Stuff is getting done!!

That's right, West Allen street still floods. Hopefully the work they are doing now will put that to an end. (Photos courtesy of Holly and David Thrasher)

Next Meeting Feb 2, Morton and Dodds development

We invite all members of McDoel Gardens to attend the next meeting at McDoel Baptist Church February 2, 6:30 pm. McDoel Gardens resident and local developer Matt Press will be there to announce his intentions to purchase and build on the property at Morton and Dodds. He is looking for feedback from the neighbors about the property. He hopes to hold a more formal design workshop with the public in about a month. More information forthcoming. Matt was responsible for the successful and popular South Dunn neighborhood development project.

Switchyard Update, bye bye Upland.

Sad news for McDoel Gardens, Upland Brewing has changed their plans for their new brewery and have decided not to move into the vacant building on Grimes lane next to the B-line trail. Instead they have decided to open shop on the far west side of Bloomington on Profile Parkway, west of Curry Pike. Doug Dayhoff, president of Upland Brewing was quoted as saying in the Herald Times, “My heart is still with the B-Line; the economics caused a change, we just got a better deal.” Upland plans to sell the building next to the B-line to Storage Express who plans on turning the property into indoor, climate controlled rental storage space.
Good news, the talks are underway for development plans for the 69 acre Switchyard Park surrounding the B-Line. On the list of factors is what to do with coal ash and cinders that blanket the park from its days as a railroad yard. The area will need to be tested for contamination levels and the city may need to remove the toxic soil. Another factor is the park lies in a flood plain. More public meetings are planned this spring and in August. The steering committee is confident that the park will go ahead as planned as soon as obstacles are dealt with.

For up to date information about the park go to http://www.switchyardpark.org

Image courtesy of Herald Times Online.