HousingItem 7.ACity Council Regular Meeting, October 21, 2026
Turn the empty Eastgate Kmart lot into 240 apartments, 60 of them affordable
Council votes
Wed, Oct 216:00 PM · in 7 days
Cost
No city money. The developer pays $1.2M toward a new traffic light and sidewalks.
Where
Eastgate
In plain words
A developer wants to build a 6-story apartment complex where the closed Kmart sits on Eastgate Blvd. One in four apartments would have to stay affordable for 55 years. The land is currently only allowed for shops, so the council has to change the zoning first.
Who it affects
- A renter: More apartments, especially 60 priced for lower incomes, can help slow rent increases across the city.
- A student: Affordable units would be open to students who qualify by income, about 10 minutes by bus from campus.
- A senior: Affordable units must be rented to lower-income households, which includes many people on fixed incomes.
- A driver: Expect about 2 years of construction traffic on Eastgate Blvd. The developer pays for a new traffic light.
- A homeowner: If you live near Eastgate, a 6-story building will replace an empty parking lot next door.
Arguments for and against
👍 Why some support it
- Bloomfield is short about 3,000 homes, and rents rose 9% last year.
- Turns an empty lot into homes and ground-floor shops.
- 60 affordable units, locked in for 55 years.
👎 Why some oppose it
- 6 stories is much taller than nearby houses.
- Neighbors worry about traffic and street parking.
- Some say 25% affordable is too low and want 35%.
Where it is now
- Proposed by developerMar 2, 2026, done
- Planning Commission recommended it (4–1)Sep 10, 2026, done
- Council public hearing + voteNextOct 21, 2026
- Construction could startJun 1, 2027