woods, or
2. Help low income families buy a home.

There is a third choice. 

The city owns land much closer to downtown. Unlike the woods owned by Habitat, which the city report said is very difficult to develop, the city's Tech Park parcel is already cleared and ready for construction.

THE CITY AND HABITAT CAN SWAP PARCELS

* The city would get a nature preserve, a teaching lab for Parks and Rec within a couple of blocks of Butler Park. In a few years, this remaining green space will be a valuable asset to the community.

* Habitat would get a property that the city has decided is much easier to develop. This would save Habitat a lot of money.

* Habitat home construction could begin much sooner, as the Tech Park parcel is already cleared. In addition, the Tech Park area is already set aside for high density residential development.

* Habitat could build much closer to downtown, and to Fairview school. The city has said that proximity to downtown amenities is one of the best things about the current Habitat project. Moving it closer would be a good thing.

Both projects, the Habitat build and the city's Tech Park plans, have been in the works for years. It is surprising that until recently, no one has considered the obvious benefits of combining the projects. They complement each other well in the long term.

This is an opportunity for a win/win situation.                                                                                
   

      Photo courtesy of Google Earth; www.google.com/earth/