West Market Street Council
Community Economic Development project to redevelop the plaza at W. Market & Howard St. Establish West Bloomington Market in plaza to end the food desert.
Plaza will also contain a few local businesses and a resource center for health and employment.
Over 3 million Illinoisans living within the confines of a food desert. This isn’t just a local issue. However, parts of McLean County have a 90% poverty rate. This is shameful and totally fixable. Our residents deserve better. Let’s end the Food Desert in West Bloomington!!!
18/08/2023
16/08/2023
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President’s Report
Following the $125,000.00 demolition of the buildings, to prepare the property for sale and redevelopment, we received a fine in excess of $30,000 for not mowing the weeds during the period of demolition when there was heavy machinery and other obstructions on the property. This was a mortal blow.
But still we persisted. The property has been purchased by Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, keeping the property in community stewardship. I recently met with a member of the Board of Trustees of Mount Pisgah and President of the NAACP to discuss next steps for the property.
Our County Board Rep, Lea Cline, has provided Lt. Gov with a personal tour and intro to the food desert of West Bloomington and the importance of the plaza property to ending it. The IL state administration has since passed legislation providing funding to end food deserts and build food security. We could not be more ready to end the food desert in West Bloomington. There are different models to consider. And we welcome your ideas!
Please comment on this post or dm me to contribute your ideas and support as we prepare to meet with the committee that Mount Pisgah is assembling to collaborate with WMSC and the community to move forward to end the food desert and create economic development and community resources at W. Market St and Howard, the Gateway to Bloomington.
- Arthur Haynes,
President, West Market St. Council
11/08/2022
25 million on a downtown streetscape while the West Bloomington residents continue to live in a food desert! Poor city management? Divested Economic Development Council? How do you feel about this? Chime in!
Invest in the WEST!!!!
West-side residents feel left out in Bloomington streetscape BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Major changes could be on the way to downtown Bloomington in the future. Planning for a multi-million dollar streetscape plan will be discussed at next Monday& #8217…
04/08/2022
Karen Irvin Dava Brooke Zschau and McLean County Moms Demand Action have been busy getting W. Market St beautiful for Saturday!
28/07/2022
15/07/2022
Yessss….. It is official! The 10th Annual West Bloomington Neighborhood Block Party will be held this August 6th from 2 pm - 6 pm ata new location! Market Street @ Howard Street! If you are interested in volunteering, or having a table at the event please contact me at (309) 287-1873 as soon as possible. Mark your calendars, and let’s get ready to have some fun in the neighborhood!!!
🎉🎊🎊🎉🎊🎊🎉🎈🎈🎈🎉🎊🎊🎉🎊🎊🎉
21/06/2022
Mark the date!
31/05/2022
Launching the VIP Center this weekend!
26/05/2022
Great news 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
And great things coming to the community!
03/03/2022
Thoughts and prayers from our city officials go out to the underserved residents of West Bloomington! Apparently, that’s the most that they can do!
01/03/2022
“If I can get a Dollar Store in here, will that take care of it?”
Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason’s big idea to end the food desert and redevelop W Market St. Compare with the incredible sustainable economical Food Desert to Food District Feasibility Study by Mary Dunlap and tell us which one you think is 💯 and which one is 💩
https://www.canva.com/design/DAEvLjpWiWA/9e5DKiSMExb8wBJ-U4DjeQ/watch?utm_content=DAEvLjpWiWA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink
West Market Bloomington Draft - Check out this presentation designed by Mary Verzani Dunlap.
12/02/2022
The most important meeting in the four and a half year history of this project was scheduled for last Thursday, and our supposed partners, & arguably the most vital stake holders conveniently aren’t available! No explanation, no plan to reschedule, no consideration for the many other stakeholders who altered their schedules and lives to attend this very crucial, and important meeting. Hours prior and this is all we received! Now you all get to see the inconsideration, disregard, and utter disrespect that we’ve experienced for the past 4 1/2 years that we’ve tried endlessly to get these people to simply do their jobs. City of Bloomington, Illinois shame on you. 😡 West Bloomington deserves better!
25/01/2022
The West Market Street Council is Alive and Well!
Great progress is being made on a daily basis and we are very close to finishing this project up, and ended the food desert in West Bloomington once and for all! All great accomplishments take time and dedication. Thank you all for believing in us, and for supporting us over the past 4 years. We are almost at the finish line. 🎈💪🏾🎊👍🏾🎉🙏🏾❤️🔥✊🏾
Arthur Haynes
President-
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