Our team built on the recommendations of the Switchyard Park Master Plan and used the results of a market analysis to inform potential redevelopment opportunities. The ultimate goal was to proactively communicate the city’s development vision for these key sites.
We were commissioned to prepare conceptual redevelopment plans for two sites adjacent to Switchyard Park. The city’s significant investment in creating Switchyard Park is anticipated to generate considerable development and redevelopment interest in the surrounding area. Several of these parcels are already owned by the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission while others were included because of an owner’s expressed interest in sale or development.
Our team built on the recommendations of the 2012 Switchyard Park Master Plan and used the results of a market analysis to inform potential redevelopment opportunities. The ultimate goal of the process was to proactively communicate the city’s development vision for these key sites, as opposed to being reactionary after developers had already submitted proposals.
This included an examination of the feasibility of affordable housing, retail, and other uses that would both help activate the park and be catalyzed by its proximity. One key site was comprised of approximately 15 acres along S. Walnut Street on the east side of the park. The other site covered almost 4 acres along the B-Line Trail on the west side of the park. In both cases, surrounding use and character, transportation access, and potential connections to Switchyard Park were used to inform design recommendations. In addition to the market analysis, deliverables included an existing conditions assessment, conceptual master plans, massing studies, and presentation renderings.