The bottom floor of one of the new buildings being planned on the site of the Chocolate Moose and some neighboring buildings would include the new home of the ice cream and sandwich shop. Architech's rendering
City officials approved a tax abatement request for a downtown housing development project at the current Chocolate Moose site — but with some changes to what was originally proposed.
On Wednesday, council members voted 8-0 to approve the first step in the tax abatement process following a petition from Bloomington-based real estate developer H.M. Mac. Council member Steve Volan was not in attendance. The developer plans to build two four-story, mixed-use buildings at the South Walnut Street location after demolishing the Chocolate Moose’s existing building and others nearby. The Chocolate Moose will return, along with a 54-unit apartment complex on the second through fourth floors of the buildings.
The Bloomington Economic Development Commission reviewed the request and forwarded it on to the council with a recommendation the body approve a five-year abatement. However, the council amended the recommendation to three years and discussed a compromise of four years.
Council member Dorothy Granger said she thinks three years is the best place to start despite high favor from the commission and council for the developer’s proposed project. Other properties in the area have been granted three-year abatements.
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