BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (IUSTV News) — The Bloomington Plan Commission approved site plans for the proposed Beacon housing shelter.
The new shelter for the non-profit would be built on 3rd Street south of Rose Hill Cemetery, near the Dillon Apartments. The Bloomington Board of Zoning Appeals approved the zoning for the project in October.
According to the Beacon Center site plan, the first floor will have the day center, emergency shelter, service offices, restrooms, showers, and a commercial kitchen. The second floor will have 20 one-bedroom apartments and five efficiency apartments.
Currently, the Beacon runs a day shelter on Walnut Street, as well as an overnight shelter on Rogers Street. The new Beacon facility would bring both shelters under one roof.
Beacon CEO Forrest Gilmore told the plan commission he is working on securing several partnerships for the new facility, including a clinic by HealthNet, as well as Centerstone. Gilmore also said it is possible the facility will have it's own downtown resource officer from the Bloomington Police Department, as well as an office for Monroe County Probation.
Construction on the new facility could begin as early as spring 2025.
