By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – One of the key players in a downtown Bloomington redevelopment plan said the city should be willing to let developers decide what’s best for the property that the city is considering demolishing.

CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council Kyle Ham told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, the city could simply accept the best offer while still maintaining a measure of control over what happens to four downtown buildings.

PODCAST: Listen to Ham’s interview with Scott and Colleen here:

“It should be open to the development world… and to the community, ” Ham said. “The good thing about this proposal is the city has the full say about what goes in there.”

The city is considering an offer to tear down four properties, then buy the land for $8.2 million and take proposals for redevelopment.

Ham said the city might want to save the historic Commerce Bank building, but said that would cost more.

Ham has been a vocal supporter for the redevelopment plan, but he’s not pushing any particular proposal.

“It could be lots of things; mixed use, restaurants… a hotel that’s been talked about a lot. I don’t think we should be limiting it to anything,” Ham said.

As for the question of whether the city should even get involved in the property, Ham said the Front ‘N Center building has become dilapidated and has sat empty for years without a public private partnership.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].