The Bloomington Hospital Re-Use Steering Committee met for the first time Monday to discuss the next steps in developing the 25 acres of downtown land the city acquired from IU Health.

Construction of the new IU Health Bloomington Regional Academic Health Center at the 45/46 Bypass is scheduled to be done by 2020. The current IU Health Bloomington hospital will be demolished after IU Health moves to the new site.

The eleven-member steering committee is made up of stakeholders from Bloomington and Monroe County.

Committee Chair Vi Simpson says the committee will outline a development plan for the site with the help of city leaders and input from the community.

"This is where the city officials, who really have the responsibility, can get feedback and hear input from all walks of the community from the broader Bloomington community," Simpson says.

During the meeting, the committee heard project presentations from development companies Browning and Trinitas.

Representatives from Indianapolis-based Browning say guidance from city administrations and community engagement will help refine the project objectives.

Trinitas officials say they plan to engage with the public early and often throughout the planning process if selected.

Simpson says the committee will continue to review the proposals and present questions to the developers. Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, who also sits on the committee, will make the final selection in 2019.

According to an Urban Land Institute report, the new development could include a range of uses including housing, office, and retail space as well as community greenspace.