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Bloomington Mayor Cautious About Potential Developer

Devyn Corp., Tarter Construction, Farnsworth Group

The potential developer of a boutique hotel in downtown Bloomington has a complex legal history with the city. David Bently has extensive holdings in the downtown area and recently bought the Pantagraph Newspaper building. But, speaking on GLT's Sound Ideas Mayor Tari Renner says the city would have to be cautious in entering into an agreement with Bently.

Bently has so far been unsuccessful in a suit over the city's distribution of Tax Increment Financing District money, though that has been appealed to the state supreme court.

Renner says he is not judging Bently on the basis of past legal action. But, he says the city has also had concerns about code violations and poor maintenance at some of Bently's buildings.

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Renner says he is willing to hear Bently's proposal to redevelop the Pantagraph building into a hotel, though potential contracts would have to be drawn carefully.

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Renner says Bently has publicly claimed to have spent a million dollars in legal fees in his contests with the city over two decades.
 

WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.