This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, August 25th, 2026.
In today’s newscast, the county capital improvement board says it will demolish Seminary Pointe by the end of the year. More coverage of that meeting coming up in your daily headlines.
Also coming up in the next half hour, find out how you can get involved in your community on the latest edition of “Volunteer Connection” in partnership with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.
CIB Advances Seminary Pointe Demolition, Approves Host Hotel Deal Despite Opposition
Homes for All organizers walk down the B-Line Trail from Seminary Pointe to the convention center (Photo by Kade Young).
The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board will move forward with plans to demolish Seminary Pointe. During its meeting on August 19th, the CIB approved a 90-day letter of intent with Dora Hospitality to work toward an agreement to develop a convention center host hotel.
However, the CIB’s plans face opposition from the local advocacy group, Homes for All. During public comment, Homes for All organizer Barry Herbers says he doesn’t believe the Seminary Pointe property is needed for the convention center.
“The idea that 29 units of super affordable housing must be destroyed, several beloved businesses displaced, and dozens of people forced to leave their homes was manufactured. This is a corporate giveaway,” said Herbers.
Jason McCullough, another Homes for All member, says advocates had developed an alternative plan to preserve affordable housing at Seminary Pointe.
“We are now facing down the barrel of two subsidized hotels, a brutal astronomical corporate giveaway that spits in the face of the working class of Bloomington,” he said.
Meanwhile, CIB President John Whikehart pointed out that many of the displaced commercial spaces are finding locations in other parts of town. Furthermore, he argued the Seminary Pointe apartments continue to cost them money and ongoing security problems.
“We’ve now had 27 documented incidents in the last 25 days,” said Whikehart. “We’ve had 15 trespassing, four vandalism, one missing person that we’ve been involved with looking for, two of drug use, one indecent exposure, one person urinating in public, three police calls, and one drug arrest.”
Next, the board approved a contract with Weddle Brothers construction to start the demolition process. Project Manager Andrew Scere walked through the demolition timeline.
“The pre-construction schedule has been created to account for all the permitting, the surveys, the drawings, the title searches and utility disconnections,” said Scere. “Currently, based off the schedule and all the dates that we’ve heard – could happen by November 4th.”
Whikehart asked when the demolition would be complete. Scere responded the job would be finished by the end of the year.
“We would have to stabilize the job or the site after we remove all the buildings, and we would plan on having that done by December 31,” he said.
The board also approved a letter of intent with Dora Hospitality for the host hotel. Board member Jim Whitlatch explained what the LOI entails.
“It’s a letter of intent to work towards a definitive agreement that spells out the obligations of Dora and CIB towards the construction and completion and operation of a host hotel,” said Whitlatch.
On the other hand, Matthew Joseph, representing Homes for All, questioned whether the land and financial support offered to Dora could be used for development beyond the hotel.
“We need to set a precedent that if you’re going to destroy affordable housing, you’re going to build more than what you destroyed, double it, and make it for those who are most vulnerable.”
The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board will meet again September 16th. In the meantime, board members say they will continue working through permits, utility disconnections and demolition at Seminary Pointe.
(Photo by Jaimmie Ford).
The Monroe County Fire Protection District celebrated its firefighters over the weekend. WFHB Correspondent Jaimmie Ford attended the district’s annual Community Cookout Saturday and spoke with firefighters about the many ways they serve Monroe County.
Up next, we have Volunteer Connection on the WFHB Local News in collaboration with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, highlighting four ways you can get involved in Bloomington. We turn to hosts Aubrey Seader and Cody Martin from Bloomington Youth Basketball.
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Jaimmie Ford.
Aubrey Seader produced Volunteer Connection in partnership with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Jim Odom and Kade Young anchored today’s broadcast.
